Good luck with the MG spring festival! They can be a good resource, even more local than a county extension agent.
Many people use "chat threads" in forums like group emails for socializing. But asking or giving advice is really beneficial in public threads, since then people can find it years later by searching for the topic.
BTW, after a year or so of trying different plants, it would be a real kindness if you came back and said "Well, after trying all these ...., the ones that worked best in my area were these: .....
(And that's a perfect place for show-off photos!)
I hope more people make specific recommendations like Elaine's.
