Well, I would say something quite similar--your best bet is container-type plants and just get the dirt zone so it will look neat and not be muddy. You might think about achieving some sense of "enclosure" to your patio by having several large container plants at the periphery--depending on the crowd you are having and the furnishings you expect on your patio, you'll have to decide whether to have these on the actual edge of the patio or in the dirt/mulch just beyond. So one way to think about your choices, is whether you want to have the dirt area a true extension of the patio now, or separate it from the patio with container plants, and just make it a neat, clean mulch bed for now, or a combination--create enclosure on one side of patio, and have one side open to a grouping of things in the mulch area. Agree on some combination of some tall things--in my zone we might find hibiscus and other cheery tall blooming things at reasonable prices at box stores. Even "houseplant" trees like Ficus are available, 5'talll for $15 or so, sometimes depending on featured sales. If you have use for some lower, colorful things, then if you found your own containers (12-16") at reasonable price, you could put a reasonable-sized Wave petunia (or group of smaller transplants) in that and in 3 weeks would be bigger and blooming. Here is another thing to think about in terms of keeping costs down and yet "decorating"--if the "containers" that things are already in don't look so hot or are all different colors, & some have integral labels and writing, and if some of these are not going to be actually buried (as if you want some on the patio proper) you could find some fabric cheap, like burlap, and tie that up around the pots--so you get a cohesive look for less $$ than trying to upgrade the containers. This also allows you to use large black nursery pots--if you have or if friends have.

I have no idea what the rambler is, it was found at my grandparents place in Wellfleet, MA. The flowers all open a different color, and it was growing in more shade than sun! So far I have been unable to ID It, even with Dan Russo's help!

Good points. A good thermally-broken aluminum window is going to last longer and hold up better than vinyl in the Texas sun while offering narrower profiles and a sleak appearance. However, as Todd said, they likely won't meet the numbers required for a permit in Austin these days. Soft-lite makes a very nice line of vinyl windows, but the two companies that offer them in Texas are not companies that I would deal with. One charges an arm and a leg and the other is hit and miss. Unfortunately, premium grade vinyl windows aren't widely distributed in Texas. I would consider NT Windows (Presidential, Energy Master, Traditions) before Simonton or Andersen. It's not a top-tier window, but it is made in Texas, is widely distributed and better than most vinyl windows offered in the great state of Texas.

After much research, I got what I wanted at amazon.com. But you have to know what you want. The recommendation above for 3500 kelvins is a good one for the atmosphere I like and I even dialed it down to 3000 kelvins for several fixtures. These are soft white (which has a soft yellow but not the really yellow warm white). My contractor who changed my old cans with these LEDs said they only came in daylight but he was wrong. Daylight is too sterile in the comfy rooms at night...living room, dining room, bedroom and even my hallways. I switched everything out today and it's so much better. Now everything is in soft white but bright enough. I'm replacing all the warm bulbs (were too yellow) in the lamps to soft white. Replacing the dimming candelabras in my chandelier with soft (was warm). Brightens things up but doesn't look like an operating room. I'm leaving the bathrooms in daylight - they have no natural light - and have the lights on dimmers which is nice at night even though they cast no yellow at all. Besides the consideration for ambience and eyesight comfort more pleasing with soft white in my opinion, the daylight bulbs are kind of creepy at night. Every light shouldn't be a reading light brightness imho. I'd recommend a supplemental reading light that is different than your atmosphere, general lighting. It's not to be on the same time the other lights are on when entertaining for example. And finally, the paint colors I have look nice in the soft white - and better than if they were in the deeper yellow warm light....and better atmosphere/ambience compared to daylight or brighter bulbs.