If it's been neglected for a couple of years there probably is a layer of leaves and grass over the top, effectively increasing the planting depth. I'd clear anything like that away and watch them for a few weeks. Peonies are pretty hardy, hopefully they'll come back. Just be very gentle when you're removing any garden waste from the top of them; if there are pips coming up you won't want to break them off (been there, done that!). Good luck!

Thanks for your reply, liz. Yes, there was a ton of debris (leaves, weeds, garbage - ugh!) but I've cleared most of it off. I've noticed the dirt around the is also very hard. Should I try loosening it up a bit or is that just going to damage the root?

I just transplanted two Itoh peonies in Connecticut. Normally, it would be a little late, but the pips are just coming up. In our back yard, the roses are still dormant.

@zack: I was wondering if maybe the winter was very harsh so it's dormant longer this year, but the winter was actually pretty mild. Hope we both see growth soon :)

@liz: I'm in zone 3a. Maybe I'm worried over nothing. I'll try to be optimistic about it :D If worse comes to worst, I have about 10 seeds from a few years back I can try to grow.

Finland - If you are in 3a, don't worry. They have some time yet before you might expect them to do much.

If you are in zone 3a, it is best that you don't do anything now. I am in zone 6 and some of my plants are just peeking through the soil. Some varieties are slower than others. I don't think peonies begin to grow until a certain soil temp is reached. Just be patient and wait for their growths. Don't disturb the soil because you don't want to break any eyes underneath.

Thanks, Babs & Karen. There's no more snow here (although I do expect it to snow at least once more before spring is over) but it's still a bit chilly. I appreciate you guys calming me down a bit. I would like to divide one of them in the fall to place in my own lawn, so maybe that's why I'm so anxious to see them alive and well.

Oho, I checked the peonies today and there are TINY barely there red buds poking out of the ground for all 3 peonies. I feel silly for this thread now :D Thanks for all your help, guys!

finland9, I am in zone 7, and one of my clumps of herbaceous peonies is just a few inches high (another, in full sun, is a bit higher.) I'm sure yours will come up just fine, now that you're finally seeing them. As far as gardening goes, my peonies have survived FAR worse than "neglecting" them for a few years at a time. They are tough buggers!

@dcarearuthie Yes, they are crazy tough! My family are not green thumbs lol and the flowerbed was absolutely infested with all kinds of weeds, but I'm sure they will produce some beautiful flowers again this year. Checked again today and there are a few stems that are a couple inches tall now :)