Peony envy

I love peonies - they were the main flowers in my wedding bouquet and have adored them ever since. However, try as I might I cannot grow them - the only year my peony flowered beautifully it came a cropper when someone kicked a football at it, knocking all the petals off every head; and last year it went all mouldy. Every year I get a rubbish little shoot and every year nothing much happens. So, there is a garden on the way to Ellie's school that has magnificent peonies everywhere - I am soooooo jealous. Snapped this on my mobile so it doesn't do it justice but will try and go back with a better camera another day.