Karin - Your point about design vs plant selection is well taken. When I started with this unsightly, grassy strip, the only things I knew for certain I wanted was a curving path, a tree and a shrub of some kind. I'm not sure if I have the tree (a columnar cherry) and the shrub (a blue mist bluebeard) in the right places. I was shooting for balancing the vertical structure of the fence with vertical elements along the side of the house, but am not certain that was the best plan. I think you're right about adding more static elements. I'm not sure where they would be best added - I assume along the fence. Any ideas you could share about that would be appreciated. The "side yard" strings had lots of good information. surf_girl - The path goes on past the cherry tree to a small concrete slab (about 4 feet wide and 10 feet long) from which steps go up to a side door tucked back into the corner of the house. When I go from my house to my backyard, it's on this path. The space from the patio to the tree is around 20 feet, with another 3 feet of path past the tree to the small concrete slab at the bottom of the steps. You may be right about the space along the fence being difficult because it is so narrow. The total width from the house to the fence is about 8 1/2 feet. Around 4 feet of that is on the house side of the path, where I have the bluebeard and the cherry tree and 24-30" of that width is along the fence. When I put in the path I realized this might be a problem, but I didn't want to put the path in the middle...and at the point I didn't want to put it along either the house or the fence. At this point, I'm willing to consider all options! naples - I really like the idea of putting flowering vines along the fence and moving the coneflowers to the area where the path turns so that they'll have more space. After reading everyone's input, and the side yard strings...I may move the path closer to the house. I really love walking along the path with something growing along both sides...particularly plants like the hyssop which smell so nice when you brush up against them! Thank you all! Mags

Oh, that is very pretty. I love orange. I ordered an orange one from ebay last night. I need to block that site from my computer or nobody is gonna get anything for Christmas except for me, lol. Or they will open their box and say what is this stick? Oh, aren't you lucky that is a brug cutting and will grow into a beautiful plant but if you don't want it I'll take it back..... snatch.... LOL>

All I have for it is the knee jerk name of Ponytails. Gag me with a meathook! I would love to know the parentage of the hybrid, if it is a hybrid. I found a picture of a large specimen on a flicker site and sent an inquiry about the plant , but have heard nothing back yet. The plant was by a old mexican market in a small town somewhere in Mexico, I know not where. The site it was on was a Mexican photographer/ biologist site. Maybe it is NOT a hybrid. When I got the plant, It had just arrived from the growers at a nursery. On my way out, 5 people saw it and ran , yes ran, to the C&S section . It was not there long. I already have a line of people begging for a pad. It will never get large at this rate. Matter of fact it will disappear into nothingness in its pot. I need to do some experiments to find out how small one can cut a pad to get a plant off of a cutting. This post was edited by wantonamara on Wed, Oct 9, 13 at 13:37

Gosh, I wish I could take a very slow stroll around your entire garden, just looking closely at the colors and textures - it looks so inviting and fresh! I enjoy creating interesting color and texture combinations myself, so I always wish I could spend some time in other gardens like yours to fully appreciate the decision-making and intention that comes with planning and planting. Great job! Feel free to add more pics in succession as you walk around the beds, like a virtual stroll :)