>I'd like to eventually make deeper beds with more roses and other lovelies but for now I just want to get these started. Our soil is SAND SAND SAND. Did I tell you we have SAND for earth??? I will ammend well and it's nearly 100% sunny. Hi Sunny, I've done some more thinking about your situation and enjoying imagining doing some landscaping there... We built our house too, a very long time ago. I know you've heard this plenty of times already, but it's so true: the best time to do planning for major things is when you're building, so plan ahead now and do as much of that as you can now, while it will be cheaper than doing it as a separate job. We did do that, for the most part, but there came a time when we couldn't afford to do everything that might have been wise to get done right away. We did plan ahead, however, and saw that it would be smart to make some design changes initially based on plans for the future. If you haven't yet run out of money for last-minute inspirations, consider ordering some truckloads of screened red clay dirt now, or, as they call it around here, "screened red dirt." Manure, etc. will be excellent amendments, but it does tend to decompose and when all the organics decompose the soil will still drain too easily. Adding some clay now in planting spots would make all the plants a lot happier, even the azaleas, and especially the roses. The trucks can bring in the dirt now much more easily than they ever could later, after you've started landscaping and have plants in the way of having the delivery trucks bring the dirt back near the spots you have in mind for using the dirt. If your builder has any equipment there already that can shove dirt around, also consider having some extra dirt shoving done to create some three-dimensional spaces so that no matter how flat your yard might have started out, you have some berms and slopes to create focal points and a much more interesting yard. The best architects for houses think of interior space in three dimensions and that's true for landscape architects as well. It's *hard* to do this kind of work yourself later (Guess how I know that???) but doesn't cost any noticeable amount more to take an extra half hour on the part of the operator of the front-end loader to scoop some lower areas and pile that dirt into higher areas. Imagining now... If the front-end loader is around, here's one scheme you could try: create a path including some (brick, etc.) steps down into a sitting area surrounded by higher berms all around, so that as you look around from that lower seated garden focal point, you see a longer cascade of blooms than you could see surrounding you on flat ground. Brick steps detail: extend some brick spots laterally to sit large pots of evergreens and perennials on.) Another possible feature: use rosy berms to line portions of each side of a path, so that you feel a bit as if you're walking through a scooped-out hallway of roses, or even better, roses and evergreens. Some camellias can take full sun well and would provide some nice foliage contrast. Kanjiro and Shishigashira would both work there.) >carolinamary - I LOVE Marie Van Houtte!!! When my sister (who MADE me become addicted to OGR - lol) visited ARE in Brenham I fell in love and each adn every photo I see makes me love it more. Would the colors work if I went more neutral since it has both pinks and yellow? She could be a deciding factor in what is the main attraction there. Although it's exciting I'm a little overwhelmed by all we have to do. Thank you for the link. What a beautiful flower! The short answer is YES. Your yard is so large that you have many opportunities for developing multiple garden rooms. So you aren't constrained into an either-or kind of color-scheme choice here as if it would be your only place for roses. What a luxury! It might help some if you can come to some conclusions as to whether you prefer a single-colored bloom color scheme here or something with much more contrast in the color choices. You might like both a whole lot, and you're lucky in having that large yard with more than one spot that is appropriate for roses. If you narrow the thinking down to just this one area, though, think a bit about what your favorite kind of color scheme is.... I can easily imagine being happy with the pale yellow (that Marie Van Houtte primarily is) combined with other roses that bloom in a yellow, including a yellow so pale that they might be considered warm whites (like Lamarque), or something with that same general overall off-white feeling like Buff Beauty. The pink area on the blooms of Marie Van Houtte doesn't make a noticeable contribution to the whole feeling about the color most of the times of the year. In a one-color scheme, make sure to have variations on foliage sizes, forms, and textures, as well as variety in the bloom forms and sizes. I've been planning on a Ghislaine De Feligonde to go near some Mrs. Dudley Cross varieties, so I'm guessing that they'll look good together, and that the contrast in bloom size as well as foliage types will be nice. Belmont Yellow is a polyantha rose that is closer to white than yellow unless you are looking just at the buds, and it would easily fit into a scheme like that too. If you really end up wanting a noticeably yellow place, some Julia Child roses might be really nice too. For little dots of white: Little White Pet, or for little dots of yellow: Rise 'N' Shine. If for any reason you want a smaller version of Marie Van Houtte, Mrs. Dudley Cross would be a good choice. (Similar gorgeous blooms, and not a small rose either; just smaller and very low in thorns.) If you decided to take off on the pink edges of Marie Van Houtte, some roses that might go well: Duchesse De Brabant, Le Vesuve, Maman Cochet, Belinda's Dream, Pink Rosette, Climbing Pinkie, Renae, Annie Laurie MacDowell, Carefree Wonder, Carefree Beauty. If you get in the mood for spectacular contrast with Marie Van Houtte, Red Cascade on the arches might do the contrast job nicely in multiple respects. Other ideas for plants that aren't roses: Little Gem magnolia, and all types of Japanese maples. The crepe myrtles in either white or pink would be wonderful. The magnolia is evergreen and can become a tallish focal point too. Well, Sunny, I hope you have a really good a time imagining your yard's possibilities and planning! Best wishes, Mary

