I am growing the 'Pink Flamingo' that I bought from HCG last fall. I really like how vertical it is and how dark the leaves are. It is much darker than the Muhly Linheimerri, stiffer and more vertical. I have it planted with Muhly Riverchonii and Mexican Feathergrass and it stands out well and these 3 make a good combination, all similar but different. The 'Flamingo' is a cross between Deergrass and Gulf Coast Muhly. I think thats strange because it looks more like a stiff Lindheimerri. The flowers are pink. These are all planted on a hot median between the street and the sidewalk and have done very well in 100+ temps we've had for over a month now. I've been watering about once a week though because it is so hot and dry and the plants are not mature. In a normal year I think they would do fine on their own when established.

I'd go for the Switchgrasses because except for a couple months after trimming in spring, they are ornamental all year. Look them up and check out the different cultivars. They sway in the slightest breeze, are easy to cut back in spring, bloom early so you get those great seed heads with the sun coming through them for a very long period and they stay upright in winter. The best ones (I think) are Heavy Metal and Northwind. For fall color, there are the red ones but in my mind they aren't as pretty in summer. Too much moisture makes some of them flop but these two I mentioned never seem to. Seeding is minimal. Another good one is Muhlenbergia lindheirmerii. Tall, blueish and thick. Santa Rosa Gardens carries it along with several Panicum (switchgrass). Those 4" pots quickly grow into gallon size. I planted a row of Sacaton wrightii from seed I purchased from Plants of the Southwest. It has great seed heads all summer into fall and is one of the best for that, they seem to glow. Its a very large grass but would take two seasons from seed to see results. Indian grass is only ornamental in fall. Same with Big Bluestem. I would not count on them to carry the show. Little Bluestem is a much better choice for being decorative over a long period IMO. Look at High Country Gardens website. They have that 'Flamingo' Muhly and Muhly riverchonnii (Oklahoma native) too. Those are both great grasses and very decorative, the 'Flamingo' has slick, metallic blue, rolled leaves, so its just gorgeous for color contrast even without the pink blooms. Neither of these seem to seed at all unless you get lucky.

The rocks in my soil would make quick work of that Auger. No gentle fill out here. A friend came over with an 12' wide augur attachment on a sizable tractor to dig some holes to sink in some tall 4x4for my 7' garden fence. and had to give up. I then had it completed by a friend with a jack hammer. I would have to bring in some garden soil to use that kind of garden tool. I have used some 2" spade bits and they seem to work until I hit a rock. Planting trees in the valley is all about finding a crack in the rocks and jimmying them apart to insert the small seedling tree. So far the ones I planted in september are still alive. Sunnysa , I am jealous of your soil and your tool . What kind of bulbs are you planting for the spring.I am looking forward to the massive amounts of the wild onion . I saw them waking up when I was digging around. They only wake up on the wet winters. I have about a hundred seedling rain lilies that I sprouted and they are ready to go in the ground. I have a two" spade bit that would do them in the ground in the hollow, I don't need to go very deep and I actually have washed down soil there.. Thanks for reminding me of the tool. Right tool for the job saves gobs of time.

Mustbnuts, thank you for all of the helpful suggestions! I finally got around to starting some creams/whites in that area, but they weren’t big enough to have an impact this past year. ‘David’ phlox, some oakleaf hydrangeas, and some ivory mums. I also have ‘Windermere,’ and ivory Austin, which I absolutely love. I’m wintersowing quite a few more perennials to hopefully fill in the gaps. Muhly grass has been on my radar for quite some time! I grew up in Florida where we had it growing in the backyard wild. I love the stuff. In my zone, it’s sort of borderline hardy, but there is a native wild strain that I want to get ahold of, as I know it would do well. You mentioned hostas and other chartreuse/green foliage. I do have quite a few hostas in an area off to the side! Most of them turned yellow this year, which was lovely. And I have lemon princess spirea and golden oregano interspersed throughout the garden, but I’m going to be propagating more this year as they didn’t quite make enough of an impact. Also my Solomon’s seal turns a lovely bright yellow. I want to incorporate it more.