Haven't been here in a while but definitely I agree with ocean dweller's suggestions. First, yes, paint those pillars. That white is too stark. How about an earth tone? Maybe an ocher/tan --- something warm that will pull down to and connect with the earth? If you paint those pillars, try to replicate the pillar color somewhere in the foreground with stone or adobe if you can't find plant materials. Secondly, I love his idea of transplanting some shrubbery as a screen out from the pillar on the left. A "patio" area edged with greenery could easily be enhanced over the years with the construction of a low wall and a stone/adobe interior patio or stone paths that lead to other parts of your yard. The colors and textures of the materials you use should compliment the colors on your home. Eventually, you could plant indigenous perennials to add color and texture to the area outside this screen nearer to the driveway. I don't know if this makes sense, but kind of think of your house as a bare naked lady! :) You're going to "dress her up" over time by adding things to the left and right and in front of her. However, because of the scale of the house, make sure you don't go overboard with lots of different kinds of plants and materials. Repeat shades and textures. Notice that in D-D's offering, various shades of green are repeated in different plants--- blue green behind and in front of that that low entry on the right --- yellow green in tall spears and low textures -- and leaf green. Various shades of browns and tans are repeated in paint and stone work. I'll add my name to the list of those who are curious to see what happens to your home over time. Keep posting the progress. Molie

Karl, from the news reports I hear, I think you are among a majority of Americans, these days. Funny. For decades, financial experts and commentators wailed that Americans spent too much -- saved too little. Now they're wailing that we are spending too little. They need to make up their alleged minds. Jeri

I wasn't happy when I got my March 2009 issue (in Feb) and found out that Country Homes was discontinued and I would be getting Better Homes & Gardens. Here it is June and I haven't seen any issues of BHG. I e-mailed them- they couldn't answer my e-mail (?) so I called them today (6/15). I was told I would get my first issue in OCTOBER! That is 7 months after my last issue of Country Home. Their "customer service" rep told it is was because they didn't have enough magazines yet for all the Country Home subscribers. And then she told me they were extending my subcription until 10/10- two months after my Country Homes subcription would have expired. How is that extending my subcription when you give me 2 extra months but I have to wait 7 months to get the 1st issue. I told them NO THANKS-even though it wasn't a big amount of money I told them send it back and keep your magazine,

Beth, you probably have Passiflora incarnata which is a native vine in Oklahoma (as well as many other states). There is probably some info on the Internet about sowing the seeds, but I would winter sow it - does need some stratification in order to germinate, but some say that a GA3 treatment is necessary. You can buy it at gardening centers. Some say it is difficult to grow from seed because it contains a natural growth inhibitor, and others say it is easy. When someone tells me it is difficult, then I gotta take up the challenge. I just ordered seeds so we can compare notes on our progess! I also ordered P. ceurulea, common name of Blue Crown passion flower, and will try them, too. Years ago, I bought a vine labeled "Purple Flowering Passion Vine" at Warren's (now defunct) in Midwest City. I later ID'd it 'Lavendar Lady'. It is gorgeous. Comes up late spring, but grows very fast, and produces beautiful, fragrant, purple flowers until frost. It bloomed this year until late November. Anyway, one of the parents is P. incarnata. Cuttings are extremely difficult to root, so propagation from seed is virtually the only way to reproduce this vine unless you buy one off the internet, or from a local nursery (good luck!). Prepare to be inundated by Gulf Fritillary butterflies when growing this vine, because it is their host plant. They will eat it to pieces, but they will not kill it. The ultimate reward is beautiful long winged orange butterflies with silver spots on the underwings that glisten in the sunlight. They will stay in your garden daily. Variegated Fritillaries also use this vine as a host, but are not nearly as prolific as the Gulf Frit. Try soaking your seeds a couple of days before planting them. I have also heard that this helps. Susan Here is a link that might be useful: Growing Passion Flower From Seed