I usually think in terms of what overall effect I'm after. Peaceful and serene? plant lighter colored roses in similar shades. Look at me effect? Clump together a number of brighter or darker roses. Dynamic energy? Lots of contrasting colors--perhaps even a couple that slightly "clash." Subdued and reflective? lots of blue plants (not many roses qualify, but lots of blue companion plants mixed in with white or light-to-medium pink roses will work. (I also call that my classic English garden colors.) A couple other considerations: try to get contrasting shapes for extra interest--a clump of iris near some roses, for instance. Or if it is close to where you sit outdoors or a path (to the garage, maybe) that you often take, make sure it is a rose that re-blooms well and often, perhaps one that smells especially good, maybe one that is not too thorny, definitely one that has an nice overall appearance (not just stunning blooms). Or, pick out one or two roses that seem to do particularly well in your garden and get several more that can be placed/repeated at periodic intervals--helps unify that section of the garden to see a few repeating elements. Depending on what roses you select--such as the David Austin shrubs--a number of them look especially good clumped together--Austin recommends 3 planted in a triangle, with about 18 in. between bases. I do that with some of his narrower, upright roses--like Molineux and Queen of Sweden--makes them much more eye-catching. I'm sure there are lots of other possibilities. One thing I do is sit there for several hours while I rest and consider what I like or don't like in the view from that direction. View seems rather boring--go stick a bright gaudy rose right in the middle of the boredom. That will liven things up. Or is the view kind of jumble--hard to focus on anything? Put some unifying repeats in there. Color seems too close, in your face? Substitute some more delicate shade or pastels. Lacks variety? Put in a tall climber or tall shrub. The point of sitting there for a long time is that sooner or later your reaction will break through--I'm bored with that view, that view is a jumbled mess, those colors are getting lost in the distance, etc. Then forget what the rules are and fix that problem. At least, that is what I do periodically. Good luck. Planning can be half the fun of rose-gardening. Kate

I had just embarked on the annual pruning cataclysm when I came to 'La France de '89' and realized that it's a poster-child for this thread. This is a splendid rose with a name which punishes the rose by being too clever (on the surface, it's supposed to recall revolutionary France of 1789; but of course a rosarian is "accidentally supposed to" understand that it's an 1889 rose which is as good as 'La France') such that one has the feeling that one is being hoodwinked. But NO! It's a rose which, though not like 'La France', is every bit as good; and I like it better. It's essentially a stiff climber with big, fragrant, shaggy rose-red flowers and beautiful lush foliage. The plant is sturdy, and vigorous in a well-behaved way. If this were named something like "Napoleon le Magnifique" or "Summertime Riches" or the like, it would be one of the popular dependables in the world of Old Roses. Seek it out! Grow it! Love it!

Amy, I think he's lying, and the wife is actually the one with the scruples. At least she's trying to dodge you and not lying to your face. She's also not "using" a property they are not making payments on. She probably knows that would be wrong. Just a different way to look at it. He knows they missed payments, he has to know, he's married to her and it sounds like she's done it before.... Maybe they are financially strapped and they just can't make the payments.. Bet, he didn't fess up to that... no, he just passed the buck onto blaming his wife... What a guy. He's just as much at fault for the payments not being made. And, by the way, what was his reason for not showing up when he was suppose to - bet he can somehow blame that his wife to... how convenient. I love guys like that... can someone get their wives to agree to sink money they don't have into a place only they will enjoy and somehow make the wife look like the bad guy and still come out smelling like roses themselves. How do they do that? So, by the way, when do you expect to get that check I'm sure he is sending right off in the mail to you for all the missed payments? And, will that check come before or after the call from their lawyer asking for half the worth of the house? Sorry, I still think there's a lot more to this story, and that you need to get a lawyer and straighten this whole thing out once and for all.

Wow, thanks for the compliments and the warm welcome! You guys are great and I'm so excited to finally be participating in this crazy forum:) I've been having computer problems all day, it keeps kicking me out every time I'm halfway through typing my response. this will be my 4th and final attempt to respond tonight...grrrrrr. Barb - I have some blue mirror tiles I was thinking of using on the stand. I'll have to play around with it a little and see what I can come up with. As for the other bowling ball, I want to wait until I have a little more experience and then I'm going to attempt to do one with tiles, plates, etc. Slow - The addiction sure comes on quick does't it? Right now I'm in "hunt and gather" mode, lol. My husband has been really helpful with the search for supplies and is excited to see what I'm gonna do with it all. I have no tools and no pretty glass, but I have my GEII, a hammer and lots of stuff to smash up! I'm not sure what my next project will be, but I'm itchin to start bustin stuff up! I got some fabulous deals, I'll have to post pics of my new treaures. Becky - I looked through the old posts and found your bowling ball pics. It's a beautiful design and I can see that you put a lot of thought into it. I can't wait to see the end result! I do hope that you finish it, I would love to see it. Jane - Yeah, I thought we could use another Canadian here....about the sane part..hmmm...well, we'll have to work on that. Besides, I think that sanity is seriously over-rated, lol. I'd love to see a pic of your twin BB, I couldn't find it in the old posts. By the way, the info on my page is really outdated. We just recently move to Barrie, ON which is about 45 minutes north of Toronto. Thanks for the reminder, I'll have to get in there and bring it up to date. Sunshine - That's exactly what I was afraid of, lol. That nobody would say anything. Wouldn't that be horrible? I know from reading all the old post how encouraging everyone here is and that that would never happen but I have to admit it took a little nudge from DH to get me to take pics and post. Nice - I'm sure I'll post so many pics and questions that you'll be sick of me soon enough, lol. I'll try to behave myself for Jane's sake;) Hrsg - Spent so much time trying to get the puter fixed that I had no time to play. Now it's already time to sleep again. Ah well, tomorrow's another day Sweet Dreams, Cindy