I am going to have to go with natal plum (Carrisa macrocarpa), as well. From my recollection, the fruit of most cotoneaster is grouped together, in bunches, or there is more abundant fruit than natal plum. Leaves don't quite match cotoneaster. Here is a link that might be useful: carissa macrocarpa

ines_99: Mine certainly gets higher light levels: It receives a full day's sun and is on the edge of a baking curb near the street to boot. The color may well be a response to its stressful situation, but it doesn't look stressed to me. Dave: Lucky me, it was here when I moved in. I've never done anything to it; it's been left completely alone. It's near a Laceleaf Maple that I often forget about and water at odd intervals in the summer, and so may get splashed, but otherwise I don't even water it. It doesn't spread vigorously like the other sedum in my yard. It's been growing very slowly, quietly and unobtrusively. Of course, it's the one that I wouldn't mind spreading like wildfire. :-) I often walk out to the curb just to stand and stare down at my happy little pastel rainbow. I'm sure the neighbors think I'm nuts. :-)

I think I am going to lay rock in my circular garden, Tired of fighting the weeds and grasses. I have quite a bit of shrubbery out the around it, so only need a few spire-type junipers and etc. like yours and I can convert it. I have Bridles Wreath (veil), native Red Cedars (junipers), a Lilac, a Redbud, and two evergreen shrubs, plus the arbor with New Dawn and a clematis growing up on it. I also have a couple of pots of variegated shrubs (can't recall the name). Maybe something with the powdery blue color. Shrubs do fine out there, but I have given up trying to grow flowers. It is very, very dry out there, and I am tired of fighting the elements. There is plenty of native red rock out here in the country along the roads. The country digs it up every time they grade the road and they said I could take all I want. Today, DHM and I are going to the Hilltop nursery to get the free chipped wood mulch. I will need two or three truckloads, but one will be a good start. Not sure I can wrangle him into making more than one trip today. Now to find some columnar junipers. What else would you recommend around the outer edge for the Roman-Greco look like you have? I rooted a spreading juniper and can plant that out there. I promise it won't look just like yours - just using yours for my inspiration. :) Send me an email with suggestions, if you would. I need help! ~Annie

"Doggie Poo" reminds me of a Turkish Turban - well, some kind of turban anyway. I am still working on my plan for revamping the circular garden like we discussed last year. I hope my boxwoods and topiary turn out half as nice as yours. I found a source of nice (semi-irregular) quarry rocks and am going to haul as many as I can. They are part of an old retaining wall that is crumbling and since I bought the place, I can get them if I want to do so (ha!) That is, if I can heft them. They are just various shades of yellow and red sandstone, but were used back in the 1930s to build houses, stores, banks and other buildings all over Oklahoma. Not sure just yet how I am going to use them, but what a great find. With our snakes here, I wouldn't even try to build a sunken garden like yours, but something along those lines of architectural structure, only above ground. Any ideas? Wish I could root Boxwood. I keep trying, but am not doing something right as they never root. It sure would save me a lot of money if I could. I am very good at rooting Spreading Junipers and Barberry however. (go figure) Your gardens inspire me to do want to do more with mine. In other words, YOU inspire me. ~Annie