Also, if there is anyone in the Baltimore region who has a nice hydrangea and would like to trade for a "Gold Dust" (Aucuba japonica) and a Golden Euonymus, please let me know.

You could probably try growing nearly anything in a 35-gal. Coastal areas can probably avoid prolonged extreme temps (to where the whole thing would freeze). What's the diameter of the thing?

21" diameter and tall.

Will it be in sun or shade or somewhere in between? Will you be able to protect it from late frosts if necessary?

Not sure if that diameter would work well enough. H roots tend to go wide and not so deep. If the pot is taller than two feet, very least you could probably fill the bottom part of the pot with something not too heavy, like styrofoam blocks, to make it slightly lighter