I haven't noticed an increase in flies, but now that the nights get cooler, there are a lot more "water bugs", which still look like huge cockroaches to me. ICK. I'll trade any of you 10 flies for one of those bugs! Fly papers still make my skin crawl. When I was growing up, I had an Aunt who swore by them. She wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, trust me. Kept all the teaspoons in a milk glass flower pot in the middle of the massive kitchen table (it was bigger than a king size bed!). Hanging right above that pot of teaspoons, suspended from the big old kitchen light, was the fly paper. I can still remember sitting there during one Sunday dinner watching the stuck flies buzz and wondering what would happen if one fell in the mashed potatoes. I must have been about 10, and it was the last time I ever ate dinner there. Maryanne

Hello, my 2nd post on Gardenweb (sorry, the first went to the Roses :) ) but I'm excited about the peony roots I bought at a Home Depot. They were on sale which tells me that they wanted to move them because: a) the peonies and other boxed bareroots are getting old and dying and b) they need to make room for the FALL BULBS!! ( i can't wait) I brought them home and potted them up in potting soil with some compost on top, at least I think I put a bit on top. So after reading this thread, I should leave them in the pots for a year? I just did this yesterday so I shouldn't expect any bloom from them until next spring? Some of the eyes are about 1/2" to 1" but will they die back or sprout a bit of green then die back? I was wondering if they would play "catch up" to the peony plants that some other people in the neighborhood have that are about 12" to 18" and budding already. Thanks!

Peonies need sun and water when it gets dry, other then that mine went 15 years without anything other then mowed in the fall and water when it did not rain for long periods. We moved and they came with us last year in the summer.

Cath T... I can't imagine you would hurt the eyes with the flash on your camera. Can't be any different than them being attracted to very bright outdoor lights and such. I would think at worst, they might see spots for a while ;o) I don't know for sure but I really don't think a flash would do any serious harm. Barb