Looks fine @paul.cartQaAzBT79- they can sometimes sit [annoyingly!] for a while at that stage, and you think they're never going to open, then suddenly - there they are
The outer petals occasionally get stuck a little if you have a lot of greenfly on them [hence the ants] because of the honeydew they secrete. It's often just a case of wiping them gently if you don't have enough rain to unglue them, but I'd wait a few days yet before doing anything. Check them anyway.
The ants are feeding directly from sap which peony buds excrete due to them being under internal pressure. It's thought that this is an evolved mechanism to actually attract ants, which then 'defend' the peony buds against other insects.
So, if you see ants on peony buds, it's completely normal and not a problem. Isn't nature wonderful!
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Interesting @BobTheGardener - I never have much in the way of greenfly, but although we rarely have a lot of ants, I usually have some on the peony buds - there was certainly some this year - but no aphids that I could see. Every day's a school day
Interested to read about Peony buds - my problem this year is no flowers at all, they have bloomed very well in past years - (mature plants). I am not alone in this my neighbour has same problem - any ideas?
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Glad your peony has opened @peecee1stml3twe2h. Looks grand
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...