Thanks for both your replies. And yes, I'm in NC, eastern to be exact =) We had boxwoods at our very first house over 10 years ago when we first got married. We planted them basically when they were not much over 12 inches high, and they did well. But these just seem to have no rhyme or reason to the planting. It's kinda like they were just thrown and where they landed they were planted. Way too close to the foundation, and each other. At first I was just gonna dig em up and replant them in a different location, b/c they are growing really nicely, but figured while I was going to all that trouble may as well just put down something I really like. Just wasn't sure what would be good. I'd hate to dig them up just to have whatever I planted after them die or look even worse :(

Zyperiris, I grow about 30 Of the Austin roses over here near Seattle. Mine were going downhill over time until in frustration I build two raised beds elevated 16" and filled them with 3-way garden mix and compost. In the 2 years since they have greatly improved in health and vigor! The only one I Can think of that I got rid of was a pale pink one that grew very tall and always balled from the moisture...will think of the name soon I hope (Geofrey someone?). Oh yes, I put my beloved Abraham Darby in a back corner because he just DID NOT show off well on the arbor down the center of my garden. His foliage was ugly and the flowers never last long then hang like old gray tissue. But when he is gorgeous he is phenomenal, and adore his pink grapefruit scent! At my previous house he climbed up into a flowering crabapple and was a traffic stopper! Jude the Obscure has done fabulous in the raised bed. and his color is much more yellow then when growing in our native soil. William Morris is a MONSTER...He wants to be at least 8' by 8' even when cut back hard! And the flowers do not last at all as cut flowers nor to they have a fragrance...but he sure is pretty when in bloom! Queen of Sweden is coming along now in her 3rd year. Munstead Woods...I Am WILD about the flowers on this one! Its one of my newest. Love Tamora, Sharifa Asma for their fragrances. Lady of Shallot and Lady Emma HAmilton were both pretty this year for first bloom then dropped their leaves and are regrowing them now. THey are both still settling in.So is Claire Austin. Her stems are pretty droopy still, but the white flowers are beautiful. I think in another year or two she will be a favorite. Graham Thomas, Teasing Georgia, And Windrush are other beauties for me. I really love Windrush when she blooms. I got rid of Othello this year...loved the fragrance but they nearly always had Vegetative centers and diseased leaves. I have other older ones I have lost the names to (Probably all pink ones) and especially since moving them wonder what the heck I have! Oh yes, I can comment on James Galway. I put him on a back fence and kind of ignored him and then am struck by the beauty of the roses when they bloom. THey shade from pale on the outside petals to deep rose in the middle...a lovely effect. Ugly leaves though. I do not spray any of my roses unless Hubby hits them with copper spray when he does the peach tree in late winter...didn't happen this year. Some have diseased leaves but are not planted in prominant positions. I visit them, enjoy their flowers and then move on. Benjamon Britton is another one who's flowers light up the landscape, a lovely deep coral raspberry. CHarles Darwin look a bit like yellow kleenex drooping on the branches. NOt sure it will be a keeper for me...maybe one more year to prove its worth.

I can't tell you how many things have gone into 5 gal pots. No, I cannot stand to toss plants, everything needs to be planted...well, I think I've gotten over that one. I have a couple of friends who did benefit quite a lot this year from stuff I was getting rid of and happy to see someone else take it...lol.. There are 15 year old, very large trees here that were set on the ground during moving, eventually rooted through the pots and are now huge. Turns out I liked all of the spots where they rooted also...lol. I would not have chosen to plant them there. I will NOT go to a nursery again for a very, very long time. Why is it impossible to plant just a few seeds of what you want? Why must it always end up as a full flat? Why is this so hard to give up?

Sorry to have posted and then fallen off the map. Ended up with the flu and then a serious case of over running landscapers! But now the new driveway is in, so are the stack stone edged pathways and two stair cases on either side of the house leading back to the pool on one side and vegtable gardens on the other. Last step is new gothic privacy fencing which goes up this week in the back yard. For now I want to confine my work to the front yard and side yards up to the point of the back yard fences. I am in zone 6 I beleive ( Chattanooga TN) we are in the valley right off the side of the tail end of a large ridge that keeps us a bit warmer that than the surrounding areas. I have excellent soil in the front for the most part save for the area where there used to be huge tree that came down last year. The yard is 80% sunny but does have areas of dappled shade where I want to do Hostas and bleeding hearts? My budget for all the plantings this year is 5 thousand dollars. That also includes any materials I will need to edge the beds ( still looking for inspirtation for that!) Alas a cold snap has us indoors today but dreaming of getting out there and digging in some dirt! maddiemom6 p.s. please pardon the typos, using a new mini-laptop and this keyboard is so small!! I am a total fumbled fingers on it.