What is your opinion on the viability of these buds? Do you think they will eventually bloom?

Bud 1:


Bud 2:




Edited to add, bud 2 is much bigger than bud 1. Bud 1 is still very small.

Tracey, both of those buds look viable! If you have warm temps, they will increase in size nicely.

The first bud hasn't really changed in size. Temps have been in the 60s and mid 70s for a few weeks here in Texas. I just hope that it will get bigger and not turn black.

I am very excited! I look at the plants before I go to work and I look at them when I return home. I'm a bit obsessed right now.

It's easy to become obsessed with peonies, I also check my plants everyday . It's amazing how they can change within 24 hours.

So true! I find this all fascinating and I am learning so much!

There are times where buds actually stop advancing. I'm never sure what causes it, but they abort part way through the development process. You'll have to keep us posted. The first picture you have reminds me of one that is not continuing to develop, though on the same plant you can have a plant loaded with blossoms that are healthy. I have a couple of older double peonies that do this. The plant is healthy, there are just a couple of these every once in a while. Keep us posted.

Tracey, I think you are right about the first bud. It really hasn't done anything as far as continued growth. It is probably the size of a lentil, if not smaller. Do I leave it on the plant? If not, what would be the proper thing to do?
Thanks!

Since it is not likely to bloom I would just gently cut it off that way the plant isn't trying to put energy into that blossom that won't amount to anything.

Where do I cut it off at?

Just below the bud is what I would do. You want to keep as many leaves on your plant as you can.

Thank you!

Hi Tracy, yes you are now a peony person. We are all obsessed with looking at our peonies at least once a day. Lol.
I have already pinched off 4 or5 buds on various peonies that turned black or were soft to the touch when they were little.
You just have to do it for the overall health of the plant.

Tracy, did the buds turn brown? If so, you might want to look up "bud blast."

The buds never turned brown. The smaller one just stayed small. The bigger one stopped developing. I noticed lots of thrips around it. I did cut off the bud. Now I have no buds and lots of leaves, as none of the other plants are doing anything in terms of forming flower buds.

Sorry, Tracy, hope it works out better next peony season.

Tracy, where is Mansfield located in TX?

I am located between Dallas and Fort Worth, south of interstate 20. We are actually closer to Fort Worth than Dallas (South of Arlington).

Are you fertilizing them very much?

I did not fertilize them except for bone meal in the hole when I planted them.

Tracy, everything I've read and advice from southern peony growers says that peonies need a minimum of 50 days of maximum 40 degree temps in the winter to make it to bloom. Springs that warm up too quickly will decimate peony buds as well, I see that occassionally with the latest bloomers in Co because of our altitude. If I were you I'd haunt the Southern Peony blog as well as ask questions of other peony growers in your zone. Don't remember how to find it but there was a map function here that showed if there were other members in your area, concentrate your questions on them since they'll be the most familiar with what you deal with gardening, maybe they can offer tips and suggestions for varieties that will be more successful in your area. They're more expensive and you might hesitate since your herbaceous buds failed this year but Itohs seem to shrug off the heat better, you might want to invest in at least one to try. If not, I'd do a search for the type that you like but concentrate on the earliest blooming varieties to give them the best fighting chance at success.
I live in an area now that EASILY gets the needed chill, actually doesn't seem to know when to stop chilling....but plan to retire in a warmer zone. I'm currently negotiating with my husband to make sure that retirement place is at least marginally hospitable to peonies! So I certainly have a vested interest in seeing how far south they can bloom.