I want to thank everyone who took the time to post such detailed and wonderful advice here! My renovation is finally done and I am getting ready to plant. At last! I have been closely reviewing all the suggestions and advice and have come up with what I hope is a good plan. I had 6" of sand removed, added an equal amount of compost and have irrigation going in as soon as I finalize my planting scheme. I have been using Pinterest to gather images of all the plants you recommended and narrow down selections. The San Marcos Growers site as well as some of the other links posted have been invaluable as a resource for what is available in my area and in helping select appropriate plants. I am attaching my plan. The house faces the ocean but there is a parking lot & a lot of tourist foot traffic in between so we put up a 4' wall with another 2' of semi-open wood fence on top. Also, just to the south west of the house is a large lifeguard station / maintenance area that isn't pretty to look at so the tree is placed to soften the view of that. Finally, the sides of the house remain sand in this plan. On the north side, there is only 16" to our property line and on the south side, the same plus another 3' that belongs to our neighbor. That area is needed for access and I'm not sure what else to do with it. I am imagining gravel would just get mixed in and covered with sand soon anyway? I guess we could pour concrete?) I am also including a link to my Pinterest page with the plant selection. There are a couple extras as I can't quite decide which Leucadendron & which Protea I prefer. I would love to hear any thoughts or comments before I start buying plants! Thanks again!

New Jersey/Michael - May I ask what structures you like for your climbers? I put in 2 last week (Polka and Berries 'n' Creme and planted a Cl.Colette today. The 2 last week are at the base of my patio cover posts and the newest one is on a slump stone kind of wall. I'm thinking the 2 last week will need more structure than the posts will provide. Any suggestions? Susan4952 - Love your metal structures (incl the Gorgeous!!! urn pot). I don't suppose you got them recently and where may I ask? Scrolled, curled and twisted metal things just speak to me. I think in another life I must have lived in Charleston or New Orleans with all the iron work and flowers!!! Enjoyed your pictures. :)

Roses I would grow are, mistakes or not, Mme. Plantier, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Quietness, Sombreuil, Blanc Double de Coubert, Clotilde Soupert and Pope John Paul II. I have been amazed at the number of blooms it has produced in this its first year. Plants usually take a very long time to establish here. Other plants that I must have include; Anemone japonica 'Honrine Jobert' and 'Whirlwind' (whites), 'Prinz Heinrich' (rose) as well a few pinks, Brunnera 'Jack Frost' (the jury is still out for 'Looking Glass' although I can already tell that it is not as strong a grower), box, yew, holly, Vinca minor, Daphne odora marginata, Nandina domestica 'Ivory Queen' (pale yellow berries), Narcissus in quantity (it is one of those things one can never have too much of), Lycoris squamigera, Scilla siberica (love that cobalt blue), Eranthis hiemalis, Crocus (both Fall and Spring blooming), Cyclamen, Colchicum, Lilium, Paeonia, Helleborus niger and its hybrids. I am sure that I have forgotten something but this is a good starter list. I have done fairly well with hedges and trees for structure but I would focus more on shrub compositions, especially evergreens, both broadleaved and needled, although those compositions must include deciduous plants or the effect becomes too ponderous. A lot is written about plant composition but it is usually directed at the relationship of perennials with each other. More emphasis should be placed on shrubs. They form a satisfying year round structure for the garden. Perennials are the bling. Shrubs can be interesting with flowers and berries as well as foliage and are definitely less labor intensive. Cath

Sammy, I think you totally have the right idea. There are so many things we can't change but we can adapt, and I think that is our real strength. The long wait with roses is my downfall, too; I want it now or at least by next year. I bought a 1-gallon plant of vitex and within a year and a half it was six feet tall and five feet wide and is still growing more against a wall, and I love it's purplish-gray leaves and little sprays of flowers. It's growing so fast that I can often clip off some branches and the soft leaves make great mulch for my roses. I can totally live with fewer roses if I have to because what I really want is a healthy, happy garden, and if the roses have to play a more minor role I can accept that. titian, I'm so glad you found and bought the sea lavender! If your weather is warm they don't need a very sunny spot and in fact will do better with afternoon shade. Just plop them down wherever you have a spot and see what happens. I hope it works for you!