I would consider San Angelo Zone 7 for almost all planting you do but like stated earlier plantings on the southern side(micro-climate) of heat radiating objects may give you the chance to do some zone 8 plants. As to plant labels stick with full sun plants only for your afternoon sun and part to full sun for your morning side plantings. Most plants are planted in spring which is still when most people plant regardless if it is the best time to plant a given plant or not.(Hence nurserys (mine included) supply the broadest and most diverse selection and sizes at that time. Many plants can be planted in the summer but most people don't want to deal with the constant attention to water that these plants will need if planted during that time period. Many Evergreen plants that are zone appropriate can be plant year round yet I see very few customers in the November-Feb time period and again a nursery can't afford to stock and maintain a brimming full nursery selection when only a handful of customers are coming in and even considering planting. Fall is a great time for most but not all plantings. It starts as the first cool fronts start coming in and night time becomes cool enough to enjoy being outside and you start opening windows to enjoy some fresh cool air at night. Maybe as early as mid-Sept but more often Oct. is the month to get serious about fall planting of many things. The challenge will be what is available for you to plant because many nurseries have pared down inventory because not enough gardeners take advantage of this PRIME time of year and many that do want the plants at sale price (read at cost or below). Having been in the nursery business for 22 years (12 in Texas) this is an observation not to dis my fellow gardeners. I like many nurseries are trying to offer as much as is reasonble business-wise throughout the year but the customer is the ultimate driver of what will be carried and when, if you are going to survive in this challenging but personally rewarding vocation (read most of us aren't into for the pay). An average 1st year teacher makes more than a good nurseryman after 10 years of caring and teaching others about his plants(children). Do get to know your Ag extention and Master Gardners in the area as well as the native plant people in your area, also search out the best of type nurseries in your area and look for free seminars put on there and if you stop by throughout the year you will get lots of free and probably useful advise as well as see what is carried at any given time throughout the year. Any of these will give you much needed advise and ideas to work into your situation. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day and neither are great gardens or landscapes. Last but not least continue to frequent this forum and ask questions and lurk and search as anyone that does, no matter how long they have grown plants will find little gems of wisdom and of course a great bunch of caring folks that wish you all the best in you gardening future. Happy Growing David

very nice. ive tried to get them in my yard and my plants all died. maybee next year.

Susanilz5, I could have written your original post! That's exactly how I have been feeling! 10 years ago, I would not even use taupe inside my house because it looked gray! Every light tile I brought home I didn't like because there always seemed to be a gray undertone. I didn't use white fixtures in my bathroom because I thought they looked gray instead of white! I picked out some paint chips today in the gray family, showed them to my sister and she got a funny look on her face and said, "They're too gray! That's not you!" I told her "Gray is the new beige." I actually put a post on the kitchen forum about using a gray/blue/green with my oak cabinets and only got one response--SW's anew gray (which I haven't checked out yet). However, my dilemma would be transitioning from a gray room into my other warm colored rooms and how to make that work. I'm not sure I'm capable, but I think I could get by using it in a bathroom or bedroom because they are destination rooms and not rooms connected to multiple rooms like a kitchen or family room might be. Good luck! I'll be anxious to see your results.

Very nice shot. We have lots of hummingbirds here too. I have planted lots of flowers just for them. I am always trying to get a good picture of them, but haven't had any success. Maybe someday I will get one as good as yours. Clare