Hello NGraham,
I am attempting to start some peonies from seed obtained from Gardens North.
Their instructions are as follows.

Keep warm (20C) 5-25 weeks (germination & root emergence only).
Shift to cold until an extensive root system forms.
Pot up and place at warm for emergence of first true leaf.
Best done by placing seed in a zip lock bag with barely moist vermiculite to observe what is happening with seed.

Gardens NorthÂs website has some discussion of peony germination.
To find it use the link to get to the Gardens North website.
At the top click on the link (About Us).
Next on the left hand side is a list of links.
Click on the (Germination Corner) link.
That will bring up a list of topics.
One of them is called (Paeonia germination).
Click on that to get down to the article on germinating peonies.

This is my first time at this too.
Good luck

Ian

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardens North

Wow, so glad I asked. That article makes it sound like they are very easy though if you follow those directions.
Thanks Ian

Nancy

All seeds are easy if you give them the right conditions ;) Peonies are a bit slow, though ...