I'm still catching up on threads..... Your pool is amazing!!! What beautiful water color! I love it. And it looks like it's already set up for fun!!
I would like to see pictures of your dog swimming. People ok, but really want to see the dog! Lol!!!!
I'm also not familiar with many of your plants. The DFW area does have a different climate than ours even though ya'll aren't too far away.
I've heard the Magnolia Little Gem is a good one, and I love mondo grass. It just tickles me, makes me smile for some reason. I plan to add the mondo grass to my backyard next spring. I'm afraid many of the plants I'm familiar with wouldn't work for your area. But if you like it, try it. If it starts going downhill, move it. Strike three, and it's out.
Good call on the crepe myrtle. I have a huge one behind my pool in a corner. I love it and will do all I can to keep it, but I would never plant one after a pool is in. It's still the summer, and everyday the skimmers are full of the tiny flower petals. Then in late fall and early winter, the leaves will fall. A million smallish leaves. Did I mention there will be a million leaves???? Then there are the bean pods. Like I said, I think we can manage but only because we all want to keep it. We've had it 26 years.
You're going to have fun picking out the plants and watching them grow. And the best part???? Jumping in the pool when you need a break from planting and growing the plants!!
Suz.
Have you heard of these little ground covers that are tough enough to step on? 
