I don't know where Fayetteville County is in TX but if you're north of Austin you should be able to grow some peonies. Itohs are gorgeous, a cross between tree peonies and herbaceous, and tend to do better in warmer areas. Another thing to look for is early blooming ones and single bloomers for mid-season. Saunders peonies are typically fairly early and have some amazing colors. If you want big double peonies you'll want to be super careful not to get late blooming ones--it'll be too hot for them by the time the buds are ready to open. Afternoon shade in the summer wouldn't be a bad idea, either. Here are a couple of sites to do some research:

http://www.americanpeonysociety.org/  I'm pretty sure there's an article written by Don Hollingsworth in their archives about growing peonies in the south

http://www.southernpeony.com/  She's a zone 7 so a bit cooler than you but you can see how many varieties she manages to grow. She's very good about answering questions as well

http://www.paeo.de/navigation/hilf_en_1oben.html  The peony database on this site has more varieties with pictures and info than any other database I've seen.

Another good resource is the big growers. Both Adelman's Peony Paradise and Hollingsworth's Peonies have been very good about answering emailed questions for me before. info@peonyparadise.com and nursery@hpeonies.com respectively.

Thank you so much for this great answer, We are about 10 miles outside of Round Top Texas. I love peonies and really hoped I may be able to have some FINALLY, as I am from too-hot California!

P.S., the double peonies in light pink and white are my absolute fav's. I will look for early bloomers!

Hope you find some early doubles that you love, Brendaleeoc! I looked at the bloom time of mine and found a few you might want to look at. Bess Bockstoce is a beautiful light pink double, blooms early, and LeCygne is a white double. If you like more of a dusty pink Etched Salmon, Salmon Beauty or Salmon Dream might be good choices. All stand up very well and are lovely (or at least I think they are!).

These links will help

Growing Peonies in USDA Zones 8 and 9

http://l.b5z.net/i/u/10078242/f/Peonies_in_the_Deep_South_Revisited.doc