I might be tempted to incorporate more purples and oranges in the mix, along with some bronzy reddish foliaged things. If your were to remove the Phormiums, you could substitute with Dianella intermedia, which has narrow grassy green foliage to 2 feet tall with pea sized deep blue berries all summer long. Heliotrope with the deep purplish green foliage and deep purple flowers would also love your conditions. As a foreground planting of bromeliads, you might consider using the bronzy reddish foliaged Aechmea pineliana var minuta and/or Aechmea gamosepala with lavender spikes and blue petals, both of which are blooming for me right now. I would also highly recommend the Billbergia 'Diana' for the coppery colored foliage and softly orange bloom spike reminiscent of B.nutans. Some softly opalescent succulents such as Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' could also look nice in this border. I also saw some great purple foliaged Dahlias with bright yellow blooms at the local Home Depot today, and these could look good with those orange foliaged bromeliads you already have. More orange foliage color could also be achieved with Carex testaceae or Stipa arundinacea, although this last one can get pretty big. You might also consider some summer blooming South African bulbous things like Eucomis bicolor, or E. comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'. These are so easy to grow in coastal locations and seem to stay in bloom for at least 5 months once they start. I know you said you didn't necessarily want to change the depth of this planting bed, but it could be so much more dramatic if you had at least 4 to 5 feet of depth to give a more layered arrangement a chance! Another purplish foliaged shrub with lavender blooms over a long season to consider is Ageratum corymbosa, which I first saw in southern California, and now use it in almost all gardens I plant here in the SF Bay Area. You might also consider using some real tropical looking things that are surprisingly hardy, such as Thunbergia erecta and Strobilanthes dyerana. I'd suggest more of the Orange Reed Stem Orchids, or more frequent fertilizing of the ones you already have to get more massive blooms and presence. I wish these could grow as well here in Berkeley, I have to baby them through the winter by keeping them out of the rain, and always forget how much more them bloom if I remember to regularly fertilize them.

I CANNOT believe you actually said this: "When was the last time you said anything nice to me????" but since you did, here's a real direct answer. May 7, 2009, (sorry I don't know how to post a link, for the real thing, it's about 2 pages back now, includes pix of my youngster) please see below: "How long does it take to root one of these? Brought to you by clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by meyermike_1micha 5 (My Page) on Thu, May 7, 09 at 19:05 I have had a cutting, or leaf of a ZZ plant sitting in water for over 3 months now. It is alive and well, but no roots..Weird. How long does it take to root, if at all? That leaf looks so healthy still... Thanks.. Follow-Up Postings: RE: How long does it take to root one of these? Brought to you by clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by pirate_girl Zone7 NYC (My Page) on Thu, May 7, 09 at 22:07 Hi Mike, It can take quite some time. I've rooted leaves in mix, that can take around a year. I've recently water rooted a stem, but didn't make note of the date I put it up. I took these pix, 'cause they show the round tuber AND the roots the plant develops. I really don't remember how long it took, but am guessing 9 months maybe, like from last Fall (I think I had accidentally broken the stem off the parent plant). and and So if you can grow some serious patience, you might end up w/ something like this. I think I'll take mine to my local Plant Society to pass around & show this development & then sell it at their plant sale table for a couple of bucks. ----------------------------------------------------------- RE: How long does it take to root one of these? Brought to you by clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by pattirose4 (My Page) on Fri, May 8, 09 at 12:41 I rooted a quite few a couple years ago and they are easy to root - it just takes forever, LOL! I rooted some cuttings in water and some leaves in soil but it did take more than 6 months. I now have a lovely little plant about 4" tall. After you plant it in soil the cutting or leaf will eventually die off and a new shoot will emerge. --------------------- RE: How long does it take to root one of these? Brought to you by clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by meyermike_1micha 5 (My Page) on Sun, May 10, 09 at 17:58 Wow pirate girl, The waiting was definately worth the results! That plant is so cute. Sounds like they take as long as a pregnacy for a women, almost 9 months..lol Thanks for sharing. It tells me that my waiting is worth it, and that it just may continue to live. Yes I am encouraged. I didn't want to loose it I will post a pic just as soon as I see a root... Pattirose4, thanks for sharing also. Take care and stay happy!! Thank goodness the spring has arrived..:-) --------------------- RE: How long does it take to root one of these? Brought to you by clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by pirate_girl Zone7 NYC (My Page) on Tue, May 19, 09 at 13:40 Bringing this back up as this very question is being asked at another thread. "" * * * * * * * * * You'll Pls. Note Mike, there is not ONE off note in any of my comments here.

Coral sounded nice... But your home doesn't really look Floridian, so the coral was looking out of place against the rocks. I'd agree with DLM that the Streambed is reading green on my monitor -- But that's my monitor, one photo, and time-of-day dependent. How does it wear over the course of a day in real life? If it really does go green, I'd opt for a more taupey-grey -- a driftwood shade. Something that is the 'average' color of the rocks but maybe a shade or two lighter. And I really like your planned charcoal trim --

california-dreamer, I've been following your saga with interest and worry. I don't know the answer to your question but if it were me, I'd call one of the big soapstone places and ask the question. Green Mountain, M Tex, Vermont Soapstone, that Tom guy in California who everyone raves about...I got mine from M Tex in NJ and I know they are well aware that they are discussed on this forum; I am sure that if you say, I was referred to you by someone on the Kitchen Forum and I have a question about soapstone veining changing color over time, that they will be happy to tell you what they know. I believe one of the owners of M Tex in NJ is Roberto and he is very knowledgeable. The person who sometimes answers the phone is a bit of a ditz; you need to get past her. Maybe floridajoshua will weigh in on the question. I have to say, though, that if you are buying this stone on the hope that it will change, then it is probably not the right stone for you. I think you need to love it going in. Good luck!