Hi Suzie, The tall beardeds should be fine in your zone. High temps. around bloom time is always the thing I fear - shortens the life of the flower. Always go for your heart's desire --- if orange speaks to you, you'll love an orange that others dislike. I have noticed that awards are meaningful. Doesn't mean I like every iris that achieves an AM (Award of Merit) but I've found I've been more disappointed with iris that didn't win at least an HM (Honorable Mention). The exception being with rebloomers. And with foreign hybridizers whose iris may not be entered for US competition. If I have to trim a list this is one criteria I use. Listed are the ones I'm acquainted with. Beverly Sills a very pretty peachy pink. Birthday Surprise was a wonderful warm apricot and raspberry here. Cloudless Sunrise - not the greatest form but I loved the particular shades of color combo. Double Shot is more violet than purple here. Edith Wolford has not been a reliable bloomer here. Fortunata looked better in pics than in my garden. Gigolo did not resemble the Cooley's catalog pic at all - the apricot color was a surprise - unusual. Innocent Star colors didn't do anything for me - beet with pale mustard background on falls. Liason had beige standards and the fall edge was tinged lav-purp. which disappointed me but overall good looking. Pagan Dance left me a bit disappointed ?? purple here, uninteresting. Rosalie Figge was cool purple here unlike the pic I saw - just didn't want that color, uninteresting.

patty Congrats on your remodel I guess I would ask what other elements are in the room? what color appliances, hardware, stools, furnishings, natural light, window treatments,rugs, wall color, lighting etc I can't see the flooring - posting a pic may help Picking a counter is very individual & we all "see" differently You noted a natural tumbled backsplash as likely - I read the TB - as warming up your palette - your cabs are considered cool - so I my initial reaction is I prefer that - I like warm/cool elements but again depends on the rest of the palette & your personal taste The NC reads cool to me - If that is used the rest of the elements should be cool - fabrics, hardware, wall color etc - or you will have colors that are fighting each other - a honed crema marfil backsplash wouldn't work, but a carrara would - tan/beige paints wouldn't work, but blues/greys would Another twist you could consider is having each sample honed & see if that helps to make a decision - that will give you 4 options and also sounds like you have some room to negotiate with the stone yard esp on the TB they want to move - offer 20% discounted pricing on that one if that is the one you would like, even if not, that may help to drive the decision Good luck

I think Caesarstone charcoal looks a lot like Silestone's Ebony Pearl. Black countertops are difficult. I know that I really want black also but I know it will show dust & dirt...I'm torn b/w the look of black and the look of black w/dust & fingerprints! :-) Have you looked at Stellar Night? We were considering this when we were planning on quartz. It has some speckles in it so it may hide the dust, but I don't know about fingerprints--it might though since it's not black-black like Absolute Black granite or Black Anubis Silestone. I don't know what Stellar Night would like in the "leather" finish, but it might work out fine...

Well, I just spent hours looking at Cambria, Caesarstone and Silestone samples. I think Cambria Torquay looks great on a large sample piece in case you haven't seen a larger sample yet - until today I had only seen photos on line and a small sample. It is on the cool side, though. Cambria Newport is warmer but has only a very subtle pattern. One of your best bets in the Caesarstone line would be Misty Carrera - a friend of mine has it and I love the color, but sometimes I look at it and think the patterning is a little off. I think you might also look at Caesarstone Pebble which like the Misty Carrera comes polished and honed. Although it's gray, it's a warm gray and it looks fabulous with off white cabinets and with dark wood. In the Silestone line you might look at Vortium. I liked the smaller sample of it a lot -but the larger piece not as much.....