What's wrong with this peony?

I got some blooms (divided last year, so not a lot), but at the end a couple of buds got covered in a brownish fuzz. The two pictures are of the whole plant and of the bud. Does anyone know what this is?

TIA
LAS

I would first suspect Botrytis blight. It's a common cause of buds that look like that.

LAS, here's a link to an article that addresses your problem and has good pix...

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/environmental/bud-blast.aspx

~ pen

Thanks for the link, Pennzer. As a matter of fact, we divided our decades old plant last year. Both "children" produced some flowers this year, but then the problem. I'll cross my fingers for next year.

Tia ~ did you have a cold spell anytime this season?
Sometimes a cold spell can stun the growth of new buds on Peonies.

Probably. It's hard to remember. We've had a glorious sunny mild summer. But don't remember back to the spring except it was VERY LATE.

BTW, "TIA" means "Thanks in Advance." :-)

LAS