Hi Graeme, Great eye catching pic's. The white ensign certainly is a stand-out that jumps up and says, "Look at me". It reminds me of the words "whiter than white" that were used in some of the old washing powder commercials, and with that waxy type of surface, I can centainly see how you were initially suspicious of it being some gardner's joke. As Vriesea says, "enjoy it while it lasts", but at least you always have the pic to look at and drool. Thanks for sharing, All the best, Nev.

Roses and ferns are not a cpmbination I like. That said, roses require sun and ferns shade. Ferns don't need a groundcover; just mulch.

Yankees: that's a bit less than 16 1/2 feet long by 3'4" wide. And I think the Australian south-facing is the equivalent to our north-facing. That's just a wide walkway. Really fast, what comes to mind is pots of several heights, maybe with new guinea impatiens, ferns and hosta. Get long narrow pots, and/or use smaller pots and hang them on the fence. If it's not already [and you are allowed to], paint the fence white and plant vines -- I don't know your climate, so I won't make any suggestions other than suggesting at least one evergreen type and a couple that flower at differing times; plant at each end and train the vines towards the middle. Get the birds a bit more located by providing a feeder and/or water bath at one end. Thickly [10 cm] mulch the soil with chips or bark chunks and put down pavers, stepping stones, or those new recycled-rubber tiles to walk on. That should eliminate most weeds, while giving you an all-weather surface to walk on. For both visual pleasure and anti-bird, you might consider hanging "window-boxes" from the fence top - they come with water reserviors for ease of maintenance, and you could put in both flowers and small hanging vines to drape down. Use slender twigs or bamboo skewers to stick up every 5 or 6 cm, along the back of the windowbox, most birds won't risk getting their wing-feathers stuck so they won't try to perch on them. Also consider hanging old mirrors (or framing a flat piece of shiny stainless steel) on the house-wall to help reflect more light into the area. (Protect wood frames by painting with a marine-grade polyurethane.) If you can use any space beyond the walkway, consider having a buddleia - wonderful plant for attracting butterflies, and one will grow in a large pot almost as well as in the ground. It is possible to prune buddleia in such a way that it becomes more like a tree than a shrub. This would add visual interest as well as semi-screening the walkway.

Y'all blow me away w/your comments. KLINGER - I haven't sealed it yet, and don't know if I will. Riana said it wasn't necessary, and since I seldom seal anything I'll think on it. Tracy is due this morn to try the pump. Don't know when he'll put in the electric box. Juan w/help me re-arrange the pots a bit this afternoon. I'll be pulling weeds first thing this morn. CATH: I am really proud of this piece, and am sorta amazed that I pulled it off. Seldom see my neighbors - just the one behind the swing - others are probably looking out their windows, but haven't seen them. Yeah, WACKY - soooo glad I don't have to tile this one - that wasn't in the original plan. Thanks, MER - NOT A QUEEN, please - old worldly I accept. Many thanks, y'all.