After 3 years, the roots should have pretty well rotted, from the BW - I don't think it will pose a problem. I don't know if it would be hardy for you, but I have seen a new Oakleaf hydrangea cultivar here - 'Little Honey'. It has, as suggested by the name, golden yellow leaves, some with a red tinge (very attractive, and I don't LIKE yellow-leaved plants as a rule!), and is supposed to stay under 4'-6' here, as I recall, so it may be too small, but there are other smaller Oakleaf hydrangeas that might do. They do have good fall colors, as well as the flowers. There are native shrubs that have great fall colors - Iteas or Clethras - as well as attractive early to mid summer flowers. Both of these can sucker to form colonies, but I find the suckers easy enough to dig/pull out in the spring - either pot them up to give away or plant elsewhere, or toss them in the compost pile. A variegated evergreen might be attractive - flowers not needed then. How about a holly - you can prune it easily for size if it starts to outgrow the space? Most of the variegated ones I know of are males, but there may be females as well, so you could have berries. There are always the winter colors of red- or yellow-twig dogwoods, although they may be less interesting in the summers, or in flower. If clematis grows in your area, you could grow one (or more) through whatever shrub you planted, and have the summer interest from the clematis flowers, instead of a plain green plant. It could confound your visitors, as the flowers and plant would have a mismatch! Clematis grows lightly enough that it won't strangle or smother the shrub.

It's in an alley along a fence. You want something vicious that requires very little maintenance and is disease free. But unless you want to be bothered with quite a bit of pruning (which won't be fun) and tying up to the fence (which won't be fun either) I would stay away from the ramblers such as New Dawn, Dr. W. van Fleet, Alberic barbier, etc. These will climb, but left on their own will also sprawl all over, including the alley. I would use something that will stand up on its own without a lot of help and can just be sheared back from the alley when necessary--eglantyne, rugosa, and a number of others mentioned here should do fine. One also has to consider the quality of soil in an alley -- likely not the greatest. We assume you have sun, but sweet briars will do fine in considerable shade. A modern rose that will keep blooming, stand-up on its own, and is quite thorny,large and tall, over six feet, is Austin's The Pilgram, a yellow rose, that some think to be the most handsome and best of all the Austin roses, but alas it won't be as bullet proof as the sweet briars or rugosas, will require more water during droughty periods, and can get a little blackspot. It also requires more fertilizer to be at its best. I'd stick with the species and near species roses.

Aloha folks, I did it!! :) I was able to package up 1 or 2 seed packets for every participant. :) Amazing! Also wishing you a Happy Holiday! well I finished up packing at 5:34am this morning..lol I pulled an all-nighter but I managed to get it done. so Sue you're not the only one! Oh my. You really stuck to it! I quit at 1 AM because I didn't want to be tired today and maybe even tomorrow and maybe be grumpy around a lot of folks. I had 'thought' I would do more this AM, but my AADD got in the way. I may send a few extra things out Fri, and if they throw a kink into the sorting they can just be kept to be passed on as bonuses sometime later. Whew...glad to be over the seeds for a day or so. Sue

Hi Alison thank you for your thoughts. I vaguely recall your handle when I lived at Port. Aren't you from around Julatten? Thanks for the interest and idea about FB contacts. That is v kind of you. To date I have only found one personal in SA who MAY pass on a junior hanging basket, so any further assistance from your spheres of friendship would be greatly appreciated. Below is a recent transcript of trying to seal a deal of sorts. Many thanks again and I will also spend some time hovering over FB (which I dont normally do) Andrew my aplogies in being erratic in getting back to you. It has been a hectic build up to house sale! Goniophlebium (correct spelling) species is in the same family of the white caterpillaer fern. The G, subauriculatum and G. knightii are both found in the wilds of FNQ, just unusual in enthusiast circles. I am quite enamoured of it what I may have worthy of trading if you are interested is a succulent species; Epiphyllum chrysocardium. The reason why I offer is that I would dearly like a more mature white caterpillar fern. It too has monstrous fleshy fronds up to 1 metre long. Quite cold tolerant. Originally from montane forests of Central Americas. Truly a magnicient specimen. If you are not all all interested then I would pay a premium to get hold of a more mature basket should you have one. EC.jpg (155K) or I have an abundance of Stanhopea nigrans in baskets as well. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=goniophlebium&client=firefox-beta&hs=oXH&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=xclCVImJFsTt8gXMjoBI&ved=0CBwQsAQ&biw=1311&bih=1263 Also for inspiration, this crazy frenchman does some good work. www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com I have done contract work with him on the Qantas 1st class lounges in SYD/MEL. As for myself I actually propagate and build walls which are lengthy time creations and quite expensive indeed. We cater for the public but most are commercial concerns. A residential waterfall type series of greenwalls are not financially for the faint hearted!Below are some examples:my aplogies in being erratic in getting back to you. It has been a hectic build up to house sale! Goniophlebium (correct spelling) species is in the same family of the white caterpillaer fern. The G, subauriculatum and G. knightii are both found in the wilds of FNQ, just unusual in enthusiast circles. I am quite enamoured of it what I may have worthy of trading if you are interested is a succulent species; Epiphyllum chrysocardium. The reason why I offer is that I would dearly like a more mature white caterpillar fern. It too has monstrous fleshy fronds up to 1 metre long. Quite cold tolerant. Originally from montane forests of Central Americas. Truly a magnicient specimen. If you are not all all interested then I would pay a premium to get hold of a more mature basket should you have one. EC.jpg (155K) or I have an abundance of Stanhopea nigrans in baskets as well.