Thanks for the advice about size. I had estimated before, something I'm just terrible at, because I didn't want to go outside in the cold. The space is 40' long and the one (6-8 yr. old) Limelight I have is about 6.5'. I do prune it in the fall to keep it from encroaching on what is currently planted in the same bed. The space available between this one and the next hydrangea is a full 14.5', not 8' so nearly double. I've been thinking I could put a single Munstead Wood before the mature hydrangea. This is a smaller space and I've heard MW grows lower (is this correct?) so I thought it would be a nice beginning. The next section would be LofS, a hydrangea and then another grouping of roses finished with a hydrangea. I am hoping to find a rose with a similar growth habit and complementary color to grow on he other side of LofS. My ideas have been all over the place. Carding Mill, A Shropshire Lad, Abraham Darby, Jude the Obscure. Any you'd avoid outright? Any that won't be the right shape? I'm hoping they're bushier rather than tall and leggy. The Golden Celebration I have started out bushier but a cane was broken off early on and I've had trouble with 'octopus arms' every since.

hoovb: That was a long time ago in Mar Vista -- many people wish they had bought back then because MV has improved quite a bit since! We are happy to have gotten our house 10 yrs ago -- one of the last old ones from the early days of Abbot Kinney creating the Venice Canals -- and, it's taken a lot of pioneer spirit but I got the big garden I wanted, an old rambling house. a view of the ocean from afar & lots of ocean breeze & fog, all in an old neighborhood that's like a village (used to be covered in bean fields a hundred years ago). All the vacant lots have been developed in the last couple years (McMansions of course!), but MV retains its old charm nonetheless. And now we even have a Farmers Market on Sunday -- and it's a great place to garden!

i don't mind if it grows bigger; if it performs well i will sacrifice whatever is nearby for it to prosper. it's neighbour is a dublin bay in the corner which will we trained against that fence in the background. both are doing well and both are strong growers planted about three feet apart. most people would be amazed at what i have garden wise in such a limited space; about 45 roses (minis and full size) in a postage stmap patio. i can honestly say that i do not have room for another and that is why i have gave away three roses already this spring. when people see my garden they are overwhelmed by the beauty of the queen of flowers. what a problem to have...

Hi Strawberryhill, I got my Golden Borders from Eurodesert. I was actually on a quest for yellow at the time.;) Wandering through the gardens and looking for yellow roses to bring home. It was a VERY hot day as I recall--over 110 I believe with no shade. So a pretty good test to see what did well in that heat, and also who still looked yellow. I came upon Golden Border and recognized it from pictures on HMF. I'd previously searched Cliff's inventory and noted this rose but neglected to ask him about it as I assumed such a wonderful thing would be long sold. I was delighted to come upon it in his garden. Covered in bloom as is characteristic of this plant. There were 2 and I brought 1 home. Didn't take me long to realise I wanted the other! So I contacted Cliff and reserved the second. I think Hortico has or had it. I've never ordered from them so don't have an opinion on their plants. I brought home some other yellows that may also not be all that well known in North America. So I don't know that much about how they'd fare in zones other than mine. One of these is Eurostar which has about a gazillion names on HMF. Looks like an Austin and packs a powerful fragrance. The blooms are chalice-shaped and remind me of a bowl full of lemons. Gorgeous! It grows in a narrow, rigidly upright shape (perfect for the spot I had in mind). But it has one very big drawback--it is heavily armed, and I mean HEAVILY! The thorns are like harpoons.:( Thick, long, hard, and deadly sharp. They can slice through tough, reinforced rose gloves like a hot knife through butter. In order to remove it from its pot I had to tie a rope around one cane to pull it out, simply no safe spot to get a grip on with my gloved hands! But now that it is in the ground I love it. It will be staying where I put it permanently.;) The other one that not so much is known about in North American gardens is Emil Nolde. I didn't get to see it in flower at Eurodesert as it had just finished a flush when I came for yellows. I picked it from descriptions/pictures on HMF. It grows sort of low and spreading. It was pruned heavily back for its trip here and did start growing and budded up. But some creature ATE all the buds and I haven't seen its open flowers yet. I also got from Eurodesert some yellow species roses. I like all of them A LOT! Rosa foetida persiana to me is stunning. Love the globular flower shape and the intense yellow color. I even like the linseed oil fragrance, which I associate with happy horses munching a meal that includes flaxseeds warmed in hot water. This rose bloomed profusely at Eurodesert. It came into my garden and began growing right away and favored me with a second flush (surprise!) as some say it is a once-bloomer (not here!). Another is Rosa alabukensis. Cute beyond words. Single yellow fading to cream. It grows as a small rounded mound. Produces pretty red to black hips. Very prickly and suckers happily. Pretty, small, dark green foliage. It also surprised me after I planted it here with a solitary late bloom in July, so I wonder at the potential to rebloom (maybe I can do more to make it happy). Smells of linseed oil plus something sweet. One of my favorites, so I intend to encourage it to sucker and give me more pups! Supposedly from Russia, and depending on where that might mean it could handle more cold than in my area. A nursery in Canada carries it I think (Brentwood Bay). I also brought home Rosa xanthina. It is a graceful, large species with single yellow flowers. Plentiful small foliage. Melissa