shirleyjean

Thank goodness she took pictures and sent them in so we could see, because it seems that the lady of the house will change something perfect so she can put her claim on it. I hope she thinks twice about that because it is truly beautiful as it is.

I live in zone 8a, in the Texas Hill Country. We have a Mediterranean Climate. Sandy, rocky soil, very HOT and dry in summer and Cold in the winter. I WISH I could grow the Pink Muhly grass!!! It would be perfect. Where I live I do not get enough sun except in a few small spots to grow flowers, so I depend on colored leaves and stems to give me the color I so crave!

Euphorbia is a cactus that doesn't look like a cactus. It grows upright and tall. The common name is Crown of Thorns. My granny grew them in the back of the bed in front of the house, next to her Mother-in-Laws tongue. The emerald colored three inch leaves are narrow on the stem end and wide and rounded on the other. The small flowers stand up above the leaves on a slender stem and are shaped like a fertilized human ovem that has begun to divide into four parts, with yellow stamens in the center. They are usually bright red but can be yellow, white, or salmon/cream bicolor. I have tried to grow this plant at least four times, all unsuccessfully except the last time. I grew the last one in cactus soil in a tall (2 1/2 foot) narrow urn shaped clay pot. It started at less than an inch tall and now three years later, it stands 2 1/2 foot above the pot and has branched into three main stems with off-shoots. It grows on my shaded porch that gets lots of bright reflected light. I bring it in during the winter and allow it to go almost dormant. It is healthy and happy. Any one who sees it, admires it and wants to know what it is. They do not believe it is a cactus until I show them the very prominent thorns on the trunk. You don't notice them because the leaves are so large and lush. I've never been stuck by this plant. Not even when planting, or watering, etc. It reminds me of my granny and I love it.
I don't see our Euphorbia on your fence. Your's must be a different type than ours. I should have looked more closely before spouting off. I do know that our plant is officially Euphorbia.

I agree with cecemax, size, shape, and texture. Everything is near the same size; the row of stones in the background; even the planter. Everything is near the same shape, and there is no variety in color or texture. They need to scrap most of the balls and start over. In fact they need a new gardener. The one they have is great with a hedge trimmer, but that is all. They need variety in height, texture and color, color, color. Change the planter as well, or fill it with flowering plants, spikey plants and trailing plants. Put some LIFE in the place! They don't even have mulch for the weeds around the balls. This is not relaxing! It makes me itch wanting to get my hands on it.

Sorry, but this looks too much like a burn victim to me.