You can try something with less nitrogen. I use an African violet fertilizer (with micronutrients) for my blooming plants. These prefer more moist conditions than typical succulents. When the medium (bark) dried, you can soak it for 5-10 minutes so the bark can absorb the moisture otherwise just the surface gets wet and it dries very quickly. I have this problem (drying too quickly) with my orchids in bark if I don't let the bark soak after it's dried out.

All of those shutters, individually and together, look silly to me. I'd remove them and trim the windows out appropriately. I'd be surprised if any of those shutters were there in the 1920's. At least on those windows. Are the main level windows original 1920's? They don't seem like it. Similarly, the center windows over the portico would typically have been much smaller. Historically a house would have been designed so that all or most major windows had functioning shutters. It'd not be unusual to not have shutters on some smaller or odd-shaped windows but the major windows would have had them (depending on geography and orientation). If those windows and ill fitting shutters are 1920's originals then they seem well ahead of their time.

"Many thanks to the both of you! New gardener here. Starting from seed is proving difficult for me so I appreciate you taking the time!" Hi HP, being a new gardener is a learning process for sure, even after 50+ years of gardening I'm still learning good info too. Since you are in Z-6 you could most likely plant your peas seeds directly in the garden now and skip the indoor starts (next year). Peas (seed) don't mind being planted in cool soil and can handle cold temps well down to mid 20's without damage (from my experience). I planted my pea seed here last week (Z-7 outside) and they are starting to pop up now, so even it if snows now they won't be hurt by it unless a Hard freeze in the teens hits to set them back. As mentioned though you may need to acclimate you indoor pea starts to outdoor conditions before transplanting them. ETA....if you have some leftover pea seeds it may be worthwhile to experiment and plant some of them outside now and compare their progress with the indoor peas once you transplant them outside. After a month or so you may find that the seeds planted outside catch up to the transplants, if so of if not, then you can decide how to handle planting your peas next year.

debra, I'm sorry you're not getting more suggestions. I know nothing, really, about peonies, so I am of no help either lol. But I had to say how spectacular your M. Jules Elie looks - wow, I've NEVER had that many buds on my lone Sarah Berhhardt peony. It must look lovely in bloom. This is just a wild stab here, but do peonies need to be dug up and divided, like irises? I know they are very long-lived, but if this is 25 years old, is it possible it needs to be divided? Again, just a guess.... Good luck! :) Dee