mine are also forming buds - I bought this home a year ago in December. two owners before me had planted extensive flower beds, but the current owner had pretty much neglected them for the last three years, so I had no idea what I might end up with when the plants started growing in the spring. Was very happy to find four peony plants sprouting! There is a fifth that looks like it had been dug out but a few roots remained, Last year just a few tiny stems grew, and this year it's looking much better, so hopefully I'll eventually have five.