....each of the plants already has a bunch of new tender growth due to
the lateness of the shipment and the fact that they probably sat on my
porch in the box for a day or two before I got home (I was in the DC
area for the past week).

The question is - since there's already new growth (and a couple of
days of more rain predicted for the next couple of days), should I
forgo the mulch mound in this case? I've got them soaking away in a
bucket while I prep the bed.

This should end up being a nice grouping - three Belamis planted in a
triangle at the front of my lot.

I'll have to say that my heart goes out to all of you in the MD, VA,
DC area. It was almost like visiting Seattle or being back in
Northern Germany. I know that *we've* had a lot of rain (11 inches
this moth so far), but at least we have sun today. I hope the weather
breaks for you guys soon...Monday wasn't bad though...my friends and I
took a great ride through the Shennadoah Mountains - they on their
Harleys and me following in Anica's BMW Z3 - very cool...I'm glad the
weather held for that day at least.