No heron problems but we had trouble with either a mink or otter year before last, we had to cover the pool with netting. Mosquitoes on summer evenings usually drive me indoors, none in the pool though, the fish make short work of them. Roof is made of clear fibreglass panels, the right side of the planter is sunnier than the left, it can get quite hot in there during the day but by four the sun has passed over and it's quite comfortable. Annette

Patricia Ann's Sunset.

Charming! It would be nice to swing among fragrant blooms - maybe surround the swing or edge somehow with something like roses, honeysuckle or a vine to ramble over - sweet autumn clematis makes such a wonderful wall of vine and is nice to look forward to later in the season. But it's wonderful and I agree it is best to wait til you have the existing area finished so you don't block a view that you want to maintain. Love the big pots. I have a pair of big terra cotta pots on my front porch - mine were nothing fancy I just bought them at a local store but they've been there for 20 years and I don't even bring them inside in the winter - they site under the shelter of the roof so I just let them get bone dry before winter. I love the way they have aged slightly and I added the obelisk trellis things in them that have rusted to a nice aged quality. They are sortof between seasons right now I had them full of pansies earlier and now have added a big dahlia in the center and the licorice plant and purple salvias for summer. :) Big real terra cotta is a good thing, though. :)

Thanks... I think I learned somesthings from your pics. First of all, I've lost ventricosa Aureomarginata at least once, and the one I have just languishes along as a small plant... regular ventricosa does so well in deep shade, I never thought that vA maybe needs really bright light to get lush like yours... Second, my TOC has gotten larger by spreading and has much smaller leaves... never had the upright tall vase shape with large leaves like yours. Mine grows in full midday sun, so perhaps the shadier conditions lead to a totally different form. Both are striking, but yours just makes me even stronger on encouraging its selection as Hosta of the Year for 2013... I got June Fever for my sale this year simply because everybody walks by it on the way to the tables and wants "that bright one." The margins are a little unruly and unpredictable - but it is always a spring delight!