steveningen, Coleonema pulchrum or(pulchellum) is a good evergreen hedge plant that gets to 6 feet tall average and can be kept pruned to shape. There are more dwarf cultivars-'Sunset Gold' and 'Compactum' that get to 3 feet tall. As far as being boring, the hedge would be all pink flowers.I usually see that plant mixed with other plants in a landscaping. Another nice evergreen hedge plant to add color is Leptospernum scoparium 'Tea Bush', with flower colors of reds and darker pinks.

Why don't I take my Mom out? She can hardly walk from the living room to the kitchen, a little stooped over. Her lungs have been smoked out over 52 years and are now riddled with emphysema and rheumatoid arthritis. I don't drive. Our weather of late hovers at -7 to -20 with the windchill. She is extremely frail and it takes door to door heated vehicle and a wheelchair to go to the doctors. If my Mom stood at the door in this weather for more than a moment her breathing seized up. I wish I could just pop her in a wheelchair and take her out but in this weather it's risky for pneumonia at the very least. Last summer I tried taking her out just for a walk around the garden or a ride in the wheelchair - it just about killed her in her state. (We still kept trying though). I think my Mom's overall health is actually picking up at my sisters. Mentally, she see's her grandsons everyday and they are thrilled to have her living with them. Physically she can breathe because there is no carpeting and of course 'hazmat control' for dirt/dust. She is getting more exercise and I noticed because her breathing has improved she is walking more around the house and walking steadier. After all is said and done - I'm settling down to a more peaceful home life. Mom is happy and doing well. That's all I want. Both of us happy. It's the silver lining in this whole clouded affair. As for SISTER - I can't fix her problems. She really needs a doctor and a long rest. She has careered herself over the top to executive level and has OCD at home - she'll never relax in life unless she takes the time to take care of herself and learn to breathe again. She has been like this ever since I can remember. We've been banging heads since we were VERY young children. I honest feel sorry for her. So, I'm picking my feet up, shaking out the cobwebs and reminding myself to start enjoying life's little pleasures again. My grow lights in the basement have a million seedlings popping their heads up now - I'm a very proud Mama! New gardening books to read. Taking the time to find old friends and making contact as a treat to myself. Have a part time job (seasonal) to work with an exterior landscaping firm to plant garden beds in the spring/change them in the fall/do xmas decorations for corporate businesses - out of that I have made a new friend who shares so many similar interests its almost scary....including having not long ago putting her aging mother in a care home (alzheimers). Day to day I'm striving to breathe, just breathe again. It feels good. LOL to all of you, Peggy

I have a seven month old cat who does the same thing. We've played hard (hide and seek, tag, fetch) since he was a bitty one and he's solid muscle now. Playing hard will make a cat pant as they need a way to quick process their elevated body heat. Take note of when that happens and if it's warm, don't play too hard. I know if most people were to run at top speed while jumping and twisting around, they'd quickly become hot and short of breath. Playing is hard work. Keep doing it with him though. It's good bonding.

Laura & MyerMike..... Well, well, well.....like running into old friends at a party! Great to know you guys are still around. Good to read your comments. So...yep, killed all my Adeniums, back a few years ago. My loss. Now I know to move my butt faster when cold weather is about to hit. I have had some successes besides my failures. Caudex/Fat-trees (Bursera fagaroides & Operculicarya decaryi, Operc. platypus) are fattening up very quickly, and trunks tripled diameters since I first bought them. Note to Adenium growers: If you want to grow easy plants without the headaches that Adenium can bring....try the trees that I just mentioned. I grow all three trees "hard", in gritty mix, no water except when it rains. I force them to break dormancy in late March, and stick them on the back porch, in full sun, when small leaves start to appear. They stay outside, in hot sun, until leaves turn gold and fall off. Then dry storage in light ( trunks are photosynthetic) until spring. Mike....I no longer grow figs. I won't go through the trouble anymore. Weather in NYC winters has become too severe for containerized figs and I lost all my expensive, and rare varieties back in 2014. Growing in NYC can be very challenging because the growing season is so damn short, and winters are dark and dreary. Not great conditions for ideal Adenium culture. This winter, I am going to put Adeniums under supplemental LED lighting, and see if this helps. Gave up on growing Clivia - too expensive, too slow growing, not enough supplies of desired varieties, and I refuse to spend hundreds of dollars on a flowering-size plant, that I may kill. Over the years, I perfected my skills for killing plants, and I can do it much more quickly and efficiently now. I kill only the best. I just bought some Iochroma seeds (a type of blue-flowering Brugmansia/Angel's Trumpet), and I'll see if this species survives. Plumeria/Toba's Fire/Embers: Doing just fine and makes plenty of new growth each season. Now, the original stick has grown to about 5 feet and subdivided into three equal-sized branches. Before heading back to NYC, I'll throw this Plumie into the ground, for some better root run. So...now you're up to speed. Laura, your plants, the culture, and the staging are exceptional, and the extra grooming work that you do, sure shows. Show-quality specimens in fact, and nice to see what plants should look like for display. Best regards, Frank NYC/7b