thanks for the comments! Other people people admiring my sculptures has taught me to enjoy them. My family calls them the Survivors - they weren't supposed to last more than 5 years outside but after 40 they seem good as new. Aloha - the flowers in that border from outside in are marigolds, begonias, then something I can't remember but I will find out, red flowering salvias, giant African marigolds, and an old Hydrangea in the middle that is only now just beginning to flower - I will post better pics soon. You can't tell in the pic but that particular bed is triangular in shape and because the rows of plants grow to different heights, it forms a big pyramid of colour when in full flower.

Unleash many of Mr. Austin's creations in environments more benign than even the best of the British types and watch out! I lived through the experience of discovering his newly introduced to our country, "mannerly five foot shrubs" quickly becoming house eaters in Southern California. Remember, the first bastion of "English Roses" and the initial push to introduce them to American gardens began right here. One of the first American collections of them was planted at The Huntington Library where I was an active volunteer at that time. We were all amazed at the intense vigor the majority exhibited. Mr. Austin was reportedly amazed when he witnessed the proportions his roses achieved in their first season (and even more so with subsequent seasons!) here. I battled Golden Celebration for far too many years, first attempting to encourage it to develop into a large, free standing shrub, then to constrict it to a house wall when it demonstrated its complete resistance to being "shrub like". It refused to be contained in either situation, rapidly throwing itself in every direction and refusing to provide any color until it fully blocked access to any point past its position. Not even the stiff winds experienced on occasion in its situation could keep its exuberance in check. Perhaps, had there been a huge lawn with a very tall, long fence to permit it to eat, it might have succeeded, but in that normal sized, suburban garden in a fairly typical, upscale, Los Angeles bedroom community, it was much too enthusiastic and demanded far too much space and water. It sulked if not provided regular flooding. It made extremely efficient use of increased water when it was provided. Crown Princess Mag. was the same, as is Graham Thomas, Pilgrim, Charles Austin, Yellow Charles Austin, Leander (10' X 10' or NO bloom), and far too many others to list here. All of this on the same fertilizing and watering all the other garden roses were provided and none of the others (assorted OGRs, moderns, polys, shrubs, HTs, etc.) demanded more nor responded in similar bad behavior. I don't plant nor suggest many OGR types, as so many of them require much more winter chill, rain, humidity and much less heat and intensity of sun than we can provide. Many once flowering European OGRs simply will NOT flower here. Many Damasks, Centifolias, Hybrid Chinas, Gallicas are as successful as stone fruit with 400+ hours of winter chill requirement. We can frequently succeed with those which require no more than 150, in good years, 200 hours of winter chill. Short season foliage too frequently does not remain viable and healthy when exposed to double and longer of their suitable season length. Just as more tender roses frequently fail when exposed to the colder, wetter, shorter and less intense British 'summer'. I don't expect the roses to develop themselves into the desired framework, however, selecting those which DO (and, there are actually a rather large number which WILL), creates a significantly easier, pleasing garden in which to enjoy your time, and goes a very long way toward significantly more successful plants. Perhaps, if I had Mr. Hearst's land area and water budget, more of the Austin roses may be permitted to develop into what they demand to be in this climate? Yes, absolutely, they CAN be pruned and I have removed MANY yards of Austin roses to be sent to the green waste processing sites, but that much too frequently turns them in to thorny junipers, with the same level of 'garden color' junipers afford. Actually, perhaps a bit less than junipers. At least they provide a much more varied palette of green, are without the flesh ripping prickles, and they don't experience the foliage issues too many of the Austins have here, particularly when maintained in malnourished states from being forbidden the foliage mass they demand in this endless growing season to remain healthy. A large, thorny green plant with no flowers is disappointing in your own garden. It is completely unacceptable in gardens for which you are being paid to provide the required bloom. Kim

Hi Molly, Glad it wasn't just me who was unable to open pictures. Yes, several of the benches really caught my eye, at good price range too. Welburn-- like a well tailored suit-- but too skimpy in depth of seat. My son and I are "large". Flannigan-- handsome, and I liked the vignette with the floor lamp. Hadn't thought of that before And a little bling isn't bad. . Thomas-- probably my favorite-- the ebony wood trim dresses it up without being fussy. So that gives me a good place to anchor the angle wall, and it won't interfere with passing through the front door. . Would you suggest a large mirror behind the bench, flanked with some wall art or photos> Anything you can suggest to put on the 10" long wall that doesn't involve floor space? Would like color . The website you chose is new to me. Are there any other online resources you can suggest in addition to the usual pricey ones-- PBarn, Crate and Barrel, West Elm? Appreciate the time you've given me.

Click. I'm in Bay Area and it seems the cost of installation is way higher than the product cost. ugh. I love the color, was just concerned there was too much variation between planks, and it might look too "stripey". It probably seems more striped appearing in photos.