Great! I'd also put an evergreen climber on the fence so the vehicles are screened out and the garden is the focus from this viewpoint.

Nice photos. And so neat! I'm fighting weeds all the time. I would agree with Ron after seeing the size of the Crepe Myrtles in the Chinese Garden in Portland. They would totally overwhelm your garden.

I would suggest either some variegated foliage or chartreuse foliage to contrast with the burgundy. That is one of my favorite combinations. Here is a link to some of my photos, if you scroll down the thread-

Here is a link that might be useful: Variegated and purple combinations

Everything looks really nice! I really like smoke bushes (I have the burgundy type and the chartreuse type) as well. Yours looks like it's in a great spot.

I agree on the adding an evergreen climber if you like the look. Maybe Clematis armandii if you're willing to keep it in bounds.

Either way, everything looks really nice. I wish my garden was a third as tidy!

Take care,
Grant

Many kinds of crapemyrtles, of course, from miniature shrubs to medium trees. Jacobson, NORTH AMERICAN LANDSCAPE TREES (Ten Speed Press) described 50 kinds likely to be treelike in 1996. Shrubby cultivars being stocked by local nurseries.

I planted a Smoke tree behind a Burning Bush. Afterall, where there's smoke, there's fire.

Here is a link that might be useful: Smoke tree and Burning Bush

I've got a new Crape Myrtle called 'Violet Filigree' that is supposed to mature under 24" tall. :)

Love the fence and the bed in the photo. The fence cries out for vines. I'm on a Clematis kick these days.....

Botann, now THAT is a bit of garden 'whimsy.' Along with your classy crocogator.

All -- of course it's neat! I just finished topdressing it after weeding it. It's really hard to find a time when everything is not all cluttered up with wheelbarrows, rakes, piles of rocks and weeds, etc.

Yes, I need an evergreen vine. The trellis was built over a year ago for that purpose. I've had a bit of a challenge there, bad luck with two C. armandii, and I've got a few other clematis started and a vitis purpurea and a Hall's honeysuckle -- a little experimenting. I think the C. armandii might be a little bulky anyway? I'd like something with somewhat toned-down foliage color, and it doesn't have to be dense. Any suggestions? Maybe a deciduous vine with foliage most of the warmer months would do.

{{gwi:1090301}}

Hey there-
Wonderful work! A possible suggestion for the climber- red runner beans for next spring, while you get something else started. Pretty, edible and definitely a spring to fall deal. Lots of other climbing veggies that are fun aand pretty too.

For vines, is anyone growing Bignonia capreolata 'Tangerine Dream' up there? This is a southeast native cultivar selection that looks tropical but certainly takes USDA zone 8 conditions, and has great evergreen foliage and repeat blooms all spring into summer here in northern California. Thunbergia alata could also be great as a summer annual vine, and is fast enough growing with your long summer days to completely cover that height of fence with massive amounts of deep orange blooms. Gelsemium sempervirens would be another suggestion for an evergreen vine, and the soft yellow spring bloom is also nice. Dicentra scandens could also be interesting, but more fragile, and could be interplanted with things like Rhodochiton astrosanguineum or Tropaeolum peregrinum, which would only be annuals in your climate.

I looked up ALL of these; thank you for your thoughtful suggestions.

Well, this is a great time for experimenting, while the garden is new and there's plenty of fence wide open, so I've decided to try nearly ALL THE SUGGESTED VINES, INCLUDING RUNNER BEANS AND ANNUALS, that I can find now and in early spring. Should be interesting! I expect the vitis to be a good foil for some. The Clematis 'Arabella,' while pretty in the spring, will be removed as I find the seed pods messy looking right here, and it is one of the few clematis that doesn't twine up very well or very far.

Certain foliage colors and textures will be noted -- less yellow-green, for example.

I always loved the look of black-eyed susan; I saw some in yellow, and white-edged deep pink, as well as the well-known orange.

'Tangerine Beauty' Bignonia, which I assume you meant, Bahia, is a great color. Wanted to keep orange as a tiny accent, but I could change my mind. :)

Hemnancy, I'm trying to keep the yellow greens to a minimum, as I have a whole side of bright yellows and greens, but variegated and silver colors are in.

Thank you all for every comment. Also -- my husband designed and built the fence for me.

Maro

Thinking twice about trying all those vines at once.

Whoever thought THAT up must be --- well, must be a new gardener. I'll just scout around the local nurseries to see what's available among your suggestions.

Thank you for not laughing.