This is funny - I'm in USDA Zone 9/10 as well, yet in a COMPLETELY different climate! Here on the Mendocino Coast our problem is _lack_ of heat in summer... it's typically in the mid-60s daytime, mid-50s night, all through summer. So most green beans are iffy - Blue Lake did poorly, Kentucky Wonder not much better, and the yard-long beans are a fantasy. Royal Burgundy and Dragon's Tongue on the other had, performed superbly! And both are, in my opinion, much better flavored than green beans - they are even sweet and tasty uncooked, right off the bush. I just wish they were pole beans so I didn't have to bend over to pick them, although bush types probably do better here anyway (keeps them out of the wind).

Below is a link to a nursery in West Palm Beach that carries moderns on Fortuniana. They have a few OGRs too. From what I have read Fort is the only way to go in S. Florida. Other rootstocks only last a few years - literally, so it's almost like buying annuals. I have two Don Juans in Fort, 1st year, growing well, but they do get BS. Not much doesn't here in the summer - and other times, too! There are several mail-order nurseries online that carry Old Garden Roses and more modern ones, too, on their own roots. A few of the Chinas are foolproof as far as the rootstock is concerned; they don't mind our nematodes. In fact, Louis Philippe (go to: http://helpmefind.com/plant/pl.php?n=2044) is called The Florida Rose. These roses don't look like what you'd expect - different flower & bush shapes, but they stay healthy here and are everblooming (with pauses) & evergreen. Tea Roses are fairly long-lived here on their own roots - I've heard ten years is not unusual. Also, this is going to sound funny but the nematodes don't like cement, so if you plant own-roots next to foundations, driveways, sidewalks, etc, it's an advantage. They don't like organic matter also, so I have greatly amended my very sandy soil. Hopefully, I'll get some years out of my roses this way. I have many more own-root than Fort rootstock so my fingers are crossed. You can Google these nurseries: Ashdown in SC, Roses Unlimited in SC, Antique Rose Emporium in TX, Vintage Gardens in CA (they're having a sale now), Chamblees in TX and others. They're all very reputable, I have ordered from all of them. When you move beyond Teas, Tea-Noisettes, Noisettes and Chinas, you need to do further research. Some are not well suited for our heat, humidity, lack of dormancy, heavy BS pressure, ad infinitum. But these are beautiful roses - just different from the type you find at the florist. As to organic concoctions I really don't have any. The milk didn't work, the baking soda didn't work, the vinegar didn't work, and regular spraying is not my cup of tea. So I am going for disease-resistance in my rose selection. And even then it's trial and error and how much BS can you tolerate. Some can look past a lot, some can't. But yellow leaves either constantly or from time to time are a given on roses in Florida. The really ugly-BS-prone roses you just want to do without because beautiful blooms on bare canes aren't that beautiful. Sherry Here is a link that might be useful: Cool Roses

I kind of like the hedge look you have going with these, but I agree you need more of a contrast against all the greens. Perhaps variegated hostas in front of these? Shrub-wise: Carol Mackie Daphne - nice contrast to the darker greens, has spring flowering. Lighter green leaves edged in a cream color. Pics don't do it justice. Semi-evergreen (spray with 'wilt-stop' in November to keep moisture in leaves). Pigmy barberries are nice and compact with great color, but I agree about the thorns. Been there, done that, tempted again once I saw my friend's pigmy variety (I had the 'rosy Glow' that I wouldn't do again). So pretty. Smaller variety rhododendron (or azalea depending on light), though only spring blooms, right? Virginia Sweetspire 'Henry's Garnet' will be a nice fall contrast against the greens. V.S. foliage turns reddish in the fall, with white spires in the spring. Weigela, Wine & Roses - nice foliage contrast and pretty flowers in summer/spring, though mine took a couple of years to bloom, then wow! Deadhead for repeat blooms. Purpleleaf Sand Cherry (the shrub not the tree variety, though you can trim the shrub variety into a tree form if you prefer). Trim annually to keep from getting spindly. Euonymous Gold Splash (or a variety of euonymous hardy to your zone) for contrast. Other ideas: Amsonia Hubrechti (herbaceous perennial turns yellow in fall), planted with Bergenia ('Bressingham Ruby' - foliage turns reddish in fall and has red flowers in spring, though foliage is green otherwise). I have Euphorbia (cushion spurge) 'Polychroma' planted alongside these for a nice yellow contrast. 'Polychroma' turns red in fall. Nice fall color combination. Astilbe does well in shade, I have Red Fanal Astilbe, Heucheras (plum pudding and citronelle heucherella??), Hostas, Brunnera Jack Frost, Japanese Painted fern near my spireas (neon flash). Jack Frost is directly in front of my spirea. Annabelle Hydrangea? Don't fertilize once established as the plant can't hold blooms otherwise. Brunnera Jack Frost, perennial, a SPECTACULAR contrast to evergreens and thrives in full shade. A nice "pop" in the shade. I have variegated hostas in front of my house with my evergreen yews, and in another area I have lamium 'white nancy' (full shade) with boxwood. I also have other lamium in half sun, 'silver beacon', ok as long as it gets ample moisture. Pulmonaria (lungwort) is also nice for shade/part shade ('Benediction' is supposed to be nice). Variegated foliage. Ajuga 'chocolate chip' is a nice compact groundcover with blue flowers in summer (I deadhead for reblooms through summer). Artemisia 'Silver Brocade' is nice for contrast as someone mentioned earlier, though pretty informal for a front planting bed (as are some others I've mentioned).

Wow! Houseguests! I don't want them and I don't want to be one, either. As for the suffering we have to endure in the name of civility and "family" - that belongs to a bygone era. Nothing against civility, but from the moment she invited herself with 2 kids, she broke the rules. I have a feeling that she knew you would be "nice". I turned our guest bedroom into a walk-in closet, got rid of the bed and am polite but firm in turning away all requests and pre-made plans from family/friends and invading Huns. Likewise, when we visit friends and family in other areas, we stay at a motel or hotel. I had to do some work to get DH on board with this, but he is oblivious to whether we have 100 people or just us, the guys don't have the onus of entertaining, cooking, etc. Oh - one more thing that always works when they stay too long - run out of toilet paper!