Ursula, I actually replanted one of the rose shrubs, Hot Cocoa, way in the back of the garden, wanted to keep it for bloom cuttings to bring in the house. The other one has not been removed yet and it's too big to send to anyone.

Neal, both those roses are huge shrubs so they went against the fence to kind of block out the neighbors view, even though they are rarely home. (world travelers) I have a purple clematis, Polish Spirit, planted with Westland, now that's a bright combo!

I'm glad you found a place for Hot Cocoa!

Sue, do you grow Westerland as a shrub rather than as a climber?

Kinda both. It's against a chain link fence so I trained several long branches horizontally along it.

Every image is just fantastic.

Thanks Jo Ann!

Ah, so growing Westerland as a shrub would be an option. I've had my eye on it for a long time, but climbers are iffy here as for cane hardiness. If growing it as a shrub would work, that would suite much better.

This ia Clematis 'Jackmanii Superba', planted on a climbing rose, one shot with a flash


Self seeded poppies are scattered everywhere, I am pulling many already where they have gotten too agressive.


A favorite Gazania, 'Daybreak Rose Stripe


and a new alstromeria, the foliage is what made me buy it, the blooms are now a bonus!


And a new project is in the works, all the framing went up yesterday. We will soon be proud owners of our own egg producing clucks! The roof will slant toward the back, the roosting house and egg laying nests will be on the left elevated so it's open underneath, the rest is part of the run. We are limiting ourselves to 5 hens.

I love Gazanias.

Luxury accommodations.

Lovely blooms on that Alstroemeria Inticancha,..that is a bonus as the foliage is pretty itself,..i like that Gazania,..very striking colors.

Well done on the Hens House,..i was looking at the structure for awhile and remembering the time i had Hens and Ducks,..eight years ago,..when i moved house i had to give it all up,..lots of work with 24 Hens and 16 Ducks the bonus was selling the eggs,..starting with five Hens is a nice start,..will you get a Rooster to protect them?

No rooster allowed here so if one turns out to be a rooster, it will have to be rehomed.

You have done wonders in just 4 years Sue. I knew from the way your smaller garden looked that this would be magnificent and it is. South Africa. and Vespers make me want to grow more roses. I did win 3 climbers from the not a raffle raffle. All in shades of pink. Not sure how they will fit into my back garden, but will work around them. Love the clay pipes and raised bed. The people across the par from me have chickens. Heard the price of eggs is going up, so you may have the right idea.

... and the taste of eggs from home raised hens is ....... d e l i c i o u s!

I know Ursula! My daughter and family have chickens and often share their extra eggs and they are so yummy.

Wow, omg, holy cow, and fanfreakintastic!

I finally checked out this thread, and now I have decided that I wanna grow up and be like Sue, which is problematic because I already wanted to grow up and be like at least several other fine garden gurus maybe I just need to move to west...nah, geographical is probably not the solution, but I did just put my BF on Notice that at some point we will need to quit 'talking' about where to put chickens! I miss having chickens

Sounds like I've got a bunch of cluckin' work to do...

Thanks, Sue ;)

Painting the coop a fun avocado green, blends in nicely into the garden. Anxious to see this progress and done but it's slow going right now, I work part time and hubby hurt his back earlier this week so it's one day working on it, and then the next day he's resting.


Graham Thomas rose is looking so good on the satellite pergola.


This big shrub has small blooms but they are awesome in full flush. It needs an arbor over the pathway now. A great rose!
Rose (Rosa 'Ghislaine de Feligonde')


A Nicotiana sylvestris backed by Black Lace sambucus and golden locust tree


My favorite lavender, Hidcote, I have several scattered around.


And last year I posted pictures of the resident California quail and chicks, they're visiting again with a new batch, 5-6 of them, walking by our patio slider and through the garden several times a day.

You guys just can't get a break, can you.