It's funny--I didn't like Athena AT ALL from the pictures posted by all of the major sellers! Frank's pictures last year made me stop and reconsider. Glad I did, love it now. Mine only had 2 buds this year and 1 was severely damaged by weather but I can already see why it would be in anyone's top 5!
I also love the whites with the really dark foliage, it's such a pretty contrast.
My daughter was reading an article about predictions from the Farmer's Almanac out loud to me today. If it's right you'll get another chance to have pretty peony blooms again next spring, Debra! She read that it predicts that the south will have another crazy cold winter this year, too. Isn't that 3 years in a row if it's right?