The Hepatica I usually find (Western NY State) are a pale blue but color can vary. The white you found are quite pretty. Here is a link to the NY Flora Atlas. Search for Hepatica for links to the species here. FataMorgana Here is a link that might be useful: NY Flora Atlas

Colorado Blue Spruce is an popular conifer, for whatever reason. Symbol of the west, maybe? I think they look stupid in most non-arid landscapes. South of Philly their performance in all but the sandiest and or most well draining soil is very iffy. I know of a C-level executive on the Main Line who keeps planting large B&B CBS and Douglas Fir to try to bring a bit of his native Colorado east, and they keep dying. It would probably be better to start with smaller container specimens. OTOH I recently saw a couple smallish ones doing reasonably well in the Virginia Beach area. But the soil there is sandy. You are correct that Norway spruces are more common, especially north of DC. In the suburbs of Balto. & Philly you see a lot of somewhat ancient NS, you hardly see any blue spruces that tall and many of those look like cr-p. I don't think of ERC as being a tree of the "north lands". As you drive up 95, they are a common roadside weed in the DC area, through lower NJ perhaps, but I don't remember them seeming that common in interior New England or in the high elevations of Pennsylvania or NY, which are surprisingly cool in summer. (Binghamton, NY, is only a little warmer in summer than SE England...but of course more like St. Petersburg in winter!) For example on the highway from Wilkes-Barre to Binghamton there's an amazing monoculture of white birch with a stunted understory of Kalmia. A few hemlocks too. You feel like you are driving near in a boreal area but are thousands of miles away from one of the poles, and not very elevated either. Some of the highest ridgetops were still getting snow in early April when I made the drive. Anyhow I don't think they were ever commonly planted anywhere on the East Coast. I think if they were there, they were allowed to remain in a garden. I could be wrong about that...they were sometimes sold as christmas trees in "olden times" so maybe some of those were B&B'd and planted.

Just saw your post here. There are a number of ways you can get the look of a Japanese Garden in central Texas. One big plus is that gravel for pathways and rocks are plentiful. Live Oaks provide character. If you don't mind a few non-natives, bamboo-like Nandina thrives in my yard. Japanese Maples do well here in morning light and afternoon shade. Mine are in containers by the front door. Metro Maples is a great place to start. They have all the scoop on growing Japanese Maples in Texas. Here is a link that might be useful: Metro Maples

Enduro - I am in Perth too. Are you coastal or inland? With our very sanding soils, the main thing is to make sure that the water penetrates well. With our reasonably good winter, you should have no problems at the moment - but come summer, something seems to happen and the sand goes all water repellent - that's when you have to keep an eye on your plants and (as this will be their first season) keep them watered through their first summer. If the water does not penetrate - then use a soil wetting agent - liberally ! I have not planted my natives with either karri mulch or sheep poo - I have basically planted in unimproved soil. I have though, for the kangaroo paws, meleleucas, callistemons etc used compost. I have leusch. biloba growing in a full sun position and it is very happy. In respect of the list of new purchases: Banksia repens - has been slow growing for me but was happier when I started watering it and giving it a little bit of blood and bone. Conostylis Candicans - apparently likes sandy spots and limey soils. Mine is going ok in a sandy spot in full sun. No improvement to soil was done. Macropidia Fuliginosa - mine suffered terribly from black spot - overhead watering must be avoided. Here is a tip from this link http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2002/macropidia-fuliginosa.html: "Growing Macropidia will present a challenge for gardeners in the eastern states of Australia. The plant requires a narrow range of growing conditions and is susceptible to pests and diseases. To offset the difficulties, there is an enormous body of horticultural information developed for the cut flower industry. It is probably best to grow Macropidia in a pot to allow flexibility in siting the plant. It grows best in full sunlight and prefers warm to hot conditions. Siting it in front of a north-facing wall will help create a suitable microclimate and protect it from frost. Soil should be well drained. Like the other Kangaroo Paws, Macropidia will achieve maximum growth and flower production when well watered. A drip irrigation system is recommended because the plant will suffer if it is allowed to dry out and conversely, does not like waterlogging. Macropidia responds well to fertilisation, but is susceptible to phosphate toxicity. Fertilisers designed for Australian native plants are best."