@jimhd I agree that rugosas act differently in different places and soil types. I live in sand, where many things "go wild". My m-i-l lived in rock/clay in the very Northern part of MN, and her bush behaved nicely - didn't even try to climb her stucco.

@funcountess I am familiar with hostas and there are so many varieties to choose from it can be mind-boggling. HOWEVER, Jim is right, rabbits lover tender young hosta plants, so you need to protect them. I do this with a spray called "Deer and Rabbit Repellent" that I spray on every 2 weeks or after a heavy rain until the plants are full-sized. Other considerations - slugs love to munch on hosta leaves and hide under them, so if they are a problem in your area, you have to deal with them. Many hostas need to be divided every 3-5 years to stay healthy and look their best. If you have someone to do that, life is good. If you have to wrangle them yourself it can be a chore.

@gingerw Watching your new yard is a great idea. It's especially good to watch the sun/shade patterns to know what will grow best in each spot. When you're ready to buy, ask neighbors for starts or buy locally grown plants for best success. Here's another tip - watch later this summer at yard sales and big box stores for containers on sale. Vegetables, other than greens, need pots with a capacity of at least 5 gallons, so the investment can be significant if bought at full price.

Happy gardening everyone.

Sue