I'll try to dash out and get a picture at some point today, Xeranthemum.

Never thought of putting a container on the pillars just above the level of the hedge, Roseblush. The pillars are what I assume to be painted steel. They're flat, only a few inches wide with an openwork design. I could use a hang-a-pot, maybe. I was thinking of that for the top of the pillar. I'll look in the vines and climbers forum for ideas, too..

The rose is in a bed planted against the brick deck foundation, which has a clearing around it, and there's probably 20 to 30 feet between it and the closest tree. But they're quite tall and the sun rises behind them.

On one side of the brick wall formed by the deck foundation there is an established Rose of Sharon. It's not enormous, and never spectacular. It also seems to cycle through its stages slowly and bloom sporadically. I've always assumed it was because of the shade, and the rose is in a similar position.

And of course there are always the annual morning glories.

I saw this message literally three seconds after posting a question to you about them in the vines and climbers forum!

That's what I was thinking Woofie, Morning Glory's or Passion Vines .. both tolerate being grown in containers and with Passies in containers, you can cut them back in Winter and store them until Spring. It would help to see exactly what Taqiyyah is talking about - I grow bunches of vines. Another vine to consider are Pipe Vines - Aristolochia.

I know more about roses than I do about other plants which is why I joined ATP. I want to extend my plant pallet and I think the very best way to learn about plants is from people who grow them.

We each develop our own garden philosophies as we move through our gardening journey. One of mine is not to fight the inherent nature of the plant I am siting. In other words, don't plant shade plants in full sun or plants that need sun to thrive in shade. Or plants that need well draining soil in heavy clay, etc. To me, it's worth the effort to find the plant that will thrive in the site without my having to do a lot of extra work to make the plant happy.

As for your shaded 'Dublin Bay', you said, "Oh, and Roseblush, it's not near a tree--it's the house that shades it on one side and the oaks throughout the backyard that shade it on other three sides. It gets sun, though, I promise. For a minute or two at noon (probably). "

I have a hunch that DB will never thrive in that location because roses do need more sun, so again, it's time to re-think what would thrive there and make you happy.

Although, they are not climbing plants, have you thought of planting huercheras in that bed ? If I had enough shade, they could become a true passion for me because I have always dreamed of having a foliage garden with contrasting foliage that sets off the plants in the bed. I have enough flower beds, I think it would be delightful to break that pattern and have a 'just foliage" bed. Although some of the newer introductions do have more flowers and re-bloom, it's the foliage that calls my name.

Here's a link to an article on ATP that made me start drooling ....

http://garden.org/ideas/view/g...

I'd move that DB out of there in a nano-second and create a foliage bed filled with huecerhas with contrasting foliage, and put the rose where it could have more sun instead of hoping it would thrive. For height, I might include an understory tree that likes shade ... possibly a Japanese maple ... more foliage contrast.

btw ... you might use a sturdy plant stand to hold the container up higher rather than trying to attach a bracket or whatever is structurally required to bring a container up higher. There are so many possibilities. Keep dreaming.

Smiles,
Lyn

"I have a hunch that DB will never thrive in that location because roses do need more sun, so again, it's time to re-think what would thrive there and make you happy."

Me, too, Roseblush, which is why I started this thread. I planted it there before I knew better, but now I think both me and the little guy would feel better if it was anywhere but there. Right now for me that will have to be an extra-large urn, and if I have to baby it along a bit until I find a better spot, I'd rather that than have it stay in the shade, growing more futile roots and canes and making the inevitable transplant harder on us both. So... back out I go for the shovel. The pot was almost ready Saturday!

By no means must I have climbing replacements. I love heucheras but have none yet, and because I know it won't be easy for me to settle for just one or two, I hope to trade for a bunch! Most of my garden beds are shaded, after all, except that front bed. In the meantime, I do have a few no-name striped hostas (what? I love 'em anyway!) and a bunch of tiger lilies I'm planning on moving anyway. Both did wonderfully along a picket fence that shaded them during most of the day last year.

