Or third option - give it away to someone who has the space.

MAC would eat that plum tree as a little snack and then go looking for a more substantial meal.

As the young Annabelle is going to need at least some of that 9' space for herself, I presume, I think trying to grow MAC between her and the chicken run as a shrub would be very tough.

I would be eyeing the bougainvillea spot, but keep in mind that if you are thinking of training MAC horizontally, do it sooner rather than later, before the canes stiffen up. Her natural proclivity is up, up, up, but I do have one I grow more or less horizontally -- requires more work at training and trimming, but it's also my best bloomer.

I agree that MAC would devour that plum tree in a short time - if you don't want to spend a lot of time pruning and fussing with MAC, it would like to grow up a BIG tree - I have two MACs that are between 20 and 30 feet tall, and 15 feet wide. One of them grew up the tree I planted it on, and is now also growing on the tops of 3 other tall trees as well. The other one was planted on our garage, grew up & over the roof of the garage, and jumped over to a very tall pine tree and is at 30 feet up and climbing still. One of my FAVORITE roses of all time - never stops blooming, no care, would love your climate. How many stories is your house? Are there any tall trees in the front yard? Do you have any neighbors who would like to have MAC come over your wall and go up their trees? Do you have any neighbors with very tall trees who would like to plant MAC at the bottom of their trees (then you could admire it from your garden).

Jackie

I do have a tree in my front yard (Pine? Cedar? Spruce?) that is tall enough. I think about 30 feet high. Underneath it is shady and covered in needles though.

{{gwi:279355}}

This post was edited by brenda_l_w on Sat, Jun 8, 13 at 17:20

Hi Brenda. -- I'm too far south to be helpful with the question of MAC locations, but I wanted to tell you how happy I am to know of a new garden of Old Roses in El Cerrito -- the lifelong home of the late, beloved, Miriam Wilkins.

As founder of the Heritage Roses Group, Miriam would have been the first to welcome you, and your roses.

Jeri

I would give it away, unless you plan to spend your weekends cutting it back.

To be realistic if you are planning to have kids soon, you are not going to have time for an elaborate garden for a while.

Bougainvilleas bloom on new growth only, so a shear or some cutting back will give you a big flush of flowers. It is difficult to get rid of an established Bougie. Once they are established they are extremely tough.

Congratulations on your new home!

Yay! You have a 30 foot tree in your front yard - perfect! "Underneath is shady and covered in needles, though" - do not worry about that! I am in the No SF Bay area, so very similar climate to yours. I planted one of my MACs in FULL shade at the bottom of a large tree which was surrounded by at least 6 other trees, making a sort of small forest. All we did was plant the MAC about 3 feet away from the trunk (you will have to dig it a hole), and fed and watered it while it was still a baby. We just put some cord between it and the trunk of the tree. Within a few months it got the idea (in FULL shade still), and grew toward the tree. By the time it actually touched the tree, it sped up, and in another year had achieved the top of the tree. So, if you grow it on that tree you will NOT have to cut it back at all, or spray it either. Just make sure it gets water in our hot dry Summers, and it will take care of itself otherwise.

Jackie

Jackie, I could just hug you over the Internet. Thank you, thank you for the good advice and reassurance.

Hoovb, thanks for recommendation on the bougainvillea. It did get cut back a bit this spring but maybe it will respond better to a harsher pruning. Our yard is already home to two large dogs, three cats and four chickens - elaborate is probably never going to happen here!

Jeri, I guess in a way Miriam is part of the reason why I have old(er) roses. My grandmother, also from El Cerrito, was the first to go to the Celebration. Probably she was drawn to it because her mother was an expert rose grower in Washington. My mother and I would go with my grandmother each year, mostly just to smell all the roses. All of these women are now gone but this year I went by myself and got to buy my own roses for the first time.

Brenda

This post was edited by brenda_l_w on Mon, Jun 10, 13 at 14:44

Brenda - one thing I forgot to mention - when you are placing the MAC at the base of the large tree, put it on the sunniest side - that would usually be the South side, but of course if there is a large fence making shade there it would not be. South, or West side. Avoid the North side if you can.

Jackie

Brenda, I'm so glad!

My own grandmother was down here in SoCal (my mother was distinctly un-rosie) but any event that puts me in the middle of roses makes me feel close to my "Nanny." She was the one who taught me to love gardens.

It's a wonderful thing to inherit.

Jeri