It sounds like you have a great yard, Carla. Mine also faces south and west and it does get hot! We only have a few trees. I wish we'd planted many more way back when. We got our place in 1974, but went overseas in 1978 and it was rented out for almost 30 years.
I've had such a hard time growing things, that we suspect that one of the renters used a permanent ground weed killer. When I dig out a huge hole and plant something, it does ok, but everything directly planted in our soil has died, even things that should be hard to kill like oleanders.
I'll be interested to see your favorite red one. Bet the hummers do love it! Right now our best hummer bush is a ruellia with the smaller flowers. They love that thing.
I have a can cozy that is red, and whenever I use it I have them flying right into my face.
