Before I was successful in locating the individual ingredients for my own Gritty Mix version, I purchased bonsai mix from a large local garden center. It was ungodly expensive, though, for a very small bag. Another option may be purchasing small amounts of fir bark or a ready mixed orchid medium if there are any local orchid greenhouses/growers... and if the fir bark or mix they use is of small enough pieces. I don't require very large quantities of medium, so I buy small bags of a product called ReptiBark reptile bedding. It's very clean fir bark, though many people say the pieces are a bit too large. I think the small bags contain a decent enough size for my use... though I do notice that the larger bags contain larger pieces that are too big. I use perlite, which can be obtained almost anywhere garden supplies are sold. I prefer coarse perlite, but I'll use the regular stuff and simply sift it if I can't find the coarse stuff. I purchase granite chips at a farm supply store... around these parts, that's either Rural King or Farm & Fleet. The product is just granite chips, sold as grit for chickens/poultry, and it does require sifting or rinsing to remove dust. Turface is hard to come by for me... there's no local NAPA store, and I know one must be careful about other brands and types of oil dry/calcined clay... I omit it if I can't locate any, and I work with those items I can find. I find it extremely helpful to soak the fir bark in water overnight before using in a mix... so it doesn't become hydrophobic. Another good place to search for various medium ingredients would be Hydroponics type stores.

Hi Jeff, I'd recommend The Generous Gardener or St Swithin for a climber, not red, but both of them seem to be good choices. I have Spirit of freedom and I'm increasingly underwhelmed by it. I grew Queen of Sweden at my old house and I liked it a lot, but beware that it is a very upright rose... basically shooting straight up with lovely cupped roses on the very tips. It's very vertical. I also grew Tess, and I thought it a decent enough plant but would never grow it again. The Prince too, also grew very vertically, wonderful blooms but not a "bush", rather some sticks with amazing flowers on it. I'd grow it again, but in the back of something else. Same for Queen of Sweden. I really like Sister Elizabeth. Short plant, smallish flowers, but really great shape, strong scent, and very good rebloom. I'm a fan of the highly-scented English roses. Today was the first bloom of the year on Sceptre'd Isle and the scent is just fantastic. Between my old house and my new place, I've probably grown about 50 Austins, and my favourites (at this point) would include: Jude the Obscure Lady E. H. Jubilee Celebration St. Cecelia Sceptre'd Isle Harlow Carr Gentle Hermione The Ingenious Mr. Fairchild Alan Titchmarsh Eglantyne Evelyn Sister Elizabeth Of course, your climate will make all the difference, especially in 5b, I've grown English Roses only in California and England.... but those are the ones I wouldn't want to be without. New to me this year, but roses I liked when I visited David Austin's nursery last year include: The Alnwick Rose, The Wedgewood Rose, Munstead Wood and Princess Alexandra of Kent. On the wishlist for next year some oldies like Pretty Jessica, Brother Cadfael, Abe Darby, Mary Magdalene and Lilac Rose; and of course, the new roses will be revealed soon, so perhaps something from there will be especially tempting. Anyway, hope something in this helps you out, good luck with the new planting, I'm sure your mom will love them!

The west side is mostly shallow black soil over limestone, not easy for growing lots of fruit trees (many will go chlorotic). If you look where the post oak trees grow, up through the north central part Austin, up into west Round Rock and further into Georgetown, The soil is black clay, deeper, and would be OK for fruit trees. East of IH 35 is mostly deep clay (Blackland Prairie), which is good agricultural soil. There are quite a few farms out in the areas of deep east Pflugerville, Hutto, Taylor and east of Round Rock and Georgetown. Just depends on how far out you'd want to be...

Welcome to the Rose Form. You're roses look real good. I like that shade you have covering them. Keep your eyes out for the David Austin roses. Most should perform very well for you with your set up. I grew many David Austin roses when I lived in a very hot and humid climate. They grew and bloomed very well for me. Here's a suggestion for feeding your roses. Use fresh, ground up fish mixed in water to feed them. Use about 1 quart (U.S.) for each pot and water good before feeding and 2 days after feeding. Use this method every 3 weeks and your roses will love you for it. Make sure you water your roses at least 3 times a week. Enjoy your roses!!!!