Endless Summer Hydrangea

Hello,

I planted 5 ES Hydrangeas late last summer. They grew a bit but nothing crazy being only half a summer. Now its Mid June and they have yet to do anything. Google seems to gice wildly different awnsers with only one word difference in phrasing when I search. I did take a knife and cut off a tiny piece of bark near the base and there was a bit of green right under the bark which I read means its still alive but find it odd that nothing is happening with it yet. Zone 4b.