One dog dies last year and I believe the other did this year. Maybe she just got tired of them and gave them up. It has been quite quiet around here, neighbors have commented on it. As for moving should she replace them, I inherited the house I grew up in. My mother designed it, my father built it. There are over 400 specific plants in the gardens and there is just too much sentimentality involved, not to mention that I am a bit old to be relocating. For now, her hedges have thickened and grown tall enough that all anyone sees is a nice green backdrop for my gardens. You would not even know there was a house in there. It is very unfortunate because the house has an excellent picture window that used to overlook the valley. Last summer, in the only patch of sun filled area in her yard, she had a lawn chair out and was sunning herself. I could only see her through a bathroom window and she looked like the proverbial beached whale. I pulled the curtains to stop from laughing. The dogs are just a memory now....

Every time I see the title of this post, I keep meaning to come back to tell you something. Your garden IS “WOW”. It’s looking wonderful to me! I’m totally not accustomed to getting rain on my spring flush of rose blooms, but we’ve had the craziest May weather I can remember. I’m finally seeing what rain can do to some rose and other plants blooms. I finally have a small taste of how wet weather can ruin the looks of some of my roses. Your Hosta is lovely, too. I know Hosta’s aren’t supposed to do well in So CA, but you know how it goes. We always want to grow things that aren’t meant for our zones. I have a damp shady area, where I have had a Hosta flourishing for many years now. It looks similar to yours. Do you think they might be the same? I always thought mine was ‘Wide Brim’, but I could easily be mixed up. I’ve tried my share of them. Lisa

Celeste, there is much more to the estate. That is just a small part of the house, and there is a swimming people around which the daylilies are located (good place for enforced viewing). There are several levels to the acreage. Some day I will picture the grounds, but others would not appreciate it now. Julia, I have been surprised how I have liked the deep cantaloupe color of Tropical Fruit Loops. Yes, Abraham Lincoln does not open perfectly flat all of the time, something that usually bothers me, but it seems quite natural in this case with all the buds. It is not as pronounced as the canoeing that I associate with many patterns. Also, the color is a bit smoky, but I find that quite appealing. David, if there are any other Bennetts that come close to the quality of Wild Cherry Wine, emphasize them. What about Beauty in Motion?

If you mean COPPER then I would say....it is a classic metal. And will green with age. But without a photo of your home and where you intend to place the planter(s), we can’t give advice. Except...NEVER paint them.