The trellis is 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. In that case, while I have never gardened in your climate and I've never grown either of these roses, I suspect these two roses might be worth considering: Climbing Mrs. Herbert Stevens Climbing Lady Hillingdon Both are climbing sports of tea roses (NOT "hybrid tea" roses). I can't easily grow either of these in my climate north of Boston (with really rare exceptions the tea roses like more heat in the summer and winter than I can offer), but in your Houston area climate I won't be surprised to learn there are other rose growers here (perhaps on the "Antique Rose" forum) from the Houston area who are familiar with both of these roses, and can tell you better than I can whether they are climbing roses that do well in your area (as I suspect they might both be). You may well not find either available in a garden center, but you will find them available via mail order from rose specialty nurseries.

I used a woman that I met two years ago and she provided a drawing of my landscape with a plant list. It was very helpful. Her email address for serious inquiries only is: nancyaskin@aceweb.com. She measured my house and my backyard and put in the hardscape that I already had. She really listens and knows how to work with you. Give her a try. Debra

I decided to paint some old boards over old colors that are light and neutral with the Aura Satin paint I have here in the quart and the BM Regal Pearl Finish paint in the SW Antique White color (not for the color but for the finish/shine). I really like painting with the Pearl Finish paint and the VOC count and drying time is so much less than the old formula. I know I will not be doing the painting but it is such a nice paint and really covers well. The Aura Paint I can not paint well with and I know a painter would have to be very skilled to paint with it. I will see how I feel when both boards dry but so far my feeling is that despite wanting to go lower VOC, I may just stay with the BM Regal Paint in the Pearl Finish since it is so nice and rich on the walls without too much of a shine. The Satin is definitely shinier than the Pearl. I do not like Eggshell or flat paint so I have decided to not try out the Aura Eggshell finish. I am going to have to air out the room due to my preference for finish over VOC count. If I would like an eggshell finish, I would go with the Natura.

If you can afford it, stay right in Boston. Boston is such a walkable city, and it would be a shame to lose that aspect. If you have to stay outside Boston, see if you can find something in Brookline or Cambridge, which have direct routes into Boston on the T and are still quite urban. Copley Square is nice (Copley Square Hotel, Lennox, Bullfinch, etc.), lots of shopping, old churches, gorgeous old public library (enter for a few minutes just to see the interior courtyard, which is a real treat). I love the Boston Harbor area (Marriott Long Wharf - gorgeous indoor pool overlooking the harbor) - you're within 10 minutes walking distance of the harbor, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, and the North End. Here are some of the things I plan for guests when they're here for a few days: - Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market. Wander through the Haymarket open air market. Watch the street performers. Have a drink at an outdoor cafe. Go up the back of Faneuil Hall and take the Parks Service tour. It's interesting, short, and air conditioned - and there are clean bathrooms. Have lunch at Durgin Park, which is the oldest continuously-operating restaurant in the country. - North End (you can do this on the same day as Faneuil Hall, if you're not tired). You get to the North End through the back side of Quincy Market - it's close. See the Old North Church ("one if by land, two if by sea") and the Paul Revere House. Wander around the streets. Have dinner at almost any restaurant, preferably on a side street. (Ida's, in a tiny alley off Hanover Street, is a favorite of mine.) Get pastries from Mike's or another pastry shop, walk over to the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and sit and watch the kids playing in the water. By the way, if you're worried that this is too much walking, you could walk the entire route straight through in about 15 minutes! - Do the Freedom Trail, but only part of it. Start at the State Street stop on the T (orange and blue lines), and catch the Parks Services talk on the Boston Massacre (or, as my British friend calls it, the Boston Incident:). Follow the red line of the Freedom trail past the Old South Church (the Parker House Hotel, which is nearby, has nice public bathrooms on the second floor!), through the Boston Common (you can see the Statehouse from there), and on to the Public Garden. Take a swan boat and see the Make Way for Ducklings statues. Buy the book as a souvenir. - From the Public Garden, you can go up Beacon Hill (not my favorite, but very pretty), or you can head into the Back Bay. Walk down Newbury Steet and shop or eat in the pretty outdoor cafes. - Walk the Esplanade. See where they do the famous Boston Pops 4th of July concert. Watch the boaters on the Charles River. - Take the T (red line) to Harvard Square and explore Harvard. If you like to walk, take the T to Porter Square instead, and walk back to Harvard Square. It's about a 1.5 mile walk filled with shops and restaurants. - From Boston, take the T (blue line) outbound to Wonderland, which is the end of the line. You'll be at Revere Beach, which is the oldest public beach in the U.S. Eat at Kelly's Roast Beef, an institution! From downtown Boston, it takes about 20 minutes each way, so you could easily go to Revere Beach, walk the beach, get something to eat, and be back within two hours. (Btw, I know you can also reach Castle Island Beach in South Boston by T, and it's interesting, but I don't know it as well, except that I know that Sullivan's is the recommended place to eat there.) Hope you have a great time. Boston is a wonderful city!