I see several things I would be interested in. Please check my lists. I also have desert rose cuttings and lipstick bromeliads.

Interesting, Ann. I knew there were other allelopathic plants besides the Black Walnut. Funny, there are hundreds of trees of heaven around here that sprout by the dozens, but I have never noticed a lack of weeds around them. I did not read the other article you posted. It was too long for my limited lunch hour. I'll have to get to that later. Thanks for posting. Barbara

I'd put them in pots so you can move them to hospitable locations as the temps soar all the live-long summer. :(

I wouldn't plant right up against them. I'd spread out a layer of mulch (we use pine straw but shredded hardwood is very nice) in a circle 5-6 feet all the way around the tree. Or certainly if you can get a nice carpet of moss going, that would serve a similar purpose. Then plant further out. I think planting too close is hard on the plants, hard for you to dig and to maintain (lots of root competition), and potentially stressful for the tree (depending on how much you do). A nice layer of mulch or moss is plenty attractive and restful to the eye. If you have any deer nearby, don't bother planting hostas. Getting fern divisions from your mom sounds like a good way to start (and economical). If you want to id them (the ferns), take a picture and post it on the Name that Plant forum.