You could incorporate the pond by adding some rocks with a bit of presence - groupings along the back curves. And not dinky rocks, something with some heft and shape but that won't overpower the size of the pond; and buried in a bit not to look plopped by some magical accident. Interplant the rocks with a few specimens that can handle a western exposure, but not sure what they would be in your zone. Dragon's Blood sedum is a low growing creeper, hens & chicks. An annual sweet potato vine could be trained into interesting cascades. All I know is when it comes to gardening/landscaping for the DIYer is that the heart knows what the heart wants. Most of us non professionals cut our teeth by trial and error; by pouring over gardening books before the advent of the internet; by skulking around local garden centers; by overplanting things that just weren't quite appropriate; by making mistakes and replacing failures until something actually worked; by realizing it's a plant and not "my baby" (as I so often see plants referred to on some of the forums) so it can be uprooted, discarded, replaced without trauma.

I came here to talk about landscape design, not spend time psychoanalyzing a group. I don't mind disagreement, critique, questioning or any of that. But it's a public place and needs a minimum level of civility and decorum in order to keep blood from spilling...so we don't have to waste our time talking about stuff like this. Some of the comments that drtygirl has made don't stick to the subject at hand and are equivalent to having someone spit in your face on a public sidewalk. They're rude, insulting and some of them just downright mean, fightpicking comments. Karinl, this is an astounding statement: "If anything, I see you as trying to bully the group..." Unless you're completely redefining the word to include "making peaceful offerings," there's no way. There's no force. It's not any different than you telling everyone over and over over how you don't like foundation plantings. Great for you. Even though you repeat that endlessly, I don't feel the need to tell you that I'm OK with foundation planting wherever needed...in spite of what you think. It's as if I said "Good morning" and you reacted with "Why are you attacking me?" I'm a landscape architect, not a psychologist. I'm at a loss to prepare a response that works for that. Honestly, you've made comments and suggestions that I thought were artistically barren. I'm seeing that maybe you need to be "challenged on your ideas and the reasons for them." I'll be wanting to ask you about that canopy picture you posted that looks 100% inspired by Trucknuts. Because there's usually more than one answer to a design solution (sometimes several...or many,) I never feel compelled to "call out" the poster on the design solutions they offer. I'll offer mine and the OP can take it as they wish. If I want to know why you did something, I'll ask. But I don't see any benefit to being rude, demanding or insulting. In defense of the use of graphics I'll say that most people here seem to give advice with text only. And nearly 100% of the questions at hand, have to do with something visual. The "text only" advice leaves a lot to be desired if you're trying to help someone understand something. Do those who've accused me of "designing over a photo" understand the design process doesn't occur on the photo? That's only a way to display the process. Just like a word processor is not responsible for the design solutions offered in text. OPs want to see something they understand...not just words that create more questions. My graphics in a medium new to me might not be up to par yet, but the way I figure it, they're better than P. Allen Smith's, and the OP pays nothing so they've nothing to lose. I don't force. What I give them is something they can instantly decide if they like and appreciate, or not. One can believe it, if they want, but the notion that only "professional" advice is given on this forum (where no documentation is required) is laughable (out loud!) and preposterous. At no point in the joining process is the mention of any such claim (that one will get professional advice, or must give it!) stated. Some of the advice I've seen given by others (some of those jumping my case) does not rise beyond garden variety gardening advice. Maybe some figure that strutting around with a prima donna complex will give their comments weight. As I see it, advice on an open Internet forum must stand and be weighed on its own. A haughty attitude is just a warning signal. If credentials were required, I have a degree in horticulture, graduating summa cum laude and one in landscape architecture, graduating cum laude. In both cases I graduated top in my class. I have worked in zones 5 to 10, both in landscape design and management (for a major university.) Before returning to school, I started with tropicals, owning my own retail operation at age 22. Beyond that, my love of horticulture began before I entered grade school. My uncle (who lived with us) was an avid and proficient flower gardener (inherited from my grandma) and exposed me to that joy, and for someone who was just a kid, some amazing and mind-blowing exhibits. I will never forget Delphinium spires that towered well over my head. My experience is not just book or theory. I've built and experimented with much using my own two hands and own idesas. I have proficient carpentry and masonry skills, passable welding skills and an unlimited desire to see how an idea can come to fruition, rather than how it can't. I sometimes throw oft-repeated "rules" devised by others out the window, preferring to weigh success or failure in my own mind...not in the collective mind of the "politically correct." I did not come here to brag. I'm just here to trying to give back...to help people who need and want it. I figure that if my drawings are not perfect, OPs are still getting much more than they pay for. They're getting ideas, inspiration, concepts and schemes...of which they can take all, a little or none. And whatever they accept, they can adjust it to their heat's desire. (Which, of course, they're going to do anyway!) Some posters complain that OPs are getting less than full plans. Of course! Offering full plans was never my intention. I don't have THAT kind of time or the desire to do it. If someone offers a better idea than me, good. I hope the OPs recognize it and use it.

I too, fell in love with crape myrtle years ago and bought several which didn't live out the year. 3 years ago, I watched a new Lowes store that was built right in the middle of the prevaling wind in PA. I live on a hill side that gets really bad winter winds and temps sometimes in the teens and near O. Yesterday I bought a new crape myrtle from a new nursery with an extremely, very chatty owner. He said that they have evolved over the years to be more and more cold hardy. This same thing has happened to alot of shrubs/trees over the years as they want to expand their sales...so my NEW motto is, if you love it, try it! Life is too short... who cares if I have to pass up a new outfit for a new plant! I haven't found this to be as true with periennals tho-- seems alot of the time they just want to sell them. I have seen some that shouldn't be sold north or Carolina, so I pass them by. I've evenseen them labeled as a periennal with absolutely NO zone information! I love all these forums. YOu have taught me so much in the 2 weeks I've been "surfing".. I'm not a newbie to gardening,but now I know so much more! Faye...in MD

Annette, I love your pic of the Vyvyan Pernell ... never seen that one before but I might have to look it up :) And the other, Bluebird ... would you happen to have a closeup of the blooms? Looks like a beautifully shaped flower? I'm intrigued by the idea of planting two clematis together ... I've never tried it, but they do look beautiful intertwining. How far apart would you want to plant the roots in order to keep the separate, but let them intertwine?