I am also seeing the same thing with the black. It starts on the leaves and then to the stems and then dead????? HELP

It is one of several fungus diseases affecting peonies when the conditions are right. I would spray weekly for three weeks with a Bordeaux mixture you can make yourself. You do need to have a few dry days after spraying which may be a problem for you, but I would do it anyway. Bordeaux will stain surfaces so keep it off surfaces you do not want stained. Al

4 years ago, I transplanted a chunk of a huge peony plant in March (I know now that it was the wrong time of year to do that) and I buried them too deep. 2 autumns ago I raised it up to it's preferred height. The plant has over a dozen stems and is thick and getting thicker each year. It has yet to flower or to even suggest that it is willing to flower. Will this peony ever forgive me and bloom? I live on the line between zone 4 and 5 in south central Maine and many of my neighbors have beautiful peonies.

Fernstreet, just give it time. They do require well established roots in able to bloom. If it is getting foliage, it will bloom in a year or two. Moving them stes them back, so you will have to sacrifice blooms for a while.

PS, out of kindness to Loray, you should have started your own thread addressing your problem so the original question can get answered. You will probably get more answers to your question as well. (not being mean, just trying to help) :)