I hope my 4 o' clocks sprout, I'm really looking forward to seeing the blooms. I've never seen the variegated variety of aspidistra for sale, but I could check a few nurseries. I dread the Summer because I melt in the extreme heat lol. I have an Angel Wing jasmine that I have in a container, I just wish the blooms would last longer. I saved some kiwi seeds from a kiwi I ate months ago. I guess I could start some kiwi vines. I have 3 pomegranate seedlings in container, that did well last year.

You should melt, the other side of your house must be baking in the all day sun it gets. No trees on that side? You should try and shade that side.
Regards,
Arif.

I only have a peach tree on the other side of my house, and it only shades a small fraction of the house. I'm afraid to dig in that area because of the possible underground cables and wires. I also have a couple of big trees on the east side of my house. I would love to have a nice shade tree on the other side.

Why dig deep, ask around there must be trees in plastic bags. Bore a six inch hole and plonk the tree in and let it solve the problem of cables. Find some shameless tree which does not mind the liberty taken with it. No one digs deep holes for trees in the wild and they cope up quite well with the rocks and things. Single story house no need for huge or more shadow problems, shameless tree, heat, lack of water, rocks and cables. You need a medium tree which does not cause problems like that Cedar. Fruit tree and off hand I can think of Citrus medium sized, Pomegranate, Guava, etc. We also clad our houses with a grape vine which provides summer insulation.
Regards,
Arif.

I guess I could plant a fruit tree on the side since they grow fast. I have a peach tree seedling, that' still in a small pot. I also have a couple of pomegranate seedlings too.

You get wild plants from seedlings, you require grafted ones for fruit. Grow them, they also look good and graft on them afterwards. That peach if it has four branches you can graft four varieties on it.
Regards,
Arif.

I mainly want to grow them for quick shade and ornamental purposes, though I wouldn't mind some good fruit. My peach seedling is only a few inches tall. For some reason its kept its leaves all Winter.

Yours is not a winter for peach I suppose. It might have been confused as to it was winter or some sort of spring. Plants also get confused.
You can eat the fruit, the pomegranate seed are used in cooking for adding a sour taste but they look good on the tree. They are very sour, you just spread them on a sheet in the sun and dry them. As to those peaches, well use them for cooking jam or tarts or some thing.
Regards,
Arif.

A lot of trees around here are confused. I've seen several blooming right now and putting out leaves. I love the taste of pomegranates. I've seen a few large pomegranates in my area.

A bit late if plants have started to put out leaves but next year you can ask them for a few buds to graft. Is that a Cocktail sitting on top of the cage?
Regards,
Arif.

Is it difficult to graft? I've never done it before. Yes, I have two cockatiels. One is in the corner of the picture. I also have 1 parakeet.

Well, not all that difficult. You just have to see someone do it first once then you are an expert.
Cocktails and Budgies get along just fine. They even sit on each others eggs.
Regards,
Arif.

I wish I could graft my loquat. I didn't know they sat on each others eggs. The cockatiels are scared of my parakeet lol.