BKay, the screen is 10 feet tall. It is not along a property line, so there is no city code to say NO to it. It runs north and south. On top there is a simple structure which could carry the weight of annual vines. I'm not planning to cover it with star jasmine which is evergreen here and can become massive and dense. I want in winter to have vines die back or lose leaves, so I plan on some fragrant vines annuals like morning glories and moonflowers--which bloom at night too. Trying to kick things toward night bloomers to attract more night pollinators. The posts are 4 feet apart. The panels are 8 feet tall x 4 feet wide, opening is 4 inches square. Willard, the great installer of the screen, placed those posts perfectly so that each panel sits on half of each post, and then the lath strips cover the seams between panels. I decided on the large squares because of hurricane winds, which could take down a tall structure with small holes, just rip it apart. In my design it is a straight line. It would look attractive I think in a zigzag shape (for added strength) if the space was open and standing alone. Then in the zigs and zags, tall columnar cypress or pencil holly or conifers would look nice. The zigs/zags could create a bit of shade too, if you did not have a north/south orientation precisely. Because my screen runs almost north and south, blocking western sun. When I was talking with Bruce Banyai about creating shade, he said he taught a course at Hosta College on the subject. Of course there is always the instant solution of shade cloth where immediate results are required. He also recommended buying the large cheap trees from Lowes etc and keeping them in containers to provide shade. Quick growing trees that can take your climate, but can be removed before they get so big they are a problem. I lost my potted palms last winter, also the ficus benjamina that was 8 feet tall and had done shade duty so nicely. Now I think a couple of the cheap reduced-price trees are a good idea. I am watching Lowes for some good choices. And, Phil, yes, bananas are a nice shade solution in my climate. They grow quickly, can be very dramatic, and they sometimes are dormant for the winter. There are varieties which survive in colder climates, but need the stems wrapped and roots kept insulated. I'm about to try one in a big pot on wheels so I can move it inside my Teahouse for colder weather. And Spanish moss, I know it is on the Georgia coast and in Savannah, but do not know how much further north it thrives. Perhaps not in the mountains where you are? It is a great insulating material on top of pots, and it provides nesting material for cardinals. I see them picking at it like a plate of gray spaghetti. The moss is a member of the tillandsia family of air plants, not attaching itself to the plant/tree nor taking nourishment from it. It even has blooms, which are sort of brownish lip colored the way native sweet shrubs look. It particularly likes live oaks which give it permanent shade and some moisture because those oaks have a way of "weeping" . Thank you for complimenting the design. I love the way it comes together. Not being a formal person, I like to bring different elements together in unexpected ways that are personally satisfying. And, BKay, I am very relieved, and pleased, to hear that Squash Casserole is doing a good job for you. I had hoped that would happen. After months of looking good, it is still pretty here too, and so is the NEW one I got this spring. AND, all of her sports are looking good too. I'll try to feature them in a new thread later on. Right now, I have potting to do. And splitting a green sport off of Stargate before that streaker turns all green on me. I sometimes think streakers are a big pain, so demanding of attention. Nothing like SCasserole, which only demands light and lots of WATER.

McTavish, with some of your photos I noticed you eliminated objects surrounding your featured hostas. That would be a great way to isolate a particular hosta or planting from its background before cutting it out. Then, laying it on top of another photo background, along with several other individual cutouts, you'd have a "bed" built up of heavy duty photo papers. They would tend to work standing up when attached across the bottom edge with some sort of "tab".....then lie down when you closed the popup. Your photos would be beautiful done this way on your annual calender. Just an idea. When you get to June in the year, right in the centerfold would be a great spot for the popup of your garden. I'd like to see some diorama at the entrance to a large garden, say Bellingrath Gardens here in Mobile, before I tour it. A flat map is okay, but to get the feel for the geography and directions and sunlight, a diorama would keep me oriented.

I went to Giverny last month and thoroughly enjoyed my day outing, especially the walk from Monet's home to the Hotel Baudy where we had lunch. Took a taxi back to Vernon, stopping at the castle and old mill on the Seine. Giverny/Vernon has a wonderful website where you can plan your day: www.giverny.org I wasn't sure that I wanted to go there since it wasn't spring, but the website assured me that there would be lots in bloom, and so there was. And it was great to get out of Paris and into the countryside, and very easy by train from Gare St Lazare in Paris.

We were in Amsterdam 2 years ago and loved it. He might want to go to the Rijksmuseum which has many of the Dutch masters work. He should check the Keukenhof Garden to see if the tulips are in bloom--if so, a visit would be a "must." It's an indescribably beautiful floral display. He could also visit the flower auction in Aalsmeer. It's world-famous, and tourists walk on a catwalk above all the action. It's very interesting. Tell him to watch out for bikes and cars as pedestrians there are not as well protected as here. The Dutch are serious bike riders, and when they are riding, they are going somewhere not just out for a leisurely pedal! If he likes models, Madurodam is a very large miniature version of many of the points of interest in Holland. It's quite amazing. English is pretty widely spoken. Wish you could go too.