". . . but the ratings in MD for Brilliant and Unique are right in line with the top TTTF cultivars showing only marginal weakness in Sept. and Oct . . ." Not so because ratings and test results are not to be cross compared. Bluegrass ratios reflect what is to be expected of bluegrass. Fescue ratios reflect what is to be expected of fescue. So, you can't combine species' ratings to determine performance. For example, what rates very well for one species may be inferior performance by comparison of another species with the same rating. I don't know if I wrote that to make sense. You can't use the ratings of one species to determine the performance of another species even with the same ratings. Still don't know, but I'll leave it at that. You want kbg, then go with kbg. Both have the same basic requirements, but understand that the mow high rules only applies to individual cultivars these days. It applies to existing lawns, most of which are dozens of years old, or even ten years old. Because you are renovating and will have a new lawn, it's best to blend the various cultivars that share similarities. For example, Midnight II is a low grow/mow short cultivar. So, those you blend with it should be the same, in addition to having other characteristics and requirements in common. Instead of your usual 3.5, it will be best to mow your new lawn at 2.5 and that is still high for these varieties. I know some people still do mow it higher, and that's up to you. The difference in maintenance requirements between bluegrass and fescue is fescue will more likely stay green through the heat of summer, while bluegrass will require more water to stay green. You can let it go dormant if you wish by withholding water or irrigate as usual. If you experience record-breaking highs, both will need water more frequently. Other than that, they share the same nitrogen and mowing requirements. I would swap Unique for Serene if I were you. It's a better cultivar.

Rose of Sharon (H. syriacus) is a woody shrub, and quite hardy. These often have very fertile seeds and you can end up with a forest of seedlings coming up near their parents if you're not vigilent. Many folks don't like them due to this "weedy" aspect. There are much improved modern varieties available. I've been especially pleased with the hybrid 'Diana' that was a USDA release several years ago. No seeds and very large, flat white flowers and blooms 'til frost. It is easily started from cuttings during the late summer. The hardy herbaceous hibiscus is H. mosheutos or one of it's many hybrids and varieties. I'm not sure if any of this species can tolerate Z4-5 winters, even with a heavy mulch. The evergreen tropical hibiscus that you see in Florida, Hawai`i and other warm areas is H. sinensis. These will not tolerate cold.

Free to good homes: one or both of two huge, beautiful rhododendrons with lavender blooms. A landscaper has said that they are not old, are healthy, and are worth a large chunk of change. However, I can't move them and don't want to pay nearly $500 to have the nursery do it. So the shrubs are free for the taking by anyone with the muscle and the truck. Access is easy through the alley, and you could pick them up anytime between now and Thursday evening, when they must be gone. Otherwise, on Friday they are history, sad to say. Please call me if you would like them at 410-366-4094 or 443-690-0042. Thanks!

Anna (and others) I take claims of any plant's sterility with a bucket of salt. A friend had many allium millenium and around year 5 they began to seed modestly. I have "sterile" hibiscus Lil' Kim and find several seedling every year. Same for Blue Chiffon, which is supposedly sterile Those numbers are far, far less than the seeding of chives or prolific species ROS, which seeded hundreds if not thousands. That was a real PITA Plants are not trialed in every possible environment. And after my experience with the Saul series of echinaceas I believe some are not trialed long enough or in enough different climates/conditions, so the information provided by breeders and/or distributors may not be accurate for every garden. I certainly don't mind pulling a handful of seedlings, but you can understand my skepticism about any 'absolute' claims about any plant.