It seems this thread has become problematic for a few of us! ;-) Seems to be common on this forum. One does wonder why. Nandina, since your first post seems to be the most practically knowledgeable as well as offered in a friendly manner, I certainly hope you won't quit posting. While I appreciate all the help I've been given it seems there are some who don't seem to want to provide explanations of their suggestions or cannot see that I wrote a book initially which has a lot of info. A sense of humor is always refreshing and I doubt I even liked pablum when I was of an age to eat it!. Thank you. Some comments on your suggestions - since DH is just finishing building my 12'x16' garden house I doubt I could convince him to build a potting shed as well! LOL Also the garden house will have a porch added next year which is where I will have a potting bench. My idea is to hide the bins with plantings. I think it can work. This is a country garden and we have no near neighbors so compost bins are not a major problem. Your idea of a labyrinth/patio is an interesting one which I might have considered a few years ago before we built our large patio right near the house. I think the labyrinth will be fine once established with a circular planting bed surrounding it, paths to and from, and plantings to blend. Frankie, I appreciate you hanging in on this thread and your attempt to define this elusive basic mission statement. I really don't see why this should be a problem for anyone who wishes to help as so far no one has been able to define clearly what it means in landscaping. The parameters I set out for this project IMO are more than enough info for anyone to understand what my basic mission is. BTW for anyone who thinks I'm copping out on stating this basic mission, I can tell you that I have helped several organizations create such a statement so it's not a foreign concept to me. The low maintenance requirement, I agree, has not been well enough defined by me altho I think to say that no "high" maintenance landscaping ideas will be implemented is appropriate. So only hardy plants, a minimum of plants aggressive in this zone, shrubs that require little trimming, plants that do not shed noxious seed pods, and little or no groomed lawns. Most gardeners will understand the concept of well behaved, low maintenance plants. As far as low maintenance hardscaping ideas (such as for paths) I'm definitely looking for suggestions. I love gardening and my DH is always helpful so we expect to continue to spend many hours a week and more at certain times of the year in our garden. I have thot of planting several areas in wildflowers or grasses altho will have to speak with someone at the local Ag office regarding non-invasive plants so I don't use those that could become a problem. I wonder how many here have actually ever planned a garden larger than a city lot. I'd be interested to hear their experiences.

I have no advice to offer, only encouragement. What a great project! Well, I do have one piece of advice - take care with your back and hands. I am making a flagstone walk, and have learned how carpal tunnel can effect moving that flagstone around, although I am well past the age of toddlers. : ) Keep us posted with photos as you progress. I hope you get great advice from those 'in the know'. Jane

Continuously moist, damp soil is the goal. Most plants love and wil sow maximum growth, even the non-thirsty, drought-tolerant plans. OTOH, water-logged/saturated/boggy soil will drown most plants. If your soil drains well, then drowning plants is not much of concern, esp mature plants. When I was overwatering a young B. tuldoides, the symptom was numerous yellow/brown leaves. I removed those leaves, cut back on watering until the leaves curled from dryness, and started watering less. The plant never showed any more yellow leaves. It has so many culms and so much foliage to support with moisture now, I figure I couldnt overwater it if I tried. My B. tuldoides is my favorite bamboo, sized up fast, in one year, and is a vigorous producer of culms every summer, with larger leaves than any of my Phyllostachys. Next favorite is Mexican weeping, for a very different, delicate, "gracilis" bamboo look.

Wow, thanks for all the great advice and suggestions. I did not know that about tulips (said in my best Ron White voice). I have enough trouble with my own accelerated depreciation, let alone dealing with that of bulbs that I plant, and this property is Grand Central Station for deer, so I think IÂll stay away from tulips and focus on other spring bulbs. DD, I did not find King Alfred on the BreckÂs website, but I learned from some of the other excellent sites mentioned that it only called that in the US and that elsewhere in the world it is called Dutch Master. Given the size, IÂll bet that BreckÂs ÂColossal Daffodil is probably their version of Dutch Master. Peering around my monitor, I can see a half dozen blooming right now out in the garden. Even in the rain they hold their headÂs up proudly, must be royalty. Too many choices! With respect to daffodils I found a couple of collations that offer nice variety and include some of the ones yaÂll recommended. I think IÂll start with those and then see what to add, either later this year or next year, after they bloom. I have a coupon for BreckÂs that expires soon and also want to order some perennials from them, so I think IÂll start there and maybe order from some of the other websites, once their 2006 catalogs are out. I also like the idea of layering. The reason I stayed away from spring bulbs for so long was because I considered them one-hit wonders  a week or so of color and then wilting greens. BUT, after watching the crocus and tulips and daffodils and hyacinths bloom one into the other, IÂve gotten just a bit wiser. And, with layering it is possible to extend the color in the same spot, instead of scattered all over the garden (not that thatÂs bad, either). Since I have so many new stretches of bare ground to fill, what with all the construction, itÂs the perfect opportunity to plant layers, since there will be nothing blocking me. Again, thanks everyone for all the great ideas. I am definitely psyched to plant bulbs. narcnh