The cat's claw vine, Macfadyena unguis-cati, should grow well in your conditions, and clings by itself. The flowers are vivid yellow. I find this vine to be too aggressive, but if you have it contained, it should be ok. What about training a large shrub into a tree rather than planting a tree? Geraldton waxflower, or Chamelaucium uncinatum, can have a beautiful twisty trunk and branches as it ages. Fatsia japonica might work, but might not have the look you desire, with its large leaves -- but hey, not much mess to clean up. Pittosporum tobira, the non-dwarf type, can be shaped to a smallish tree as well, and you could use the variegated 'Wheelers Dwarf' as underplantings. Ficus elastica - again, contained - could be attractive and tidy as well, will re-grow if it gets frosted. Check your Sunset Western Garden Book for planting around pools for zone 18 or 19 and see what excites you.

Hi, I have a large Mandevilla pink in color, that I would like to trade. I do not have room in my GH. I have lost its name. If interested, please get back with me. Thanks, djune

Sandy, I rooted 6 out of 6 last fall by taking cuttings not too far from the tip...look at the buds in the leaf axils to see if they look large and plump. Take cuttings with two sets of leaves...remove the two bottom leaves. I used a knife to take a VERY thin slice of "skin" off each side of the bottom knob where the leaves were attached...not on the bud/node itself. Dipped in rooting hormone and stuck in damp potting mix (soilless kind from my local nursery folks). Covered them with a clean bottomless 2 liter soda bottle, placed under a shop light with an automatic timer that ran the lights from 7:00AM to 10:00PM. I always sterilize pots and soda bottles in a 10% bleach solution. I believe I had to cut the remaining leaves in half so they would fit under the soda bottle. Mandevilla has been an easy to propagate plant for me...especially since I am doing them at the wrong time of year. I take cuttings whenever I have to cut them back for winter.

Brrrr, Inga, gees, I can't imagine the chill of those temperatures .Mind you, as a child (younger than 7) I (we) use to live in the town of Armidale in the New England ranges - west of here in the mountain country and it use to drop to about, well, below freezing, and it always snowed in winter. We use to make snow-men and snow balls by rolling the snow into a ball so heavy we couldn't push it any more. But that's a long time ago. I do recall the lovely autumn tonings though, and the changing seasons. Good to see some rain Chas? At least it's free water for the garden. B.