The peonies should come back but they may not be as strong as they could be. The plant needs the leaves to gather energy for the new blooms in spring.
In the fall, you can trim your peonies down to about three inches above the ground, according to the NC State Web site, below. Cut off the flowering stems after they have flowered and give a top dressing af fertilizer and then ignore,
There are many types of peonies and they have different numbers of petals. Single peonies have between 5 to 12 petals. Other peonies have multiple rows of petals.
This is the first year that mine has bloomed. I have been cutting the blooms because I just adore the fragrance! One little flower makes the whole kitchen smell heavenly.
Perennial
Peonies need a period of cold to flower so in most temperate climates you can grow peonies.
Both are flowers.
"partnership" or "mutually beneficial" ie. Ants and peonies have a symbiosis or symbiotic relationship. (Peonies will not bloom unless they have ants on them.)
Peonies are in the genus Paeonia.
Peonies tend to attract ants to the flower buds. This is due to the nectar that forms on the outside of the flower buds.
If you mean last years growth, yes.The buds showing above the surface are the growth buds that will provide this years leaves and flowers. leave them alone.
My mom put them in a bucket of water upside down and swished them around a bit. Then leave them upside down for a while. She also put ant deterant around the base early in the season, the flowers have a sap that the ants love but the flowers do not need ants to open. She uses the ant deterant now and has beautiful peonies with out ants now.
Fruitbasket Flowerland.