Tigernach, Disclaimer or not, your post sure seemed like a slight on Mexicans. There's an increasing trend to hire any warm body who has no experience with plants, Mexican immigrant, or more commonly, American teenager. Take both side by side and ask a plant question. Reaction: from the Mexican, maybe blank stare while he tries to comprehend your question, but cannot due to the language barrier, and yes, he probably doesn't know the answer anyway. But he is there to help you carry your selections up to Britany at the register, and then out to your vehicle after you've paid, and to work hard at doing what he's directed to do to keep the plants in good shape for you to buy. Now the reaction from the American teenager: blank stare, maybe an "I think so", "I don't know", or "It should be OK". No offer to find someone who knows the answer, no interest in finding the answer herself so that she'll know next time it's asked. Just a quick nonanswer in the hopes that you'll accept it, pay your money and leave so she can get back to being busy at not thinking. Last year I found an interesting variegated geranium which I'd never seen before. It was unlabled, even without a price, by the hardworking apparently all American staff at the nursery. At checkout I asked the friendly senior American gentleman what this was called. His exact answer, with authority he says: "This is some type of geranium." I thought, silly me, for not asking what type of geranium from the outset, but it wouldn't have changed his lack of knowledge, or prompted him to care to see that I got an intelligent answer to my question. My point in all of this is to please not single out the Mexicans. Many who I've seen are extremely hard working. They just want to be here to get a better life for themselves, and work hard to to it. They do take jobs that most Americans don't want to do. I know that we're talking about horticultural knowledge here, but it's not quite fair either to say that most don't have any plant experience. The thoudsands of migrant farm workers in the fields and the landscapers who work on gardens for all the rest of us to enjoy have more than their share of a different type of plant experience. A general comment about inexperienced nursery staff would have gotten your point across, without singling out a certain group. Personally, if I had a choice, I'd prefer to be helped by the Mexican. At least I'll expect a communication challenge and a high probability that I won't get my answer. From the American teenager, not only will I not get my answer, I'll get horrible service to boot.

I actually think you might have better luck with anything except the oriental lilies. The lily bulbs have probably been trying to grow in their bag on the shelf for the last month or two and might be close to death! The others will be perfect. I haven't even started my caladiums yet and cannas are barely sprouting. It's been a cool spring and most of the non-hardy summer bulbs are just sitting there waiting for this weekend's hot weather to get here. so feel free to buy on-sale summer bulbs, it's the gardeners who are losing interest in growing bulbs, but the bulbs are still very interested in growing! -but be careful with any bagged or boxed perrenials or perennial bulbs such as lilies, check to see if they're solid and if you want to take a chance go for it... And don't expect blooms this year, maybe next.

There are a number of cold hardy palms that would be perfectly fine in MD! And there are ferns suitable to ANY climate. You would probably get better input as to plant choices and how to arrange if you were to post in the Landscape Design forum - this is really not a plant-focused forum :-))

Gm Susan, I see your dilemma we face the same issues here with impervious surface issues regarding lot sizes. From what i could see you really don't have any usable patio space and you need privacy. You can remove all of the river rock from the beds. Choose an area to expand the patio into, We use a 3/8" size stone and install a product called "gravel loc" , it binds the stone so u can use it as a patio and water will still pass thru it . For the privacy start with Alaskin Weeping Cedar or Columner European Hornbeam against the fence in line with the chimney. Then plant Goldflame Spirea, Sonic Bloomer Weigela, Twist & Shout Hydranga, Green mountain Boxwood, Green velvet boxwood. These are all small to medium size shrubs that wont require to much maintenance so you can enjoy your pool!!!