AAAAAA.

No mix and match huh? I'd go for the Scotland garden, but would have to add some softer colors to the garden.
Nancy

I spent a decade in New Orleans with property in the French Quarter. Never, ever totally let your guard down in NOLA, not even in your own courtyard.
Scotland has too short a growing season; Italy has strikes in the fall and hot summers.
Provence with its dry climate becomes an answer, but more likely my real-life answer would be a garden on the west coast of Ireland with a view to the Atlantic.

No question I would opt for Italy but no boxwood, no fountains that is no formal garden with a lot of roses like A. Motta has in his villa.
And, it must be northern Italy. I am not crazy of very hot weather either but I love the scene when mountains and sea meet in Northern Italy. The lake district isn't bad either.

Provence definitely

Wow, it's hard to pick just one. I think it would be C, Scotland, except the roses would be pink instead of red and yellow. I love the look of castles, and the wildness of the garden just adds to the mood.

(Some of my anscestors are from northern Italy, near the Alps, so that has appeal as well.)

I'm torn between C and B, but A comes close behind them both. The only one that does not appeal to me is the garden in New Orleans. I have an intense dislike of humid, muggy heat. It doesn't matter how pretty, the climate would do me in.

Rosefolly

I know this isn't playing by the rules, but I would choose a quintessential cottage garden including lots of OGRs of all shapes and sizes in the English (or Welsh) countryside. I would choose Jon in Wessex's garden in a heart beat.

I'm going with Ann.

Put me in Provence first, but then make me move to Italy and then on to Scotland. No humidity for me unless it's in Italy. For Italy, I would suffer.

Devon, why do you ask? Are you thinking of traveling?

Sue

I love them all of course, but I would choose C.

ANNTN6B, I know what you mean about Ireland. A cottage on
the coast of County Cork West, would be magical. A story-book
like cottage, with pastel cupped roses all around and a view of the
ocean, with cliffs nearby. A place that is very cozy. And you make
your garden pretty by day, while the fairies and elves make it magic
by night.

SEATTLESUZE, I have been to all those places and they always
stay with me. I can't let beauty ever leave. I hold on to all that
inspires me and those places have. I am planning to go back to
Scotland later this year. I am part Scottish and part Italian.

Your Friend,
Devon

I'd pick Provence. I can almost smell the lavender. The food would be great there. Too bad I can't speak French.

The Italian villa is a strong second. Make it a little less formal and I'd be all over it.

C) with the following rewrite:

A garden in Kilkenney Ireland, full of English and repeat blooming Antique roses, mostly in pastel hues but with a few crimson reds and one tangerine colored climber. The thatched home is haunted by the kindly spirit of an executed witch, and every window has an enchanting view of roses in bloom. The garden seems almost wild and yet, there is a sense of structure to it. The wind blows strong at times, whistled up by the faeries, making passerby feel more alive than ever. In the distance, partially shrouded by pearly white mist and lit by a shimmering rainbow, is the ruins of a round tower.

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Patrick

Scotland, for sure. The compost will be much richer after feeding it a good percentage of those yellow and red Austins.

NOLA, without the hurricanes, of course.

Tough choice, but definitely A

Thinking about it PROVENCE is mighty tempting. All that lavender and close to the scenery that inspired artists like Monet and Van Gogh? Oh yeah, I can see myself there, and besides, the French are much more tolerant of people like Rob and myself. Then there is the climate, practically perfect for growing all sorts of sinfully fragrant roses. I could even incorporate some jasmine (var. Grasse) amongst the climbing roses. Oh the FRAGRANCE! It would be intoxicating. Not to mention the superb food.

Okay, I've changed my mind. A French farm house in Provence.

Image of PROVENCE lavandin by Granit at Hortiplex.

Devon, you are so imaginative! I'm attracted to the French one and the lavender, but that almost wild garden w/ the stone masonry in Scotland is the winner. I don't know anything about the weather there, but I do know that New Orleans is out- I don't want to live any further south than I already am. I know there is Scotch, Irish, English and Swiss in my ancestry. Thanks for the wonderful trip down fantasy lane. Brandy

What amazing descriptions, you can really imagine being there. A difficult choice, hard to decide between A and C, finally settled on A, because of the rain in Scotland. I have friends who live there, and this year especially has been even wetter than usual. France it is then.
Judith

A!!!!
A garden in the south of France, full of old, French garden roses....AND ME!!!!

