satellitehead - I can not speak for the the perennials or ferns, I barely looked. We were there early and it was busy. In a short time the azaleas were getting bought out. I barely looked at them either as it wasn't what I was buying - just noted for a future plan. I can say that the shrubs I purchased are in great shape, but none have leaves, they are just breaking dormancy which is exactly how I want them. Bought a bunch of sticks with buds I did. I can say that I spent $111 on 5 shrubs at a large nursery last Monday - two anise, 2 Leucothoe and a red buckeye, buckeye was $30 for a 1 gallon (I wanted three of them and settled for one). The same nursery had the oakleaf hydrangea pee wee 1 gal for $24, GNP had them for $9.50. At GPC I got the same size Leucothoe, anise, another 5' buckeye and a slew of other stuff for a lot less and in equal condition or better because I don't feel that they are hothouse babies. I don't want my viburnums leafed out quite yet, particularly with the ice balls we are getting pelted with today. I also received a mail order of viburnums this week which was $275 for seven plants (with shipping). Two of them were 3 gallons, the rest smaller. They are in great shape, but at GPC they were $8-10 each in harder to find species. Everything I buy requires shipping costs out the ears - usually 25%, plants are small, so for me the GPC is outstanding. I would love to order from Nearly Natives in GA, but it's too much on shipping with sales tax, or a 4 hour drive each way. GPC is over an hour away. My yard has zero in it and I need (erm...want maybe...nah, need) a lot of foundation plants. I guarantee the leucothoe and anise at GPC were commercially grown, they did not fit in.

Try Sunlight Gardens Andersonville, TN www.sunlightgardens.com. 1-800-272-7396. You can request a free catalog from them. I've had excellent results with everything I've ordered from them. There is another very good one in KY, outside of Frankfort: Shooting Star Nursery 160 Soards Rd. Georgetown, KY,40324 1-502-867-7979 I haven't ordered from them yet. They will send a catalog on request that has a huge number of offerings. A naturalist I met in Ky. this spring vouched for them.

Phlox stolonifera or Linnaea borealis may work. I have no idea how much sun/shade you are dealing with. I am totally surprised by the ease of growing Linnaea. I thought it would need cool, peaty, moist conditions, but it trails like crazy and never flags in the heat. Plus, what wonderful fragrant flowers. Rx

I am not familiar with Tucson Nurseries, but I live in Queen Creek and our climates are very similar. Meyer lemon does very well (though citrus). Peach, plum & apricots are excellent here. You will need to get them in the ground pretty soon though, so they can get established before winter.