Hi Plantermunn! How big were the roots when you planted? If you got them from one of the big box stores in the little plastic bags those can take several years to bloom, almost like growing one from seed. I have some from Walmart that have been in place for 3 years and that look like they're still at least another year away from blooming. If yours were from larger roots, 3-5 eyes and appropriately sized feeder roots or a 2-3 gallon pot if they were bought at a nursery then it might be something else.

What zone are you in? The higher the zone the shallower your peonies should be planted, right up to eyes showing in Calistoga_al's zone! Here in CO mine are planted so the eyes are around an inch below the surface. The deepest that herbaceous roots should be planted is deep enough for the eyes to be 2 inches below the surface in the coldest zones. Grafted tree peonies should be much deeper, though.

I normally don't fertilize my peonies at all but am trying an organic fertilizer for bulbs called BulbTone, recommended by another forum member. We're not in the same growing zone and local conditions are a factor too, I'm sure, but her fertilized peonies are far larger than my (until this year) unfertilized plants of the same type that were planted the same year.

Good luck with your peonies!