The scent of roses filling the air, every morning and afternoon...WHILE I SIP MY HOT COFFEE WITH FRESH MINT AND VANILLA.

Living in an aging, but charming small home in Provence, with blue shutters...AND WINDOW BOXES BURSTING WITH VINES AND VIOLETS.

A place where there are fields of lavender, all over, very close to your home....MIXED WITH DAISIES AND WILD POPPIES.

YEP...you could find me there!!!!!!!

Ronda

The Italian garden is too formal for my taste, and the Scottish one too wild. The weather in New Orleans is too hot and humid for me. But Provence sounds appealing. But why did you miss out on the English Garden? My favourite garden is the one in Leeds Castle.

In any case, if you mention Scotland, you really need to be careful and specify the location. I spent 6 years in Scotland, living in Aberdeen. On a sunny summer's day, the colours have a brilliance that is hard to describe. The sparkle from the granite blocks of the older buildings and structures add to the feeling of lightness. On days like those, life was good. But being by the North Sea, the weather can change drammatically. When the rain comes and the North Sea wind howls incessantly, the granite blocks all of a sudden cast a heavy, dark and forebidding atmosphere. The cold bites through the many layers of clothing. On days like those, I had often wondered what I was doing in a place like that. The folks there are very nice, but I would have to be careful not to appear to favour anything "English". Anyway, Cocker roses would be preferred to David Austins, thank you.

I'm with Ann on this one what Somewhere on The ring of Kerry
Theres a beautiful rose garden in Tralee and a Beauty Contest every year called the rose of Tralee festival!

I'd choose Provence, perhaps somewhere in Gard so I could visit the Pont du Gard occasionally. Italy is wonderful but I speak French better than Italian. New Orleans is too humid although I don't mind the heat. I've never been to Scotland but I believe it would be the closest to my own climate and country so it would only be more of the same.

I honestly can't decide. I want to spend time in all of them. I've always wanted to go to Provence and after our trip to Paris I told dh we need to make that our next French adventure.

I do love Italy as well. And I love visiting the semi-tropics in the winter, I fantasize about what it'd be like to garden with all those new plants, so New Orleans would be an option.

I'm even tempted by Scotland, because in all likelihood it's warmer there than here in the winter.

Can I spend one year at each and then decide?

Think I'd settle for Devon's garden.Cute host, great pool, not much pruning.

Here is where I would find myself: A garden in Northern California with winding pathways that go on and on to new discoveries. One that feels like my own special world full of birds and other creatures with a backdrop of misty mountains, with the sound of bubbling water every where and roses up hill and down dale.

B!

Between the gardens, the architecture, the women and the chianti...it just don't get no better than this!

C'mon, the French hate Americans, NO is still rebuilding and in Scotland you have to eat haggis.

Scotland, definitely, but NOT "English" roses, if by that you mean Austins -- I'd want the pastels and purples of Gallicas, Hybrid Chinas, Centifolias, Albas, and a more-or-less complete collection of pimpinellifolias. Also some moyesii types.

On furthur thought, I choose E, a caribbean paradise on a cliff overlooking a rose garden and aqua water.

Carla

Carla, a Caribbean paradise is very attractive in winter (and I spent 3 New year's Eve in just a setting you describe behind a cliff, in front of the house was a pool and one could hardly distinguish the pool, the bay and the ocean below, alas there were no roses but a lot of hibiscus there) - but I would not like to be there in July and August.

Northern Italy has it all; and a garden doesn't have to be formal - or, if it is, one can change it.

New Orleans was looking and tasting very good in May. I love the tropical plants...houseplants growing in the ground, big billowy blue plumbagos, gigantic Norfolk Island pines. I'd like a brick courtyard with a fountain, with a wrought iron gate. Gas lights. I'd like a garden there but my first choice would be the Scottish garden. Cornwall, England would be nice too I think. Some place with crashing waves and a view of the sunset over the ocean.

