Hi Catkim! Yes, those are pine trees you see, but we are coastal. We're in Southern CA, about 8 miles inland as the crow flies, not in a valley so we don't usually hard freeze. Our elevation is about 500 feet, give or take. Our lowest temps don't go below 34, and our highest temps soar to 110. Specifically, it's usually in the mid 60s to mid 70s during the day in the winter and spring. Night time lows range from mid 30s to mid 50s. Summer time highs are in the 90s (July-September). And then we cycle through high and low pressure systems in September and October. The high pressure systems during this time are accompanied by dry desert winds. Humidity drops below 25% and the temps can soar up to 110 degrees, and the wind can gust upwards of 20-30 mph. These "Santa Ana" wind days last from 3-5 days. Then the wind shifts back to our prevailing westerlies and the temps drop into the 70s and 80s and the humidity goes back up to around 50%. I like the palm area, but I'm craving a little color in there. I feel like it's a little too crowded right now, especially with the dense thicket of ferns below. Plus the pygmy date palm seems to be sending out pups (I looked them all up and you're correct on all of your guesses, btw... thanks so much for that!) We have a relatively modest cottage-style house, and the plot isn't very big. I don't think I want anything too big, because I would worry about roots messing with the foundation, plus, as I mentioned, it's just not a huge space. I think the Washingtonia would be way too big for our modest little space. We talked about it, and I think we're going to clear out the ferns since they most likely will fry in the hot summer sun. Thanks for your interest here -- we really appreciate it!

Annalyssa, I am so glad you like The Generous Gardener. Please make sure you look at more pictures of her since I've only captured one aspect of her personality. Before I tell you my feeding regimen, I just want you to know that I am quite ignorant when it comes to roses and I don't have children. Once or twice year I top-dress the soil with compost or manure or even sometimes left-over potting soil (moments of desperation). Once a month (usually April through September for me) I feed my roses but I try to switch things around because I "feel instinctively" this is the right thing to do. So at least one month a year, I feed with Rose-Tone, which is an organic granular product popular in the U.S. When I use this, I water the rose with a hose and count to 50. Another month I will feed with fish or seaweed emulsion. In-between-months I make my roses smoothies. I've always done the Rose-Tone and fish emulsion thing, this is my first year for smoothies. I have had much better disease resistance, rebloom, new growth, etc. this year (but smoothies are only one part of my effort to improve my rose cultivation). I get out a big bowl and add 2-3 cups of alfalfa pellets, some old bananas, that day's coffee grounds, maybe some egg shells, maybe some stuff bound for the compost heap, maybe some of the water leftover from boiling kale or steaming asparagus. I add several cups of warm water and let it soak for an hour two, then I use an immersion blender (add more water if necessary) to make a smoothie. I add a heaping cup to my watering can and fill it up with water. I usually give one gallon of the watered down smoothie to each rose, less if it's a band, more if I "think" the rose needs it. It sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it? It isn't really. I just do it in the kitchen sink while I am doing other chores. And I don't try to do all my roses at the same time. I enjoy pampering them :) Well, that's what I do. There may be problems with it because, try as I might, I cannot be scientific. I am interested in what advice others give you! I'm constantly amazed at how much knowledge the posters here have gathered and how generous they are in sharing it. In common with you, I've fallen in love with Albas this year and have Felicia and Cornelia on my must-buy this fall list. p.s. Thanks, Janet. You're wonderful.

GGG The most common type of Mondo grass that is available is Ophiopogon japonicus. There are many listed cultivars that range in size(height) from 1" to ~18", classygroundcovers.com(Blairsville, GA) lists some. plantdelights.com has a number of Japanese cultivars listed and you might peruse classic_groundcovers.com/catalog.html (Athens, GA)for ideas. They are wholesale to the trade only, but I'm sure some retail nursery in your area carries their products. Growers Outlet usually has the Dwarf type, 'Nana' available in 4" for $1. White Lilyturf, Ophiopogon juburan, is sometimes available and so is Black Mondo, Ophiopogan planiscapus 'Arabicus', but is always expensive. Hope this helps a little and good luck with your project! Rb

Hi Amazin , sorry I'm new at this web stuff ( mostly just a lurker) and couldn't find were I wrote to you the 1st time ... me feel so dumb with this puter stuff... but yes I have 9 begonias and 6 are from Logee's, some are named and other are ( pass a along's ) ..... Named ones= Begonia " Richardsiana" B." Snow Capped " B. "Tea Rose" B. "Hot Tamale" B. "Good and Plenty " B, "Tiny Gem " B. " Silver Queen " The Richardsiana has in pass week took a big flop , and so not sure whats up with it , taken it back into house , hope it was just heat stroking from 100 + daze we have been in for pass couple of weeks here in nastyville , so not sure about it. Two other's unknown named ones but pretty just the same and last one I think mite be B. " Sophia Cecile " not sure. I see you have " My Special Angel " have been looking at it in the catalogs . sorry I'm so long winded.... but sure there must be something in your long list that we can work with . P.s. I wont make it to any plant swap so..... not sure how we would do this if we've a mind to ???? But thanks for your time and effort if thats the only way .