So... back out I go for the shovel!

Thanks, again, Roseblush. You had the right answer in the first place, but I wasn't forthcoming enough at first to deserve it, lol.

lovesblooms.......

"I wasn't forthcoming enough at first to deserve it"

Of course, you deserve it ! I cannot tell you how many times I have dug up a stressed rose and put it in a container until I found a better spot for it ... I just couldn't quite visualize how you had planted it.

As long as you are thinking of it as a temporary fix, planting DB in a container and moving it to where it can have more sun is probably the right decision for that plant. It will outgrow the container, even if it is a large container.

Most of my garden is full sun in heat zone 8. It's been a real challenge to find the right roses to grow in this garden. I gave away 9 roses last year and planted 10 new ones and moved 6 other roses. I have several more than I plan to relocate, but I am still trying to learn about other plants that will work well in this climate. I've already made plenty of mistakes that have taught me to ask more questions.

I would love to grow clematis, but I think the blooms would fry in my garden.

I did plant 3 heucheras last year and, to my mind, only one of them is thriving. I may be moving the other two.

Gardens are a work in progress and I just happen to think that's the best part of gardening.

Smiles,
Lyn

I agree, Roseblush--all part of the fun!

I'm sorry, Xeramtheum, no pictures today--it barely got much lighter than it was at dawn, with all the rain, and then it was dark. I'll try again tomorrow. I happen to have two different passiflora sanguinolenta cuttings rooting in the basement greenhouse right now, from a trade. Annie's Annuals says it's great for containers, and it has pretty-shaped foliage. Do you have any experience with it?

Some sources say that Passiflora sanguinolenta is hardy only to zone 9, so you might have to bring it back inside for the winter.

Oh, I know, Zuzu--no problem, since I do intend it for a container.

Okay, here's a couple of pictures of my situation:







I'm not really considering this for the Dublin Bay anymore, but am still thinking about roses, either falling from above or rising from below.

Oh, the ugly brown mixed in the hedge is hot pink azalea. Kind of nice in the spring.

Oh, yes! A climber of some sort would be nice on those panels! If you don't mind the maintenance of pulling out the dead stuff every year, annuals would provide some fairly instant gratification: morning glories, cardinal climbers, cup and saucer vines are some that I like. For that matter, even sweet peas could look very nice. And they smell good, too!

I think I found what I'm looking for--now to find it for real: the Kordes "Flower Circus" series are said to be good for containers *and* hanging baskets! And they're all incredibly gorgeous!

I'd trade cuttings of my Dublin Bay (it's getting a good haircut for the transplant) for a few cuttings of any color in the series and wait forever these to root and grow.

Woofie, have you grown cup-and-saucer vines? If they grow well for you, I'd like to try them, maybe mixed with the passion vines, for climbing up. The morning glories would also be pretty. I have another spot for them in mind, too, though.

I think we should be talking about this in the climbers forum, because I could go on and on about vines I'd love to grow.

I'm very much afraid that the cup and saucer vine would crowd out a passi; they certainly overpower my morning glories! One combination I tried that did work well, surprisingly, was a cardinal climber with a white cup and saucer vine. The tiny red blooms and delicate foliage contrasted very nicely with the large white blooms of the cup and saucer.

Oh, wow. Sounds like my kind of vine.

Lovesblooms,
Take a look at our own rose database here:
http://garden.org/plants/searc...
The Flower Circus roses are also called Veranda roses. Palatine carries a few, and they are a fabulous rose supplier!

Are you sure you can't remove those hedges and replace the whole row with roses?

Thanks, Cindi--I eventually realized that--and then found and ordered the Cream Veranda through a coop for spring--so excited!

Would have removed it long ago if I could have. Sigh. Instead we just keep it trimmed and use it as a canvas for the flower bed in front of it.