Are we becoming a country of horizontal gardeners? From a landscape design point of view, it becomes increasingly obvious that perhaps two of the most attractive plants that can grace the garden are not used as widely as they could be. I refer to vines and roses.

Most vines found in Bermuda ?strut their stuff? in the hotter periods of the year, from May to October displaying an array of colours to enhance any garden setting. Vines grow on, along, on or over most objects that stand in their way.

Botanists have identified more than two-dozen specific ways that plants climb, but most are variations of five basic techniques. These include vines that weave or twine such as Mandevilla. Vines that attach with aerial roots or adhesive pads such as creeping fig (Ficus repans), vines that ?scramble? such as Solanum wenlandii ? potato vine. There are vines, which catch with thorns such as Bougainvillea and Pereskia aculeata ? Barbados gooseberry, and vines that clasp with tendrils or petioles such as Passiflora ? Passion flower.

Most vines tend to twine around vertical structures or adhere to vertical surfaces. It is the job of the gardener to ?supply? the appropriate climbing apparatus, be it a trellis, arch or simply plant the vine close enough to a wall or tree etc and allow it to ?grow at will?.

Location is important to achieve the best from the chosen plant, wind and salt spray being the two worst enemies. When attaching a trellis to a wall attach the trellis to small blocks of wood ? off cuts of 2 inches by 4 inches ? with stainless steel or brass screws, the trellis can then be ?dropped? with vines attached if you need to paint the wall.

I offer the following selection of vines for consideration in your garden, be they for a trellis, a wall or arch or wherever you feel the will ?run riot?.

Allamanda cathartica ?Hendersoni? is a prolific growing vine for a trellis, bearing large yellow showy flowers through summer. Other varieties are available in various colours, several of which are candidates for use as ground covers.

A favourite of mine but rarely seen, is the Easter Lily vine ? Beaumontia grandiflora ? a strong growing vine with large white lily shaped flowers; leaves are a good solid green which highlights the flowers to perfection. A well-built structure is required to hold the weight of the plant as time goes by.

Clerodendron is becoming more popular with time and can be found in several colours with Clerodendron thomsoniae being the old faithful; flowers are a burnt red and white and seem to go on for the longest time.

Mandevilla has now come of age with numerous varieties and colours being available; flowers are numerous and of a squat tubular nature. Is often grown in containers, but best when having a free root zone.

As an added security, consider Pereskia aculeata ? Barbados gooseberry ? growing through and on your perimeter planting of trees or tall hedge, as it is a fast growing vine with spiny stems; flowers are creamy white followed by yellow fruits.

The Garlic vine ? Pseudocalymna alliaceum ? has attractive purple flowers; best when planted on a trellis surrounded by solid green foliage to show of the flowers to advantage.

Senecio confusus ? Mexican Flame vine ? a fast growing vine oft used as a ground cover; blooms continuously from spring to autumn with its showy display of bright orange daisy like flowers.

Thunbergia grandiflora is a rampant grower requiring a strong structure to sustain its continued growth. The large leaves act as a foil for the lilac-blue blossoms, which, if grown on a pergola festoon themselves en masse throughout the structure.

These are but a sampling of vines that grow in Bermuda, are for their beauty are worth trying, and in numerous case can be mixed and matched to give more colour and a longer flowering season.

Roses by their very nature and expression are ideal candidates for most gardens; they offer the passer-by fragrance and beauty with the many colours and hues found in the rose family. It is I believe fair to say that not all types of roses grow or do well in Bermuda, and by the time and effort given by many people over the years thanks must go to the Bermuda Rose society for their efforts in establishing ?a library? of those plants that do best in Bermuda.

The Rose Society have a recommended list of those roses which have been time and tested for our climate, and I offer the following list as candidates worthy of consideration.

Perle D?Or is a polyantha rose growing to a height of 5 to 6 feet; flowers apricot pink.

Cecille Brunner is also a polyantha attaining a height of 2 to 3 feet producing small pale pink blossoms.

Prosperity is a hybrid musk rose buds appear pink but change to white as they open.

Safrano is a Tea rose attaining a height to five feet; flowers are apricot semi-double blossoms.

Papa Gantier also a Tea rose a good strong grower to eight feet, blooms are semi-double blooms dark rose pink to red with beige streaks.

Rosette Delizy is a large growing Tea rose to 12 feet; flowers are shades of yellow and deep pink.

Champney?s Pink cluster is a Noisette rose having an upright habit to four feet, buds appear as bright pink opening to blush pink and fading to white.

Lamarque is also a popular Noisette rose, flowers are pure white, double flat with quartered centres, the blossoms have a delicate fragrance.

China roses include Archduke Charles with its array of rosy pink to crimson blossoms gracing the garden for many months of the year. Le Veseuve grows to five feet with blossoms of soft pink with a lilac tinge.

Several of the nurseries sell roses as do the Rose Society at certain times of the year. Roses are an interesting addition to the garden as they do add interest in the diversity of colour range and in many cases a fragrance that permeates throughout the garden.