Thank you, Masha. I've received my plant as a budded scion two years ago. It was part of a large "order" of plants budded from Roses coming from collectors or roseraies in Europe. I have especially to thank Roland Bielski to give us the budwood from his large collection of Teas and Noisettes. Those Roses are still potted (very big pots!), and still under study. I have to know how they do perform here, before to plant them in the garden, there's almost no empty space available and I want to be sure to plant only the very best (for me!). 'Crépuscule', for instance, is very beautiful in bud, but the color is quickly washed out by the sun, and the petal crisp even in late spring, not to comment on how they do in summer - scrumbled eggs ready for breakfast :o/. Maybe I'll plant her only if I find the right spot in filtered light (under an Olive tree? mmmmmh....) 'Mlle de Sombreuil' is just perfect, so she really deserves the very best position I can give her. 'Elie Beauvilain' is one of those who's tempting me... a few blooms and my heart was jumping, but how disapponting to see them collapse after only ONE DAY! Would it improve with age? 'Duarte de Oliveira' seems also to have good qualities, but I can't understand how much this plant would grow... HMF list it as a very short climber (150 cm! - 5') and I see that alla in this plant is small: blooms, leaves, prickles... But here doubts come to the surface: it would be just young? to live in a pot? The flowers are small, but lovely in color and shape, and really fragrant. But a beautiful flower is no longer quite enough here!

In 90 to 100 degree summers, I would stay away from the southwest side of the house, period. In lower temps than that, mine have fried on the southwest side. Your tree does not seem to be providing that much shade and the brick on the house will intensify/radiate the heat. That looks like the front entryway in your picture and just my personal opinion, but, hydrangeas are much better suited for the backyard not just because it is a cooler location (although that's reason enough), but because they are not very attractive in winter (to say the least) and you might not like being greeted with a mound of dead looking sticks as you (and/or your guests) approach the front door. If you're not sure, you can pot it in a nice container and move it around until you find the right spot. ES can be container grown for as long as you like. Good luck....yg

Glad I can help, but I don't want to overstep my experience, so I will answer the questions where I have some hands on knowledge. Bottom drains - they will sweep any sand in the immediate vicinity, but have no effect on things a foot or two away as the velocity is negligible. The idea is to get solids to fall to the lowest point and get swept away. If the solids sit in rock crevices two feet away, they stay there. This is the source of the "rock bottm vs smooth bottom" discussion. River rounds - if you have them available, great. If you have to buy them by the bag, you are going to spend a lot to cover a 9000 gal pond. You understand the tradeoffs here- smooth doesn't stack well, but othewise is great. I doubt you can get anything over 30% with rounded stones. There are actually engineering formulae for determining the max stack angle for differnt shapes and density of material, but I don't think pond builders worry about them. Any slope that goes to the edge can be used by raccoons and herons. I find that having a deep pond where the fish can get away from predators helps a lot. I haven't used overhanging rocks. Sand is graded by size, source, and shape. You want a "sharp" builders sand for it's ability to pack. Playbox sand is usually too fine and rounded. Not the most critical issue however. Overhanging deck - a great Japanese design style that works the wonderful contrasts between man made/natural; linear/irregular; water/land; static/changing and many others. See my posts for one example. I use Ipe because it weathers to a beautiful grey, doesn't need any maintenance or finish, and doesn't contain any toxic metals to drip into the water. It has natural toxins of course which make it durable, but I don't let too much in the water. I have dropped a few pieces in by accident (it sinks like a stone) and haven't noticed any effect. I hope the rising water table and tree limbs don't damage the liner. Swimming pool installers (gunite and liner) often use a reverse drain valve meant to allow water in if the pressure is higher than the pool. The big tree limbs probably won't penetrate a rock lined pool but what about the roots? could be an issue digging and in the future. Good luck.

Thank you all for weighing in on this. I agree with all the posters...Yes, I LOVE Chair B. It is cool. It goes very nicely with the couch. And yes, it is too fancy for the look I am going for. If I wanted a sophisticated room, the couch and chair, along with some glass lamps with silver shades, etc. would look amazing. And I do love that look, in my decorating fantasy life. But this is a casual home and what I'm really trying to do is take the modern Crate & Barrel couch (that my SIL gave to me and I love the color of) and make it fit in somehow. So I guess the question then is, can I make it work, and if so how? I was going to change out the more formal curtains with the more casual curtains and then try to incorporate burlap, iron, black, lamps, a desk chair that would work with everything and little touches, like the little saying sign that's sitting on the desk. Also a photo collage wall above the desk, similar to the Pottery Barn one with the blue wall that so many people are talking about this year. 3 questions. Will I be able to pull off a more casual look with this couch? Any ideas or comments on my ideas for keeping it casual? Will the Chair A work, or should it go back as well? I apologize for not describing my "style" to you all in the beginning. It would have probably helped everyone to know where I was coming from before we started. I have lurked here for years, and I feel like I know all of you, but of course, you don't know me. :) I have to say you all are so fabulous with your help and I thank you! Just, here is another picture of the front of Chair A for you...