Did the base of the peony get covered with too much soil/mulch last year? Or has the area become too shady from a growing tree or shrub? Those are the only reasons I can think of why an otherwise healthy peony won't bloom.

Ang, I have found that this happens occassionally with peonies. I have a gorgeous Festiva Maxima from Parkland Perennials.....its been in the garden for several years...it started out big and just got bigger. Then last year all of a sudden, it wasn't doing well. Only a few stems appeared in the spring......and I think it had one or two flowers. I was moving things around and dividing everything last year....and decided to dig up this peony and move it to the front bed. What I discovered was that half of the huge tuber/root had rotted. I pulled it out and removed the rot and re-planted in the front new bed. This year it has 8 buds and what looks like some new shoots, about 4 inches tall, comming from the ground.

So far it looks like its going to be a good peony year here......All but one seem to have buds. The one that doesn't is still very young. Oh and of course the baby ones that I started from seed, don't have buds.

My lupines have been in the decline stage for the last couple of years. I started some from seed this year to replace. The only one I have blooming is a rose lupine right now. Sorry to hear about your bugs/critter.....I know how disappointing that is.

Sierra

No changes in and around the peony, same amount of sun/shade as other years.

I may well have to see about digging it up and dividing. I have no idea how long its been here either. The house is from 1964 so who knows when it was put in. Speaking of rooted tubers, I did have some lupines earlier this year that had that. I'll have to dig around and investigate!

Ang