Another dream garden would be in the NC mountains. The summers stay pretty cool, maybe cool enough for delphiniums. I'd like an old Victorian house looking out over rows and rows of misty mountains where you could see the leaves blowing a long distance. My garden would meander around a grassy plateau surrounded by woods and wild rhododendron. A rushing stream would cut through the woods with a rock walled pool where you could take a dip. I saw a pool like that one time on a back road in the mountains. Roses up there would rarely get fried by the sun. I would have cows grazing on hills, and old stacked rock walls. Places like that abound up there but are no longer found at a good price.

Linda

It is so much fun to find out about all you likes and dislikes,
through your choices. Rosarians are a feisty bunch. You all
insist on customizing the choices instead of adapting to each
garden(lol). What an interesting bunch you all are!

CACTUS JOE, just have to mention, the Scottish garden I
write about, would be located in southern Scotland. And there
are plenty of Scottish gardeners who appeciate a good English
Rose. Yes Cocker is a successful Scottish breeder and I have
the climber, Morning Jewel, which is a good one.
And I know English gardens are great, as I've seen many there.
And yes, the one at Leeds in Kent is awesome, but I chose to
play with gardens in the four locations I wrote about, as
the choices, this time.

PATRICK, so I have you down for Provence then.

BRANDY, JUDITH AND SUESETTE, thank's for the kind words.

But really, I have enjoyed all the comments posted here
and have read them all.

Nice choices.
I would go with C (Scotland).
But can I add in lots of blush-colored roses, and just have the yellow & red roses for accent?

Randy

I would go with Hazard,Kentucky.
Has a pizza parlor
plenty of scotch-Irish[former mountain folk]
within driving distance of NOLA and French Lick.
Beautiful country,affordable and more me.[highly unpretentious]oxymoron?
Would not go with Charleston,S.C.
All over the place and only two scrawny OGRS.[and smells like horse droppings and a paper mill].

I would choose #4. I would build a double wall 9.5 ft. high out of old St.Louis brick with raised planters on the inside for planting climbers. Install gas lanterns inside and out of the entrance so that I could see the flicker of the flame on the walls as I sit on the pool deck at night. Climbing Clotilde and Awakening blooms are also picked up by the flickering gas lights. I would have a wrought iron gate with a rose motif pattern and fleur de lis' at the top of the gate. Raised old brick beds line a path from the gate to the pool deck. The pool is a must in the courtyard area because of the humidity. Make the coping, deck edging, raised planters around raised hot tub all out of the same old brick. Rosettes spray a stream of water from the raised planters planted with draping junipers into the pool creating the fountain sounds echoing against the walls. I would build a Pigioneer close to the pool. This is a old southern plantation structure built with same old St. Louis brick and slate roof. For fun I would have an outside shower hooked up to an electric hot water heater, to shower under the stars at night or with the birds in the morning. I would put a shallow well in the structure to feed the pool and house and convert old artisian well to feed an old pond and use pond to irrigate entire property and all my old garden roses and companion plants. I think I would put a climbing souvenier on the pigioneer. The blush color would look awesome on the redish brick. Complete the project with a fire pit to burn Katrina wood. Plant more roses!
Oh yeah, I did all that! I guess I am living the dream!
Clint
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Hey Pete how about Floyd County?

That really made me think. No matter how tough it is to grow things here, and how poor the results are sometimes I would choose mine.

Mendocino Rose, I know what garden you are describing. I find it hard to imagine that anyone who had seen that particular garden could bring himself to pick anything else.

Rosefolly

Clint, well I believe you are living the dream. Very nice, thanks for showing us what you've done. It looks great.

Randy

RANDY, of course you can add blush-colored roses and have
the yellow and red roses, become more of an accent, on your
choice of C. The outline of the choices, is just what you would
be starting with. Should have been more clear in the instructions,
so that everyone would have had to pick strictly from the four
choices(lol), realizing you can improvise with the garden and add
your own touches later. It's all about adapting to what was there
to begin with. It's all in the name of fun anyway. I hope you all
enjoyed, working with the beauty of the choices, of some very
extraordinary places. Plus, it is cool to know more about the
tastes of the personalities on this forum.

