Well, I would say something quite similar--your best bet is container-type plants and just get the dirt zone so it will look neat and not be muddy. You might think about achieving some sense of "enclosure" to your patio by having several large container plants at the periphery--depending on the crowd you are having and the furnishings you expect on your patio, you'll have to decide whether to have these on the actual edge of the patio or in the dirt/mulch just beyond. So one way to think about your choices, is whether you want to have the dirt area a true extension of the patio now, or separate it from the patio with container plants, and just make it a neat, clean mulch bed for now, or a combination--create enclosure on one side of patio, and have one side open to a grouping of things in the mulch area. Agree on some combination of some tall things--in my zone we might find hibiscus and other cheery tall blooming things at reasonable prices at box stores. Even "houseplant" trees like Ficus are available, 5'talll for $15 or so, sometimes depending on featured sales. If you have use for some lower, colorful things, then if you found your own containers (12-16") at reasonable price, you could put a reasonable-sized Wave petunia (or group of smaller transplants) in that and in 3 weeks would be bigger and blooming. Here is another thing to think about in terms of keeping costs down and yet "decorating"--if the "containers" that things are already in don't look so hot or are all different colors, & some have integral labels and writing, and if some of these are not going to be actually buried (as if you want some on the patio proper) you could find some fabric cheap, like burlap, and tie that up around the pots--so you get a cohesive look for less $$ than trying to upgrade the containers. This also allows you to use large black nursery pots--if you have or if friends have.

I have no idea what the rambler is, it was found at my grandparents place in Wellfleet, MA. The flowers all open a different color, and it was growing in more shade than sun! So far I have been unable to ID It, even with Dan Russo's help!

It's amazing that 'White' has so many colors! I just don't see why it would be so noticeable next to white! The living room is the most noticeable, so we are going to play with different light bulbs, as I think that has something to do with it. I like the Soft-lite window the best of all, so I hate for color to be the reason we don't get them. You may have hit the heat on the head! We have the most insulation upstairs we could put, but it is a story and a half house, so there isn't much space between the roof and inside. But, the house faces east and the back is in the west. Even with shades underneath, the curtains get faded easily, so we know the sun is baking through. The dealer says regular Low E should be enough, but my husband wants to get Solar Low E, which for the whole house would be another $532. So, I'm just wondering if Solar E is overkill in Tennessee. Seems like the deep south would definitely need it. Thanks for fast reply.

Good points. A good thermally-broken aluminum window is going to last longer and hold up better than vinyl in the Texas sun while offering narrower profiles and a sleak appearance. However, as Todd said, they likely won't meet the numbers required for a permit in Austin these days. Soft-lite makes a very nice line of vinyl windows, but the two companies that offer them in Texas are not companies that I would deal with. One charges an arm and a leg and the other is hit and miss. Unfortunately, premium grade vinyl windows aren't widely distributed in Texas. I would consider NT Windows (Presidential, Energy Master, Traditions) before Simonton or Andersen. It's not a top-tier window, but it is made in Texas, is widely distributed and better than most vinyl windows offered in the great state of Texas.