Hi Everyone

I'm new to this forum and new to suburban gardening. Have never been this space-limited, and am having a hard time figuring out how to plant everything I want. I don't have a back yard--it's all pool and patio. The front is grass, but I don't like grass. Still, it will be a long process convincing my husband to rip it all out to put in good specimen plantings.

Right now there is a row of roses along the left side of the yard as you face the street. There's about 2 feet from the roses to neighbor's lawn. It's a western exposure with full sun. I added companion plantings of artemesia, lamb's ear, dusty miller, lavender, and a few more, just so the roses don't look so bare there. The companions are all still very small, as I just planted them.

Here are my questions:

1. Is there something you know of that I could plant in the 2-foot width from roses to neighbor's yard that would grow to a 3-6 foot hedge? I'm afraid of crowding the roses, and of taking up prime specimen planting area.

2. If 2 feet isn't wide enough, can I move the roses at this time of year without damaging them or slowing their growth?

3. I'd also like your opinion on what you think looks better behind roses, a formal hedge, or an informal one? (I know, it comes down to taste, but I still want to know your thoughts.)

For my hedge planting, I'd prefer something that is either very fragrant, or has attractive flowers, like mock orange, gardenia, osmanthus, etc. But I don't want to have to fight the plant to keep it from getting unruly or too tall. And if it's a fragrant plant, I'd also like its bloom time to be summer, fall, or winter, instead of spring. (Aren't I picky?)

I'm in Costa Mesa. Specifically, Mesa Verde, which is about 5 miles from the ocean, Sunset Zone 24.

Any ideas, gardeners?

Thanks!

Cynthia