Forget the Buddleia (butterfly bush). You can't grow one where you live.

Re the peonies: they prefer full sun, or almost. Second, Michigan Bulb is without a doubt the worst nursery in the country and has driven more people out of gardening than frost, freeze, pests, disease, fire, flood or war. Their plants are garbage and their customer relations non-existent. Purchase quality plants from a quality source, learn their needs, and care for them properly.

Re the Weigelias--where did you purchase them from?

For the peonies: Make sure they are not planted too deeply. If the crown of the plant is more than 2 inches under the soil, they will not flower or do well. They also do not like to be moved once established. This delays flowering 1-2 years as well. The fact that they came from Michigan Bulb means they were probably inferior or stunted so you will have to wait a few years to overcome that as well. I would say to plant them in the ground in their final locations and forget about them for 2 years. Hopefully they will make up for the slow start and moves once they have time to settle into a permanent location.

For the Butterfly bush: You can always buy one and enjoy it for the summer, and take cuttings to grow over the winter, then plant out the cuttings in spring to always have a supply of new bushes. I believe the cuttings are simple to take and root well - check GW for posts regarding butterfly bush cuttings. Or you can treat it as an annual and just buy a smaller new one each year. They should be less than $10 for a small one. We cut ours down each year to about a foot tall, then it puts forth all new growth each spring and starts flowering in mid-late June, and goes all the way until frost. I deadhead the bush for more blooms too.

For the weigelas, I usually cut them back severely as soon as they are done flowering in spring, then they will stay smaller and more tidy as they re-grow for next year. I did make the mistake of cutting the bush all the way back in early spring last year, and had very few flowers. This year I never had time to cut it back, and the bush is smothered with gorgeous flowers. So now I know to prune after flowering ! I know they like full sun and will flower best under those conditions. That being said, I have one in partial shade that looked ratty and small when we bought the house. I chopped it back severely and ignored it all year. This year, it is about 3 ft tall, a ball shape, and flowered nicely (white flowers). I think they can take some abuse, so perhaps if you prune after flowering time, that will stimulate them all to shoot out some new growth.

Hope that helps !!
Amy

Thank you very much I am going to try pruning the weigelas back after they flower they are just starting to bud now I am going to pick up(in the fall) the peonies along with all the bulbs that are in the box and replant them differently in the box this fall, although I might leave the peony that is doing best right where it is I will really make my final decision in the fall. and as far as the butterfly bush I bought one so we'll see how it does if it dies it dies. Depending on how nice it grows this summer I might decide to buy one every year if I can't get it to survive the winter.

ps I bought the weigelas from a person on ebay they were all almost 2 feet when I got them.

pss one of the smaller(only 6-8 in) peonies actually has a flower bud

I agree with the advice you've been given. I will be pruning my variegated weigelias back as soon as they finish blooming. They are in full bloom right now. Last year I pruned some of the long branches in the fall, but still had plenty of flowers this year.

I love my butterfly bushes and feel that they are worth you trying to get one that will make it through your zone 3/4 winters. Try mulching heavily in the late fall. Even in our zone, we occasionally lose a non-established butterfly bush. It seems that if you can keep one going over at least one winter, you will have that one for many years. The dwarf ones, with Nanho in the name, do not come back well in our zone, so I'd stear clear of them. I've lost a Nanho Purple, and a Pink Delight in the years I've been gardeing. That year, I remember hearing that many people in my general area lost their butterfly bushes too. I've since repurchased a Pink Delight and it's been here 3 years and going strong.

As was stated before, do not plant the "eye" (top of the root where the leaves come from) too deep or you will get lots of peony leaves and no flowers. If you have to, replant correctly. And once you have an established plant, it's best to leave it where it is. A young plant may take a few years to begin flowering.

Good Luck,
Linda