You may have better luck in your second year. I'm a big advocate of planting over grass, as it will compost down and create rich soil. But it's always best to give it several months to decompose before planting. I probably would have gone 2' wide at a minimum, though I don't know how much the narrow width will hinder your garden. I'm in agreement that your wilting is most likely heat. That temp is awfully hot for new plants. If they're turning yellow and wilting, they're getting too much water. If they're staying green and wilting, they're not getting enough water. I always give my plants extra water when the temps go over 90 like they have this week.

I'd say . . . Corkbark Fir - Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica. Worth a try but won't like summer heat too much. Delavay Fir - Abies delavayi. No hope (zone 8 hardy, needs cool, extremely wet summers). Ernest Fir - Abies recurvata var. ernestii. Very good prospects. Faber Fir - Abies fabri. No hope (zone 7 hardy, needs cool summers). Georges Fir - Abies georgii. No hope (zone 7 hardy, needs cool summers). Greek Fir - Abies cephalonica. Very good prospects. Japanese Fir - Abies firma. Worth a try but may suffer winter cold damage. Amur Fir - Abies nephrolepis. Well worth a try but won't like summer heat too much. Korean Fir - Abies koreana. Well worth a try but won't like summer heat too much. Min Fir - Abies recurvata. Very good prospects. Nikko Fir - Abies homolepis. Very good prospects. Pacific Silver Fir - Abies amabilis. No hope (needs cool summers). Pindrow Fir - Abies pindrow. No hope (zone 8 hardy, marginal in 7). Trojan Fir - Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani. Very good prospects. Turkish Fir - Abies nordmanniana subsp. bornmuelleriana. Very good prospects. Veitch Fir - Abies veitchii. Well worth a try but won't like summer heat too much. Note a few taxonomic emendations to names! Also worth looking for Manchurian Fir (Abies holophylla), very good prospects. Resin

Beth - From looking at your roses here and from previous postings it looks like you have a lot of beautiful varieties. I will have to admit some of the names are unfamiliar to me, but you really have some nice ones. I'm glad they are enduring the heat!

Thanks for all the color suggestions.. I was finally able to go downstairs during the day (plaster walls are drying so NOONE is working down there today.. kind of nice actually) I think we are gong to go with BM Stone Hearth (thanks Sueb20) and for the bathroom I am going to go with BM tranquility (an affinity color). Its amazing how much color changes at different times of day. I am looking forward to showing you pictures when it is at least painted :) Thanks again for all your help!!