OK, there are a few ways to apply traffic to a stand of grass, and NTEP has three traffic locations (North Brunswick, Madison WI, and East Lansing MI). Here is a summary on what was done at each site: Traffic tolerance was evaluated at three locations in 2010, using different types of traffic simulators. The North Brunswick, NJ location (Rutgers University) applied traffic in May 2010, nine months after the last traffic �season�, using the "Slapper," which causes leaf abrasions but not soil compaction. The entries that rated 6.0 or higher (scale is 1-9; 9=best) after the May simulation include �Greenteam�, �BAR VV 0709', �Bariris�, �BAR VV 9630�, �Sombrero�, �Emblem� and �Julia�. Canopy fullness, expressed as a percentage, was evaluated after the initial 36 passes of wear on May 6th. All of the above entries plus �CPP 822� and �Barduke� had the highest canopy fullness ratings (51.7 to 71.7%). Compaction was applied to the Rutgers trial on May 6, and percent ground cover was rated 8, 22 and 49 days after the compaction and wear treatments. �Greenteam� had the highest canopy fullness ratings eight days after traffic, with �BAR VV 0709� having the highest canopy fullness ratings 22 and 49 days after treatment. Traffic tolerance was also evaluated at East Lansing, MI in 2010. Michigan saw much damage from the traffic, applied in fall 2009 and again in late summer 2010, using the Brinkman simulator, which compacts the soil as well as causing plant shearing. Cultivar separation as shown in overall turf quality ratings was not that large, with just over one-half of the entries performing statistically equivalent to the top entry, �BAR VV 0709�. However, as in the Rutgers trial, �BAR VV 0709� exhibited outstanding traffic tolerance by finishing with the highest percent ground cover in five of seven rating dates. Entries also showing high percent cover ratings on one or more dates include �Skye�, �Washington� and �Washington II�. The Madison, WI location used a pull-behind cart of water-filled drums with golf cart tires to impose traffic stress. This led to excellent cultivars differences, led by �SW AG 514�, �Harmonie�, �Sombrero�, �Greenteam� and �Dynamo�. Interestingly, most of the traffic tolerant grasses were also the best performers where no traffic was applied." Most of these tests simulate things like a football or soccer game, although the Madison location is more like golf course traffic, so these trials can be taken with a grain of salt. As long as you are in the top half I think most cultivars will tolerate a dog and a few kids running around, unless you have 18 kids like the Duggars. Rutgers gives a summary of some good traffic tolerant cultivars in this link, but it's from the 2000 trial: http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/brochures/pdfs/athletic-field/Kentucky-Bluegrass-for-Sports-Fields.pdf Keep in mind you can't get every cultivar, unless you buy a 50 lb. bag from the grower or a distributor. I have never seen Barvette for sale, and most of Barenbrug's cultivars (names starting with Bar-) aren't available individually unless you buy a lot. Also the 2005 shade trial was a bust, and those numbers represent only one year of data. It was too shady and the test was stopped prematurely. The 2000 shade test is much better as it encompassed all 5 years, but unfortunately it didn't contain some of today's newest cultivars. The number one cultivar was Brilliant, which was discontinued due to its low seed yields. It's unfortunate as it is a really good cultivar. I have found one source if you are interested, but you will want to use a bit more than usual as germination percentage has dropped a bit due to age (70% as compared to 85%). As a rule most compact midnights have poor shade tolerance (Nuglade being an exception, but it's not in the top ten). Compact America's generally have better shade performance. Also cultivar techsheets often tout a cultivar's best qualities, and often shade tolerance is mentioned if it's good. Mixing cultivars is not about attibutes, but more about picking different groups of KBG to increase genetic diversity. There are many groups (compact, compact midnight, compact america, aggressive, mid-atlantic, shamrock, etc.) Here's a list of many cultivars and what group they fall into, although Prosperity is a compact american: http://www.sroseed.com/IdeasInPlay/PDF_articles/KentBlueClass.pdf For great lawns in sunny areas, most people do a 33% of the compact cultivars. This was and still is the convention, but some of the newer cultivars have enough disease resistance that some turfgrass scientists are not against planting just one cultivar, which will give a more consistent look (http://buckeyeturf.osu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1067:kentucky-bluegrass-cultivars&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=170). As you can see, it can get pretty involved, and I know a few people that went the monostand route with no real issues, but they are a bit more involved with lawn care than most. My advice to you is to pick 4 or 5 cultivars from each of the major groups (compacts, aggressive, and maybe the midatlantics) that meet your number one criteria. Then see where they fall in your number 2 and 3 criteria. This will probably narrow it down so you have a few from each that you will be able to find for sale. Or you can just screw all that and pick one cultivar that performs well across the board and has good disease resistance. Whatever you do, don't buy anything from HD, Lowes or Walmart.

gardengal48... So Friday Was my very first visit to the Plant Depot... Let me just say... I am IN LOVE!!! They had ordered both the "super" 1 gallons and 5 gallons waiting for me. To my surprise the "super" 1 gallon size looked much bigger than I had imagined they would. I walked out of there with 4 "super" 1 gallon Limelights and 2 bags of Acid Soil Ammendment. I really had to use a serious amount of self control and restraint to keep myself from buying more. I think I may have a plant addiction... HELP!!!... ;-) I can't wait to get these hydrangeas in the ground and growing for me. Based on the information on the tag, it says that they're the hardiest of all the Hydrangeas... needing less water and being able to take more sun, than many of the other Hydrangea varieties out there, once they're established. So I'm hopeful that I will have much more success with these Hydrangeas than the other ones I've planted in the past. I CAN'T wait to go back to The Plant Depot and do some more garden dreaming... such a cool place. Thanks again for leading me towards The Plant Depot. I would not have known to check them out if it had not been for you... :-) I'll have to snap some photos sometime and share. Thanks again for all your help!

Carol, you are right, I was thinking that the linearifolia meant that it only has single line-like leafs. Given a little more time to grow the ternite and perhaps even biternate (I had to looks those up) condition of the foliage would be much more apparent. Looking closer at my photo I see that the smaller leaves could easily be attached to the larger leaves. I will have to go back and see if I can can get a series of shots at different stages. Would leaflets be the proper term or is that reserved for compound leaves? That link you provided helped, especially with the first photo of a newly emerged plant. These just pop out of the ground a-bloomin! Terrestrial man, I am going to have to save that southern idaho site as a favorite. I like that vascular plants of Utah site as well and use it often. I just wish they had photos on that site rather than providing links. Another great site that I came across while researching Dicentra uniflora is the UVSC virtual herbarium. Here is a link that shows a couple specimens of Orogenia linearifolia. Orogenia linearifolia Brian

LOL, I had a grove of running bamboo in the back, my neighbor and I agreed to get rid of it. Well, in the same area a grove of Scottish Thistle emerged from nowhere! If bamboo is the plant from he//, Scotland must be worse!! It is 6 plus feet tall and VICIOUSLY barbed with thorns (PENETRATED MY GARDENING GLOVES!). Oh, the bamboo is coming back now too, but this time I might be rooting for the BAMBOO!!!