As much as I would like to think I would like a small little cottage house by the sea, I would probably get very cold and bored with it's short growing season, I'm somewhat of a southerner like that. Also, as much as I gripe about humidity and heat I probably couldn't live without it. I could never imagine living in California where it is constantly perfect. So, if anything I'd probably want to live somewhere in the East Coast and perhaps somewhere in the Rhine Valley in France or Germany.

I am terribly nostalgic and love all old styles, so cottage style gardening appeals to me the most. Formal gardens with certain degrees of whimsy or strangeness a la Alice in Wonderland or Ladew Topiary Gardens.

I like the idea of old world homesteads somewhat cut off from the world. If I ever amount to money after college I'd love to have either like an old Victorian or some sort of farmhouse that can just be a retreat. Homes seem far too disposable these days, I like a place that will last me a lifetime.

I must be a reincarnate of some stuffy nobleman, my tastes are so OLD.

I spent a week in an ancient Roman villa in Tuscany long ago, and its' one of my favorite memories, so the Italian villa would work for me. I'm grateful for living in a Victorian style house built in 1928, in California, because I grew up in a very rainy climate and here I have roses in bloom through November. "Angels' Camp" Tea" "Duchesse de Brabant" "Secret Garden Musk Climber" and "Queen of the Musks" are in full glorious bloom right now, and other China and Teas will bloom through November.

Luxrosa

Devon ~ We have the same ancestry. My dad is a Scotsman, and my mom is Italian. How weird is that? I have a really sweet cousin in Edinburgh that came here to visit last summer and she can't believe how much the Pac NW is like home.(They rarely eat Haggis by the way too.) She said my garden looked very English. (What a compliment!)

Anyway, I would definatley go with New Orleans. Oh my gosh, I LOVE New Orleans! I went there about 1 week before Katrina. It is indeed a magical place. The gardens there are so beautiful. The Garden District ~ indescribable! Mardi-Gras beads hanging from the Live Oaks, so very cool! Fell in love with it. If I was rich, I would live there in the winter. (Summer is amazingly hot & sticky, Whew!) To go sit in a courtyard with balmy air, at the Cafe Du Monde sipping espresso and eating beignets while the rain is dumping in Seattle, sounds great! The food, music, atmosphere. Love it!

Crazy girls in the Quarter.
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If I had to choose a rose garden it would be Limekiln near Colchester - acres of old roses growing in wild abandonment and an English manor too.
But my favorite garden is Stonecrop in my own neighborhood - not a rose garden but a series of gardens, some with roses. A formal potager, a cascading rock garden down to a large pool with a wisteria and clematis arbor and trough gardens, alpine plants, dawn redwoods - that and the staff to maintain it would be my ideal. You can visit Stonecrop on line and see what I mean.

PACNWGRDNGIRL, how neat, to have someone on this forum
with the exact kind of ancestry!!! A Scottish toast to ya! I love
Scotland and all it's wonders. I think the city of Edinburgh, is one
of the most beautiful, in the world. It's a gorgeous, wild and wooly
place, Scotland is. One of my favorite movies is Braveheart, too.

"Oh, You take the high road,
And I'll take the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland,
Before ya".

About New Orleans. It is a place that has haunted me, since
visiting a few times. I could never forget such a place. I love
the gardens there, too. The Garden District, I love the gardens
and the architecture so much. The French Quarter too, has so
many charms and moody courtyards. All so beautiful, in a very
mysterious way. I feel like I had a past life there.

I was born and raised in California, but there are some
extraordinary places, like the places I write about, in
the choices listed, that I could live and get lost in. Well,
take care!

Your Friend,

Devon

Devon I really enjoy reading your stories and descriptions.

For me it would have to be Scotland. Think it is closest to Nova Scotia,where I live. I think the weather and scenery would agree with me.

clint you have created your own paradise, beautiful.

Pam I think I know which garden you are talking about, you are right about that one, it is somewhere I could spend a million years I am sure.

Valerie

VALERIE, thank you for your kindness. I've always
wanted to visit Nova Scotia. Maybe someday soon.
I've heard it was very beautiful. I did see Anne Of
Green Gables, and I believe that was filmed there.
It looked great!