I think roots are an excellent way to get them started. You can fit them into tight areas around the roots of a tree you want them to climb and fill in the bare trunk of. Seems to me I had flowers the first year I planted roots and had substantial vines by the second year. Last year, while I was out, my gardeners "cleaned up" 6 years of growth that had worked their way all the way around a massive Aleppo pine and 6' up the blank trunk! =o We're starting again from ground level this spring. But at least 4 of the 6 plants have come back and are blooming. ...even if they're blooming 9" off the ground and 18" below the tops of a circling rose hedge. ::sigh::

Hi Kathi, The area in downtown LA is near 9th Los Angeles St. The other cross streets are Maple, Wall, and San Julian. These streets also cross 9th. It's at the edge of the garment district, not far from the Santee Alley, which is a popular place to get clothes for school age kids. The fabric is jammed into a couple of square blocks, so the walk isn't bad. Weekdays are best to visit downtown. We have swap meets every day of the week here. The fabric shows up at them on different days. On Wed and Fri, there's an ocean of it at the Mission Drive In Swap Meet in Pomona, at Mission Blvd and Ramona. This is a fairly small one, so the walk is easy. On Tuesday, it's at the Paromount Swap Meet in Paramount. This is much larger, but the fabric is in one area not far from the entrance. Just ask at the entrance and they'll point you in the right direction. Saturday and Sunday, there's fabric at the Nogales High School Swap Meet. This one is small. It's on Nogales, about a mile north of the 60 fwy in La Puente. I'm in Walnut, about 25 miles from downtown and not far from the swap meets. The Paramount is the farthest from me, so I don't go there often. Are you in the San Diego area? There may be a garment industry there. You can search in the internet searches, using keywords with the city name. Ask around for the location of swap meets where you are or do an internet search. Some of them may have fabrics. Whatever day you go, ask the vendors if fabric is sold there, what day, etc. It won't be at any swap meet every day. Email me when you're coming up here again and I'll give you specifics. Linda

Have you tried the garment district in downtown LA? There are a so many textile/fabric shops it will make your head spin. They are all on 8th Street down to Olympic Boulevard, between Maple Avenue San Julian Street. I'd start at Michael Levine (there are two stores -- the larger one is more apparel textiles, across the street is upholstery/leathers/etc) and go from there. I also like F&S Fabrics on West Pico.

thanks...I've seen Cheng's website which help convince me to use concrete...I registered on gardenweb a few months ago, but just started using the site...I'm really sorry I didn't realize how much helpful info there is when I started my remodel 3 years ago!..I see a lot about granite and soapstone but not much about concrete....is concrete considered passe?