Annette - I am envious that you can go to a nursery and see such a huge selection of peonies. Since not many people plant peonies in California, they are far and few between in the stores. Mail order is the only way to go. There is a peony farm in the foothills, but it is over 2 hours away.
Congratulations on the your Koukamon bloom. I love that deep dark red. I got mine Koukamon from mamjack's coop too. I lost the first Kinshi I got from her, but it looks like the second one that I got in 2013 is still alive. Too young for a bloom though. The Koukamon that I had posted earlier had 3 blooms this year.
You'll like the Houki too. It is a nice watermelon red. Mines bloomed for the first time this year.
