first thing you need to do.. is start learning the latin names.. so we can actually talk about the plants you actually have ... for example ... here in MI.. i used to dig my very large dahlia.. and store the roots .. like sweat potatoes.. in compost on the basement floor ... the are NOT annuals ... they are perennials .. in the jungles/rain forests they most likely come from ... when you start with the latin.. then you can find out if you actually have an annual ... which is NOT worth messing with PERIOD ... or you are actually dealing with a perennial.. that we in the great white north.. usually use as a annual ... now.. flowering is usually triggered by the inclination or declination of the sun.. along with many other variables .... that is why some do not bloom until fall ... i took me many readings of your post.. to understand what you were asking.. and i do NOT believe that you can change the genetic predisposition of a plant.. and force it into longer life .. by not allowing it to flower ... you will not convert a true annual.. to a perennial.. by not allowing it to sexually mature ... at some point or another.. as the sun declines in fall.. the plant will start to fail ... if it is a true annual ... you will not overcome that ... so.. to fully discuss this topic.. we need to know exactly what plants we are talking about.. since there seem to be both perennial and annual versions of the plants you list ... now ... impatiens.. root in days in water .... take a piece or two.. root them.. and then pot them and put them on a window sill.. and they will look good for about 2 months.. at which point.. you root a couple more pieces.. and once potted .. throw out the old.. and do this all winter.. until frost is gone.. do NOT try to get the first ones to live.. they will look horrible ... but you are not going to throw them in the root cellar ... it simply will not work with these plants ... so your option is propagation ... [i know you can throwgeranium in the root cellar .. but i think of those as woody plants.. which allow for some drying and survival.. impatiens.. on the other hand are 99% water.. and they will rot in the dark IHMO] ... finally.. there is not going to be one hard and fast rule for them all ..... again .. back to the latin.. and looking into propagation methods and storage methods of various plants ... any clearer??? ken

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 have to echo all with my regrets for your loss. I also have to echo Diane and ceterum, to also query the Antique forum. I know it sounds kind of scary at first with all of the long names but people will be gentle with you and they are not hard to come by at all by mail order from reputable places. The reason you may be more pleased with old garden roses is that often they have more disease resistance, more and more of us don't spray due to the environment, but honestly speaking who has the time and dedication? This might also be why the ones you lost didn't fare well. I particularly like the 'found' roses with names of who found them or where they were found. Some may only bloom once which isn't bad, but for your application you may want to make sure that they bloom throughout your season. I finally dove into them this last year and am very excited about how they will look and do, you sound like it wouldn't take too much for you to become just as excited if only you had better guidance (and enabling, you've come to the right place for that!) than what's at the local big box or nursery. Although you've described your needs pretty well, you might want to think about colors before you start studying what to get. If I may suggest, you might want to focus on bold (but not overly gaudy) colors. I especially like yellow as an accent, it is such a happy color to me and that's what you'll want to feel in the spot, not that she's gone of course, but all the happy memories of times shared. Too many pale colors would just get me down, I know, and that's where you want to go to get away from such a mood. You might also want to include her favorite color as a main color or accent depending on what it is. If she liked white or pale pink, just pair it with a saturated dark pink or the lovely purple clematis above. Best of luck and don't be afraid to really dig in and ask more questions here, we really thrive on wonderful projects like yours. Kerin

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