Sue, I think the difference in most cases stems from the difference in the plants we grow. I only have two of the plants on your list of drought-tolerant plants, for example, and I think you have only one or two own-root hybrid teas.
As for the salvias, they surprised me with their lack of tolerance. The culinary sages were the first to disappear, followed quickly by the coeruleas, which was especially upsetting because I like them a lot. The microphyllas are doing well, on the other hand, and all of my Wendy's Wish and Ember's Wish plants are surviving on twice-weekly watering. I still have all five of the S. mexicana 'Limelight,' but I have to water them every day without fail.
