@sit_sat, would love to hear an answer to your question! I live in SoCal close to the coast and in a similar situation. A 50 ft long cinder block wall that is 6' high with 2' lattice on top.. Would like to plant 5 or 15 gallon Star Jasmine along the full 50' of length and see it fill the entire height & width! Not sure how long to expect until that happens based on either the 5 or 15 gallon plants? Like you, I would like to hear some pro advice on soil additives and watering schedule (can increase via sprinklers if it will help). My plants would be on North face of the wall so they would be shaded until they got up past the 6' cinder block fence. I also realize I will have to either string wire or place a trellis on the cinder block so they can cling to something. Any helpful advice would be appreciated. Thanks! Here is a link that might be useful: Star Jasmine for sale on wholesale site ($1k min)

I am getting mixed feedback from several nurseries ive visited. Some say that the roots of Podocarpus Gracilior will not create a problem for the pool & retaining wall IF the hedge is trimmed every other year or so to keep it under control. Some say that EVENTUALLY the roots may create a problem for the adjoining pool & retaining wall since it IS a tree. Anybody out there has had an experience w Podocarpus Gracilior as a HEDGE? I am also considering a Photenia hedge. Any feedback on the cleanliness, bees, roots? Need a tall (at least 10 ft) privacy hedge to plant in a 5 ft wide planter located between pool & retaining wall...can't wait for it to grow tall since the retaining wall is only 4ft tall & is facing the street providing full visibility of our backyard :( TIA for taking the time to share ur experience.

Hi Caroline, Oh so lovely! It seems you have a blank slate and that is great! I wish knowing now what I wish I would have known when I started my gardens at my current home is to work on the structure of my garden, ie: evergreens and winter interest! The winter is harsh and it seems to scream at me, to get some structure in there, so now I am trying to fix some problem spots by having interest all year. oh well live and learn! So, is the fountain mostly in shade after a little am shade? If so, maybe you could work on doing some evergreens for a tall background like camellia's, and some sort of evergreen with berries- it would help anchor the space, maybe something lower for color that could go around the fountain, like encore azaela's, that would hightlight the fountain so nicely when they bloomed. Then have some other shrubs mixed in for continued seasonal interest, banana shrub, gardenia's, then go for the smaller things like cast iron plant (everygreen and tropical looking), calladiums, ferns, hosts,impations, etc. So, you start tall then work down to the front ... I am not sure if my thoughts are coming across right, but try to plan for the future by having good bones (like an evergreen background)then you can fill in with some more color with annuals. If I misunderstood your sun and location, sorry! The blank white wall what is the sun like overthere? Because I think you need a red climbing rose right on that wall! I think also, that the large terracota pots planted and placed stragetically (sp?) around the pool planted with something that is either all the same for repetition would be very cool. Or, if you don't want one thing all the same, it seems like to me this year the magazines are showing pots with one type plant in it instead of many...has anyone else noticed that? rambling now.. I am sure you've had enough of me! Good luck, and I think no matter what you do it's going to be great! Oh, btw, for me I could never grow lavender or gardenia's until I grew them in pots, I could never get the drainage right! Jenn

Barb...both happy and sad....Happy he is moving forward with his life. Knowing he will go far as long as he stays focused on his studies, and learns to quit being so wasteful. Sad because he is moving on and we will be seeing very little of him in the next 4 years or so. We havent made any new life adventures yet. House needs some TLC. I suppose first we will get used to having a home with just us and the critters and go from there. Chell I used to be a dog and cat groomer. I loved it too. But my employer was a deedeedee. Never had the money to pay me each week and always "owed" me. And she never gave me my tips either.Then at the end of the year she reported more earnings for me than what I had really made.Fortunitly I kept records and proved my case and won, so make sure you don't let the same happen to you. I have kept my clippers, blades and accessories and still will do a neighbors dog or two once in awhile to keep my skills up.....but don't miss the hair stuck in places I did'nt know existed....lol. Love all the pictures the everyone post. Always enjoy seeing ya'lls babies. Regina