The garden in Orangeburg is a huge collection of modern roses and a really good place to see how roses make it through a hot summer (not much applicable to your garden, but really useful for some of us). Hampton Park is a Noisette Study Garden and still has noisettes, although not as large as I'd expect them to be. And there is a rose trail through Charleston. Google may find it, or a call to the visitor's bureau. For large noisettes, the RiverBank Zoo and Botanical Garden in Columbia SC has a great collection of REALLY BIG roses as well as a lovely formal water garden where I wouldn't mind being a contented frog. In Asheville NC, (on your way and not that far from the Interstate) there is a no spray garden at the American Red Cross (Take the northern interstate through town, the Merriman exit, US 25, go north until you see an Atlanta Bread restaurant, and turn right just before Atlanta Bread, Red Cross will be on your right. I think you might enjoy seeing the rugosas there as well as the huge Mermaid on their fence.

Dina, so much depends upon weather and water. Right now, the vitex shrub/trees are in full bloom and so fully blooming you can actually notice the fragrance..something of a cross between a mild lilac fragrance and a buddleia (butterfly bush). Most of the rudbeckia (gloriosa daisies) are in their first bloom and the perennial ageratum is just beginning to flower. There's a sage that blooms a periwinkle color that is just beginning. I have two varieties of indigofera blooming like crazy, one tall, one low. Most of the daylilies are done except for the named ones with the huge 6' across blooms. Black eyed susans are developing buds. Tobacco is blooming now as are the buddleias. Side of the road blue asters are pretty much done with the main blooming that is noticeable as you drive by. Hydrangeas all in bloom (though I don't have any due to deer). Obviously, the carpet roses (in their third bloom) and the shrub roses are in full bloom. Perennial geraniums bloomed heavily about three weeks ago and will continue sporadically. I have other blooming shrubs that I just can't remember the names (it's late and I'm tired). Now this is from NC about 3 miles from the SC border and, as I mentioned, weather temps and rain have a lot to do with what's blooming when.

Do a search for peonies for the south and there are alot of responses to read. For the most part stay with early bloomers and if you go with a mid-bloomer, stay with the singles. I have had success with 'Bowl of Beauty', 'Sarah Bernhardt', 'Carol' and 'Festiva Maxima'

We just signed a contract for a fiberglass pool. The main reason is we found a pool that fit perfectly in our yard and it's cheaper, the warranty is good and according to other local installs we've seen - they look great! In all fairness though - if money were no object, I would have gotten gunite. You can free form the pool and make it any size you want.