I have 35 already, but only 21 are vigorous and the others are either too young, in the wrong location and just plain not doing well! This week I purchased Alionushka, Prince Charles, Margaret Hunt and Huldine. When I buy clems, I know what colour I want, where to put them (usually), blooming time, height and pruning style. I bought 3 to replace the ones I lost this winter and two for new locations. But we all know, that when you want a particular clem, you will find a spot somewhere or keep it in a container. It drives my husband crazy.

For the past eight years, Eglantye was pruned like a HT to 24" of the ground. Spring flush was respectable, but after that it started to grow 10-15 very long canes form June to November. The buds would from on top of these 6-7 foot canes in December which they may or may not have opened by the time it was time to prune in January. Last winter, rather than pruning those long canes, I pegged them through the 3 piece trellis/cage around it and came January all those laterals started to grow. I have to see how the flower production of these lateral would be this summer. I hope they repeat otherwise, this is the last summer that it will live in my backyard. It would be a shame too since I really like the flowers, not to mention the bush was birthday present to my DH from me. FJ

We made the support from bamboo stakes. DH did, at my request. He drilled holes in the bamboo (not easy) and tied them together with gardening wire. Cutting it was difficult, too. Not a climber, but it almost looks like it could be one. I have a feeling the support could easily be another foot high. We'll see. Kathy

This question is confusing. Does it only involve the exterior wall? Do the interior walls have shiplapped boards and if so why would the boards be structural? Is there no structural panel sheathing on the outside of the exterior studs? Sheathing provides two structural benefits: 1) resistance to lateral forces parallel to the exterior wall (but only if the sheathing extends to and is properly attached to the face of the first and second floor framing) and 2) resistance to wind forces perpendicular to the exterior wall (but only if the sheathing is attached to the outside face of the exterior studs). Boards or sheathing on the inside of the exterior studs or on any interior studs will provide little if any structural benefit to the frame of the house. If the house doesn't have any sheathing or diagonal bracing at the exterior walls, you need to consult an engineer to design a system of interior plywood shear walls bolted to the floor structures above and below to provide adequate structural bracing. These shear walls would not necessarily be located near your bathroom.