I love this thread, the stories are great. I bought a house last summer and have spent a lot of time trying to dress up the place with flower beds, the problem is i'm a young school teacher with a family of 3, so there hasn't been a lot of money to do much with. However, what success i had this summer led me to collecting seeds from my 4oclocks and a spider flower i was determined to have more of next year and then the flood gates opened!! I pick my son up from day care and spend the evening driving around parking lots and parks snatching seeds here and there(labeling them " red thing from bank parking lot" and such thus far I have started an obsession that is occupying my kitchen counter and workshop!!! Its great and I love the fact that next year the amount i'll be getting from my home gardens will be huge!!! More for me to trade next year!!!! I love it, now to just get my son trained to pick the right things....

Sue----that was wonderful...great job. Hope you have tons of blooms next year. I also went on a fabulous vacation thanks to Annette. Hi Shirley and Family, Pack your bags for your vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC. You will be staying at the Myrtle Beach Resort condos (2 bedrooms, 2 baths, full kitchen, queen sleeper sofa and balcony facing the beach.) ROSE CHAMPION will be at the desk to check you in for your week vacation. AMBER MIST (coneflower) will be available for anything you need in your condo. The Resort is beautifully landscaped with lots of daylilies, HEADY WINE, SMALL GESTURE, LUCKY DRAW (which has a very big red eye) and WATCHYL LAVENDER BLUE, planted in lots of beds. One shade bed had TOAD LILIES blooming, even though they are small they make a statement. One bed was full of COLUMBINES blooming in all colors. Enclosing a Grand Strand coupons and map of Myrtle Beach. Also a magnet for your refrigerator to remind you of this trip. Also a keychain with sand from beach on inside. Myrtle Beach guide with coupons inside as there are lots to do at the beach. Many places to eat, lots of golf courses, great shopping, water sports, flea markets and theaters for entertainment. Have a great time at the beach, "Sun Fun City" Thanks so much Annettee it seemed like I was right there. I love all my plants and it's always fun to vacation at the Beach. Shirley sends to Remy - Sent - Received Melissa sends to Carol - Sent - Received Jeanne sends to Vina - Sent - Received Carol sends to Sue G - Sent - Received Annette sends to Shirley - Sent - Received Vina sends to April - Sent - Received April sends to Annette - Sent - Received Remy sends to Jeanne - Sent - Received Sue sends to Melissa - Sent - Received This swap is officially over and I do hope everyone enjoyed their wonderful vacations. Shirley

Jodi..............WOW! WOW! WOW! The name makes it sound soooooooooooooo.....normal. That is an amazing tree!!!!! TFS