Lavender, sedum, & milkweed are low-water plants, but hydrangeas' common name is "water-sucking sponge"! If they're in the same area, just be sure to give the hydrangea enough water without drowning the others. While they're new, I'd water them a bit more, to be sure that the plant gets enough water even though its roots have been disturbed, but pay attention to the moisture in the soil; if it's dry about 1" down, you can water a little, but don't water wet soil or your plants will drown. When you see new growth, cut back to 'regular' watering. If you were here in Texas, I'd say to watch them for heat stress & be prepared to put a shade cloth over them or just pile some of last year's autumn leaves over them until they adjust, but I don't know what your sun & heat are like, so use your powers of observation, & maybe check with some local garden clubs for expertise. Your plants sound beautiful, & I hope you enjoy them for a long time to come!

Jackie, Good for you! Fragrance is very important. BUT, most of the time, I can't smell most of my roses. The Rugosa Rotesmeer is the only rose I grow which consistently provides me scent. I can also smell myrrh which is probably why I like it. I can pick up a little wafting scent as I walk through the garden. It is light and pleasing. But, disappointing when you figure I have at least 30 very fragrant roses. On the other hand, the fragrance of the butterfly bushes is overwhelming. And I love my "Miss Kim" too. So fragrance is not necessary to allow me to love my roses.

Why take the risk? Macbirch, I understand exactly what you're saying. Planting natives does sometimes/often seem like a risk because we just don't have the collective knowledge about natives as we do exotics. About 2 years ago, I wanted to plant a hedge along the boundary between my native garden and my neighbour's property. I really liked the idea of using waratahs, but at that stage I'd never tried to grow one, and, since you don't see them around that much, thought they must be difficult. I decided not to take the risk and planted callistemons instead, at least they where natives. Anyway, I've since had great success growing 2 waratahs (even moved one), so I've decided to take out the callistemons, which aren't getting enough sun anyway, and replace them with waratahs. My point is that if I'd had the confidence in the first place, and got some decent advice from my local nursery, I wouldn't be now, 2 years down the track, going to all the work and expense of replacing the callistemons with what is afterall, a plant indigenous to the Blue Mountains! You'd think there'd be a waratah nursery here wouldn't you? No, I have to drive 40 minutes just to get to a native nusery, and that looks like it could close down any time soon. Waz, young people like you are the key. I hope you never grow exotics, never learn about them or decide you like them. Oh, and I hope you and Artie continue to be outspoken about people like me who grow roses. If I build another house and start a garden from scratch, things will be different.

Perhaps you could have a trip to Mount Annas(Correct Name?) which I beleive has native plants from all over and discover what they do with the WA natives. I thought Kangaroo paw like it a bit damp and sandy. We had a man from Strathmerton,Vic.speak at APS the other night who ripped up his clay fairly deeply, mulched, hilled and swailed, and had good results. Yes it has to do with microclimate and soil . Research to learn about the plants' natural habitat. After all some WA plants do not grow in sand. Don Burke has a good native garden. But Mount Annas National gardens would be your best bet.