I would put the Bluestone plants in the ground. I bought plants from them during their Mem. Day sale this Spring and last, and they are pretty root-bound in their little pots, so I try to get them in the ground ASAP. They seem to spend the first season getting established and growing roots. Most flowered last summer, but only a few blooms. This Spring, last year's Bluestone plants are taking off like gangbusters! I just hosted a plant swap this weekend, and now have all these new plants that need to be planted, along with lots of winter-sown babies too (zinnias, tomatoes, chile peppers etc). So, if I waited until for perfect transplant conditions, i.e. cooler, cloudy, with a little rain in the forecast, it would be September before all these plants were in the ground! So I started planting stuff out late yesterday afternoon, despite the heat. Water the plants or seedlings well beforehand so the plants are hydrated, don't let them dry out during transplant, and keep them well-watered after. Use something to shade them for a few days if they are going into blazin' full sun and they aren't used to it.

Stevemy I'm in the same area as Will. I lost a new double trunk abies lasiocarpa. I did see some sporadic yellowing/brown needles indicating stress before the top-most tips wilted/turned brown and withered. Then it progressed down the tree as more needles turned brown and dried out. (in that order.) By the time it stopped, there was very little green left on the smaller of the two trees. The small one may survive, heavily damaged, but the larger is dead. The other double trunk a. Las (located right next to the dead one) is doing quite well, though some of it's new growth tips have wilted, a few more turned brown. Otherwise it/they seem quite happy. You almost can't water these trees too much (especially with the type of soil around here - sandy loam). Things you think are tough as nails, are dead from our heatwave. (As I drive around, I'm seeing dead blackberry bushes - around here, these are not easily killed. People have business just to kill them.) Several conifers in the ground two years also showed signs of stress, and required extra watering. I've learned, always plant in the fall here and still plan to water for three summers during dry spells. Or *very* early spring/late winter. Maybe. If it's drought tolerant to begin with. Resin I'd gladly trade you your cool wet weather. (normal here) I miss it. We're finally getting some drizzle - and I'm enjoying it. We really need it.

I'm not so sure it will swallow the Muhly. What kind of Muhly? How far apart are they? Neither the Sacaton plants I grew from seed or the ones that were 4" good starts in pots last summer I got from a friend, have bloomed yet. The 4" pot ones are about the same size you describe and both have blueish leaves with a weeping habit. On the other hand..... The real big Giant Sacaton I ordered from HCG of that improved Los Lunas Form they bred for wind breaks are truly giants. They are as as big as a large clump of pampas grass from the small gallon sizes I planted last fall with leaves just as wide. They are putting up very stiff straight blooms and these are taller than me. At maturity they are supposed to be 8 to 10 ft tall by 6 ft wide. I am using them as a screen grass and have them planted six feet apart. The native type has much thinner leaves, is bluer and is also much smaller. I figure they will increase in mass after a few years but I don't think they will be huge. Time will tell. Plants of the SW says they get 3 to 4 ft wide and high with blooms that are 7 ft. You can always edit your planting next spring. I am starting to like them better, I like the blue color.

What good news about Sharifa's slower opening. And that is interesting about Love Song's color behavior. I've only seen her in full Calif. sun and looking too pink for my use. Our high temps. never materialized which makes me think we're going to suffer a miserable September or October. The kind where it's 101 F. at the beaches. No escape. Great photos! Love 'Mary Rose'.