I think a low boxwood hedge would look nice around your patio. It would frame it in and create a garden room of sorts. It will also give you year round greenery with low maintenance. We did that around our terrace and it looks nice. I don't know what variety we used but it's a low growing one that we keep around 24". You mentioned that you had small children in your fence post, and a hedge would keep them from running through a garden bed - shortest distance between 2 points being a straight line and all. If you went with boxwood, just be sure to plant to allow for growth so it doesn't grow to cover your bricks. It looks like your soil needs some amending with a good bedding mix before you plant anything there. Here is a link that might be useful: [boxwood hedge[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/artificial-boxwood-hedge-ideas-phbr0lbl-bl~l_70670)

Thanks Diane, these are my favorite colors as well :) I love dark reds and purples. This is the first time La belle sultane has bloomed. Smells like heaven! My yard smells like roses, it may be because we are cool right now from a rain most of the day, not sure :) Orpheline de Juliet, second from the bottom was wet from the rain, that's why her outside petals look the way they do. Hope everyone enjoy's and will post more blooms as they come in :) Here's one of Mountain Mignonette

rouge21_gw(5 (but I am betting 6 with climate change)(Ontario)) Your Bobo's are beautiful! I just bought 5 for the side of my house, and was having a bit of buyers remorse because I keep seeing all of the beautiful Limelight's in my neighborhood, but was attracted to the Bobo's because of their flowering. The side of my house that I am planting them on is somewhat narrow, in the sense I didn't want anything too large that would grow into my neighbors driveway, which is why I thought Bobo's were a great fit. I live in zone 6a, and the side of the house get's constant sun, do you have any suggestions on how to maximize their size so they get as large as yours? The soil there is clay, so I know I need to add my own, but anything else? Thanks!

I believes that is Turmeric. Curcuma longa, syn. Curcuma domestica. in my home country we use both leaves and rhizome as herbs and food spices. crush leaves have pleasant aroma, so does the rhizome.