Just an FYI to those in Alaska. The Palmer Research Center will be doing experiments on growing different peonies in Alaska to promote the Alaska Cut Flower trade. A speaker from there was at the APS meeting this year and gave a small talk. I spoke to the person after the talk and they will be doing research in all peonies not just the cut flower ones as long as their funding holds out. I don't know if they can accept donations for the project or not. However if you wish to donate you can contact them.

Any research that they do there should be very applicable in the lower 48. For what ever it is worth I suggested a study of growing peonies in different soil types might be worth while as certain peonies appear to do better in different soil types.