To summarize, the "basics" are selecting the right rose for the right climate. Climatic suitability. Learn from the rose, know what the thing will tolerate. NO book can teach you that. No person can, either. Observation. Look at the danged things. Learn to read them. Learn their language. They'll tell you if they're not happy and often, just what the dickens is going on with them. Yes, reading (IF you are one of the intelligent ones who WILL read, unfortunately as uncommon as "common sense") will direct you toward what is suitable for where you are and what type of gardener you are or will become, as will simply walking around where you are and talking to people who seem successful at doing what you hope to do. If you read a book or someone's post, find out where they are. British rose books are glorious to read, but they have NO relevance in Southern California...PERIOD. Peter Beales and Graham Thomas proclaiming New Dawn and Ballerina to be perfect roses, the most successful and wonderful plants of their types are pure misinformation in warm, long season climates. Austin's original writings about his Graham Thomas being a "mannerly, five foot shrub" makes sense in a British season, but NOT in California where it can easily be a twelve to fifteen foot climber. Unless you take the initiative to find out where the information is relevant, it is worthless. For me to tell Elmire that tender Tea roses are the best roses around is cruel and ignorant at best because they are very likely not to be where she is. For her to tell ME to grow Rugosas is the worst advice anyone could provide as they are not happy here, period. There is tremendous information on line and, if taken with the knowledge of where it originated, can be invaluable. Pruning advice, particularly. In my climate, most roses do best with little pruning other than to remove what is no longer healthy or needed. Lyn must snow prune her roses or the weight of the snow will do it for her. Others must whack them to fit the winter protection they require. I know I irritate those who write me for advice about how to winter protect as the only response I can give based upon my experience is to continue dead heading and make sure they remain watered sufficiently if it doesn't rain! The right rose for the climate, positioned in the right spot for the conditions, planted acceptably and permitted to do as it needs to with suitably benign neglect will often become a weed. "Weed" is the highest praise I can think of for any plant as they succeed in spite of us. What could be better?

Am I in trouble if I have a couple squirrel box houses in my trees, and a swinging bridge for them to cross back and forth on? hahahahha I had seen a squirrel with just a nub tail in the area, and for a few years, I often wondered if it was the same one, or possibly a passed down defect. I saw it so many times I am not sure it was the same one. Also it seemed smaller one viewing to another. Maybe I just have a cat in the neighborhood with a TAIL collection. There is also a squirrel a few blocks a way that is a red type, but 3/4 white/grey. I have seen it a few times.

Oceanna, it is BM Spice Gold, the color card makes it seem so dark, but it's not at all. The first coat goes on pretty dark, but after the second coat it's fine. I would say the eating area is the most accurate color. It is the same color in the hallway by the stairs, where the entry table ,where the kids pics are and in the family room and kitchen, oh an upstairs spare bath. Based on the lighting it looks different. I wanted all the same color, but at this time did not want to repaint kitchen/family room. If I was willing to repaint, I would have done SW Restrained Gold. Still trying to find the right light fixture I used the polyshades on the staircase on and the spare vanity upstairs in the pic. I used Bombay Mahogany. I would recommend using the cherry color, the Bom Mah is way too dark. I wish I would have painted the vanity a chocolate color, it would have been easier. The stain is very hard to work with as it is extremely thick and gooey.

pattycakes: There's a home decor store in San Clemente on Del Mar Avenue that has these prints. I can't remember the name of it but I know she has something similar to my prints in her store. It's the 3rd or 4th store on the left side of the road on Del Mar Avenue. You could also try Tuvalu in Ladera Ranch. They have similar inventory to Juxtaposition. Good luck with the sale of your ex's house. shay13: They're actual tin panels that were painted, distressed and then framed. These tins were removed from a ceiling of an old building in Los Angeles and the signature is the artist who made them. squirrelheaven: I took a couple of tin panels on clearance at Crate & Barrel and did a similar finish. I used a tea stain to distress the panels. They came out pretty good. I didn't frame them since they're quite large. If you're interested I can post a pic.