Question
Hi,
I live in the foothills of western North Carolina and I'm in Zone 7.
I purchased several Lily of the Valley bulbs and Sara Bernhardt Peonies (bare root plants?). They came in sealed bags with soil. I was supposed to plant them in March-April and here it is August!

I looked at the Peonies and it looks like roots are growing but there is also a little bit of whitish mold (?) on one root. I couldn't check out the Lily of Valley bulbs as the bag was opaque- I guess to block out light.

My question is this: is it too late to plant these flowering plants? Will they still survive and grow even though they have been kept in a box bagged? If it isn't too late, what about the condition of the bulbs? Should I scrape off or cut off any soft spots or mold/fungus I may find?

I appreciate any help you may be able to give me. Thank you.

Answer
Well, Stephanie, I am afraid that the phrase "better late than never" may or may not work here.

Get everything into dirt at your earliest possible convenience.  Bare Root anything is always tricky.  Leaving Bare Root anything out of the ground for ... how many months did you say you have been looking at these bags? Well, we can hope, can't we?

Believe me, you are not the only one who has ever done this.

You won't be the last.

We do the best we can.

Get up and go.  Let me know how it's going.  If they're alive, we'll work with them.  Hurry, now, there's no time to waste.