All I can think of to say is "I thought all you fellers had died off ". I was faced with a similar problem more than 30 years ago and couldn't find a soul to pour lead. Had a few say they knew how but no longer had the tools (plumbers are known for that). Homeowner wanted to preserve the home true to it's period and was paying well for all the work being done to it. My job was was assisting owner in writing scopes of work and making certain they were followed. One of the contractors used scab labor on demo work that wound up damaging a lead sleeve between flange and cast iron. Realy straightfoward replacement of lead sleeve but noone would pour the joint. In my search for a plumber I asked at a supply house. The guy just laughed,went to the back and returned with a lead "repair"sleeve and two big ol soldering irons resembleing medieval war clubs. He gave me a few instructions and sent me on my way. I made my first and last lead repair plus a rock solid,long standing business relationship with the supply house owner. The story wouldn't be complete unless I confessed to my price couging. The contractor who damaged the thing said he would pay to have it repaired but refused to beat the brush for a plumber and pay him up front. I was on the homeowner's payroll during all the time I spent (this was long before cells and the vacant house had no phone) but I felt I was awol while away from the site. Right or wrong,I stuck the contractor with a bill I intended him to remember when he thought about cutting corners on labor or shirking responsibility of follow through. Anyhow,I hope you made a u-tube of the deed because many people may never see lead poured.

It might help to approach it with a theme in mind. Cordyline is a tropical plant from Hawaii while switchgrass is a prairie plant and I can't see mixing prairie with tropical myself. Also consider your zone. Switchgrass grows native in the plains and grasslands much further north in the cooler part of the country and goes through seasonal changes which zone 9 South Texas doesn't have. If you want a grass I'd suggest a Texas native like Muhlenbergia dumosa or M. lindheimerii which will stay evergreen for you. You can grow much more exotic plants than you are suggesting. It might be a good idea to take a ride around where you live and search for plants that appeal to you and get a visual picture to work from when you find a combination you like. Consider some zone 8 or 9 plants, Mexican Red Bird of Paradise for example, would not grow further north and many of us would love to be in your zone where we could grow some of the fabulous plants from Mexico but it would grow well for you. Crepe Myrtle is a safe choice but they are over used, common work horse plants and I see them in just about every median and yard around here in Oklahoma. It definitely wouldn't be my choice if I moved to zone 9 when there are so many exotic plants to choose from. That is plenty of sun in zone 9 by the way, you can grow just about anything in an east exposure.

Probably "spelter" - a cheap alloy that was used for lots of cast decor because it was cheaper than bronze and could be painted or plated to look like bronze. It casts well with good detail.

bella ---I have Dallas Blues too which I started from three 4" pots from SRG planted together. Its vase shaped and loose but definitely has beautiful color. The pink panicles are very nice and quite big and in summer the leaves are blue but not as blue as Little Bluestem. I have it situated by the low wall surrounding the back patio/porch and it looks nice in afternoon sun. One clump is definitely enough for the size of my property. The leaves are much more spaced apart and wider so its kind of coarse in texture compared to the other named varieties. This is a switchgrass I think might flop or splay out for anyone who has too rich soil judging by how mine is doing this year with an abnormal amount of August/September rain but then it also seems to be less drought tolerant as the bottom leaves brown and shrivel when its dry and hot. It has stood back up after the rains but its not one you'd want if you are after verticality. I saw them planted at the Capital in a mass planting surrounded by hesperaloe in a large round area, it was gorgeous. I'm most disappointed in Shenandoah. So far it hasn't colored up red in fall for me here, anyway it hasn't so far and doesn't make much of a visual impact but with all the rain this year, I am seeing some red tips on the leaves. Its very low growing and to me its squatty looking, about the size & height of Sideoats Grama but with less visual punch IMO. I ended up transplanting all the 4" pots I ordered from SRG ones I ordered into one 'hole' rather than using it to fill in a massed planting. Hot Rod was a joke and a rip-off. It died after just sitting there not growing in size at all the first year, come spring it was a goner and it was planted in a good low spot-- nice and moist which is good for switch grasses with good drainage so I know it wasn't a problem with getting too dry. I wonder if its a case of over-breeding? I don't think June bug grubs got it because the roots were still intact when I dug it up, grubs are a problem with grasses here. If a person wants red, I advise getting the named Big Blue stem cultivars. I have 3 types and don't notice much difference in coloring etc (all have equally red stalks and 'turkey feet' no matter how the pictures online look that I've seen) but its still early and this is the first year they each have several stalks and are making a presence. I love this grass. All that rain and they stood up like soldiers even when wet, like exclamation marks.