While I think that the "FAQ" as outlined by swanoir was presented tongue in cheek ('the humus'), many of the subsequent comments and/or links to threads that could/should be included in a FAQ were presented in a more serious tone. And maybe they do make sense as a foundation to a real LD forum FAQ. But I've also sensed something else in these comments that may contribute to the apparent lack of communication between new posters seeking advice and those that regularly frequent this forum and offer it. And that is that the long checklist provided by Miss R must be (or should be) answered in detail before posting. Well, of course not! But it is definitely something worth reviewing and giving some thought to. This checklist, or something very similar, is what most designers utilize when first meeting with a prospective client. It gives them a feeling for what the client wants to do with the property, how they intend to use it, what they hope to get out of it and how much effort (time/$$) are they are intending to put into it. Hopefully, reviewing an outline or checklist such as this could help to refine and focus some of those blank slate questions and even educate those new posters totally unfamiliar with the process the degree of complexity, the number of variables and exactly what is involved in the formulation of a landscape design. Even DIY landscape texts intended for the homeowner with no previous design or landscaping experience offer similar checklists to get one started thinking about the process. Obviously, this is overkill for those questions that are more issue-specific, but I think very appropriate for those that are much broader and far less focused.

Hi Beth - I'm new to this forum, but not new to coastal Southern Cal rose growing, so I'll chime in too. I'm in San Juan Capistrano on the South end of Orange County and about 2.5 miles from the beach in a coastal canyon. So I know all about roses in the marine layer fog. Mildew, not black spot, is the bane of our existence here. The only blackspot I've ever seen in my garden was on florist roses. But I do spray. And the three most fragrant ones on your list -- Double Delight, McCartney Rose and Fragrant Cloud -- will mildew even with religious spraying. But, the fragrance is worth it and I grow all three. No one has told you about the rose societies here yet. There are several. I go all the way south to the California Coastal Rose Society in Carlsbad. That's probably too far for you. There are two other OC rose societies -- the Orange County Rose Society which meets very near to Huntington Beach in Westminster -- they focus on exhibitions and hold their show the last weekend of October every year at Rogers Gardens. There's also another one that focuses mostly on gardening, garden tours and garden parties -- no exhibiting -- which is the Saddleback Rose Society -- that one's a bit inland for both of us. Wholly different climate those folks have. You can get to either one by googling the names, or I've put a link in here for the OCRS. On the rest of your list, I've grown most of them, and they do just fine. But as a general rule, in coastal cool areas like ours, fewer petals is better. Many roses just won't open like they do in hot climes, and sometimes you just die waiting for a leeeetle bit of heat to get them open, which never comes. So, plan to have some that open without heat. As for colors, try these -- Pink -- Our Lady Of Guadalupe is by far the best pink floribunda. But also check out The Imposter and Lovestruck, both of which do well for me. For Hybrid Teas, I like Memorial Day. Purple -- Intrigue is okay, but try Purple Tiger -- it's better and it's striped. It does really well on the coast. For a Hybrid Tea, I like Neptune and one that Armstrongs carries called Della Reese that is a darker purple hybrid tea with occasional exhibition form. Orange -- About Face Red -- I'm still looking for a good one. Yellow -- Julia Child or Midas Touch. Or even Peace, which gets enormous blooms on the coast. Multi -- get some stripes -- City of Carlsbad if you can find it or Cabana if you can't. Have fun. I seem to move every few years just BECAUSE I get to replenish my garden. Enjoy it. Kathy Here is a link that might be useful: Orange County Rose Society

Do you mean Selective Gardener? They are Optimara and if you don't mind the price, I believe they are fine. You will know for sure what variety you get. I never ordered plants but I did get what they called a "plug" of a "space violet" and it was as large as a small plant. I almost wish I had gotten a plant of Optimara Friendship since that one has been rather slow to grow from leaves (the young plants). I have ordered leaves twice because I am rather far from Lowe's and sometimes I want to be sure what I am getting or get something not in production. This year they weren't in such good shape. I soaked them but emailed Selective Gardener and let them know. I heard back in a week or two asking about them. Well I was surprised, but they had made it. I really didn't think a couple were going to come through. However it is good to know that they will work with you if there is a problem. (Last year they were great so I think it was the heat.) They are expensive though for leaves. OTOH, I think I had 10 Millennia, lol. And O. myDarlings and Clementines. And Coras. I will get one I like if it kills me. They send stakes also so no one can say you have a no id. Diana

I appreciate your comment, Lukki. I guess the difference for me is that the nature of Hot Topics is going to draw spice, feisty, opinionated people who can sometimes go a bit far and become mean spirited, and I think that is why GW keeps HT pretty separate from all of the other threads, i.e.: it doesn't show recent comments made to that thread on the front page, that sort of thing. It's really hidden, so I don't think anyone really has much of a right to complain or be critical because it's not in anyone's face at all. One has to deliberately go there. If it's not one's cup of tea, they don't have to even know it exists. But again, it IS "Hot Topics", after all. I think it's the one place where people can and should be allowed to express a little more "heat", so to speak. GW has very professional moderators, as well, and I think gets that about HT. But HD Conversations, for example, is out front and it is not inherently meant to be heated, and I've seen some shocking and vicious attacks on people, serious ganging up, much worse than anything I've seen on HT, where, again, it's to be expected to a certain degree. I can keep my wits there, and elsewhere (thank you for that, btw), because I try to keep my eye on the ball and not get or make things personal, which is a big mistake a lot of people make (and don't get me going on passive/aggressive behavior. Ugh. I loathe it). If I really have a personal animus for someone here or there, I simply ignore them and don't engage because my personal feelings about another are completely irrelevant and certainly of no interest to anyone else. So no, it's not for the thin skinned, but I think that is okay to say about a forum called "Hot Topics". I don't think, though, that such a thing should have to be said about a forum called "Home Decorating Conversations"!