Lucky you to get so many freebie astilbes. I wouldn't be without my nearly two dozen+ plants--they add so much to my part sun & shade beds. The #1 thing to remember about astilbe is it needs plenty of moisture. The #2 thing to remember is they're tough as nails. About three years ago we had not a drop of rain from early June until mid-September. Every one of my astilbes had curled-up, crispy foliage by fall; every one of them came through the subsequent winter months and the following year behaved like nothing had happened. The link below will bring you to a Missouri Botanical Garden webpage with a picture of Astilbe chinensis which happens to be a slightly shorter plant with dense flowering spikes as opposed to other types with more airy blooms & foliage such as A. arendsii or A. brautschleier. Astilbe bloom colors generally include pink, red, white & lavender. Astilbes are well-behaved--none of my plants have ever self-seeded or spread. All come back, year after year, exactly where they were originally planted. Sorry I can't help you ID your plants prior to planting. I know what I like about astilbes and how they perform in my own garden beds but am not an expert on the various cultivars beyond what I've offered above. You might check one of the more reliable online garden sources such as Santa Rosa Gardens. Someone there might be able to help you with identification. Here is a link that might be useful: Astilbe chinensis

Just another example of if you want something done right you gotta do it yourself. You have to be your own advocate and question every small detail to get it done right. While this really is not your fault, I don't think there is much that can be done now. I dont know if I would have noticed a detail like that on the contract. Maybe I would have, maybe not. I have a feeling he chose poplar because it does cost less. Now if you pointed that out before signing, he might have raised the price. Who knows.

Java Plum can grow in Southern California or Florida in climate zone 10 (near the coast). I'm not sure about colder than that. Java plum is "an acquired taste", as they say. Many people who grew up with them love them, but the flavor can be very astringent. They are an invasive plant in the tropics, with the birds spreading the seeds everywhere, but this is probably not going to be a problem in the dry climate of Southern California. It is listed as an invasive plant in several counties in Southern Florida though. They are beautiful trees and can get to be very tall, but they are very messy, dropping their fruit everywhere.

Maybe look into getting photoshop elements instead. It will allow you to make posters and flyers with all the fancy fonts you have. It usually runs between $79-99 and you can buy it on the dvd at you local staples or office depot.