Welcome LisaLisa. For your area it is best to plant the eyes at about one inch below the soil's surface. Sometimes buying in a pot from a nursery is hard to tell how they did it, unless you wait until fall to plant and remove the peony from the dirt and the potting mix they planted it in.
In any case, proper planting depth, excellent drainage and full sun will give any peony the best outcome. Gary is right about patience. When properly cared for, these peonies will outlive just about everything in your yard! They truly are amazing plants.
