Well, I would say something quite similar--your best bet is container-type plants and just get the dirt zone so it will look neat and not be muddy. You might think about achieving some sense of "enclosure" to your patio by having several large container plants at the periphery--depending on the crowd you are having and the furnishings you expect on your patio, you'll have to decide whether to have these on the actual edge of the patio or in the dirt/mulch just beyond. So one way to think about your choices, is whether you want to have the dirt area a true extension of the patio now, or separate it from the patio with container plants, and just make it a neat, clean mulch bed for now, or a combination--create enclosure on one side of patio, and have one side open to a grouping of things in the mulch area. Agree on some combination of some tall things--in my zone we might find hibiscus and other cheery tall blooming things at reasonable prices at box stores. Even "houseplant" trees like Ficus are available, 5'talll for $15 or so, sometimes depending on featured sales. If you have use for some lower, colorful things, then if you found your own containers (12-16") at reasonable price, you could put a reasonable-sized Wave petunia (or group of smaller transplants) in that and in 3 weeks would be bigger and blooming. Here is another thing to think about in terms of keeping costs down and yet "decorating"--if the "containers" that things are already in don't look so hot or are all different colors, & some have integral labels and writing, and if some of these are not going to be actually buried (as if you want some on the patio proper) you could find some fabric cheap, like burlap, and tie that up around the pots--so you get a cohesive look for less $$ than trying to upgrade the containers. This also allows you to use large black nursery pots--if you have or if friends have.

Shauna, that does look like my tiny white clematis except for the leaf shape...ohh and the pic you linked to doesn't have bird poop on the leaf...LOL I started this from seed, it, along with a bunch of other seedlings grew like mad, and I babied it indoors over the winter last year. Then my wonderfully exuberant puppy decided he wanted to dig in some dirt. He pulled up all the clematis seedlings, and this was the nly one to survive. I planted it out this spring and it has taken off. It certainly isn't spectacular like the large flowering types, but it hides part of the ugly tree I have it planted near. Ohh and I didn't detect any scent from it either. Maybe it needs more sun as well.

I know the single flower form holds up for my friend, in Orlando, through the summer. I have a plantlet of it as well. So maybe I'll be able to compare the two. It appears I will have tons of seeds for the double form, so I will most definitely share. Tom, it is lavender. Can't remember what kind. I bought 3 different kinds and lost 2 of them. I bought them at a USF sale. Oh good. I'm glad it wasn't just me killing butterfly bushes. I have figured out that they like tons of water. I've also noted that I never see a butterfly on the white one! My purple one is not blooming yet and I have that one in a pot as it is floppy.

Mommachelle, your roses are just STUNNING this is my first time to see GREEN ICE but I like it alot, got to look in to that one. And who would be the first to throw a stone at a Hummingbird, no one on this site I'll bet. THANK you so much for posting them for us to enjoy. LOL LOL Harold