Interesting how some things change while others stay the same. Avalon: My Vets Honor gets a fair amount of morning sun. I have to say that it is a heavy feeder and performs best when fertilized consistantly. Belinda's Dream is a work-horse in my garden where I have almost as many of it as I do of Elina. I recently purchased two Pope John Paul II after being pleasantly surprised by the growth of one that I ordered from J&P in the Fall on own-root. I was able to find it at a nursery in Miami. Appearantly a nursery up in Central Florida has begun to take up the slack left behind from MerryGro and is selling J&P roses on Fortuniana rootstock under the name of Armstrong Roses. I've spotted a few of these roses at my local Home Depot in Pembroke Pines. Well, bottom line, and a return from my tangent, PJP II is creating quiet a sensation in my garden. Peggy: My hat goes off to you. I can't get into OGRs. I can just imagine that they're huge in their pots. I was just up to the Cool Roses farm this weekend and Geoff echoed what has been a growing problem in my garden, regular thrips. He said that the weather is keeping the Chilli Thrips at bay but that the regular thrips are reaking havoc everywhere. I was warned against overly using ConserveSC and to stock up if I found any for sale as it has become restricted due to nurseries over-using it to combat Chilli Thrips. In other news: My raised beds project is 40% complete and coming along nicely. I hope to post pics some time in the future. Enjoy our Spring while it lasts Florida!!! Adrian.

Olga: I would agree that in your zone this structure could be overgrown.... in Zone 4 maybe not...it's really tough in my zone (3) to get year after year incremental vertical growth with most Canadian bred roses unless your winter protection is somewhat elaborate. Does anyone have a photo of a mature Quadra in Zone 4 that illustrates it's growth potential? Perhaps Ramblin Red would be a better candidate although it isn't as hardy. I posted this photo because my experience with typical support structures purchased in local nurseries is that they usually aren't strong enough to deal with larger roses in the wind...this one will...and you can change the width and height to accomodate the rose(s). I'm in the same situation as Gardenerzone4...I've run out of walls and fences to support my climbers...quite a dilemma...so the roses have to go out in the open and how do you support them?...I also like the effect of mass plantings...it gives me a bit of insurance to get the desired effect...so in my climate, away from the walls and fences, I know I should establish more plants than a rose grower in warmer climates...i.e. to get a similar desired effect.

It's all a source of humor, and I get it, but really, I think you will have to pursue the ordinances you have locally. Then, I suspect, you will be chided for being a bad neighbor, when just the opposite is true. Even if you were to be able to establish a hedge quickly enough, I agree that the plants that would stop a dog would be very bad for a child. There is a spiky, hardy orange, as an example. If you can afford it, get a fence. How about secretly provide the dog with so many treats, he or she would have trouble walking, nevermind leaping a fence. Who would blame you if the little rascal earned a special place in your heart. You can see why they don't let me out much.

My heart goes out to you as I read your saga. Here are a few items that may be of assistance, they are not garden related but may help you enjoy your yard and not have to worry about your children. There is DIRT, an internet discussion group that is a service of American Bar Association and University of Missouri Law School that has a real estate focus. Post your story there and see what ideads that have. Ask if there is existing case law that would support your claim http://dirt.umkc.edu/ There is a legal concept of "unreasonable decision making" when a HOA does this, in some states the court will not allow them to restrict your actions. To be reasonable the decisions have to be documented and consistent. Some HOA have buried in them a clause that gives you the right to call for Arbitration to resolve an issue. I will pray that justice prevails.