Can you post a photo?

Thanks for all your comments and support. I appreciate it. This is so way beyond my skill level that Im really nervous about making costly mistakes. Marie, LOLOL "at least they dont talk back or ask for keys to the car." Sue, Deanne, a lot of the design ideas were mine which is why I was so upset w/the designer. I wanted that Weeping Norway Spruce by the front porch, evergreens perhaps Azaleas in the courtyard, boxwood curves, blue spruce shrub/red maple combo (I wanted Acer "Shaina" b/c it stays small but no one has it here), and a tall ornamental behind the pear I asked for Jane or tri-colored beech. Also on my list of OK plants was W&R Weigelas. He extended and redefined the edge of the beds which I liked, and came up with the placement of the blue spruce and Weigelas. He also suggested Fireglow which was the only small upright maple I could find but he had it placed so that it would block the courtyard and the spruces behind as it grew. Tom & I moved that maple around and redug the hole several times before it got planted. Next to the maple, he had 3 dappled willow, Hakuro Nishiki. I liked the plant and texture, but after researching found that it needs constant pruning to keep its color and it often greens-out. Thus, instead I put the rescued daphne there. He suggested the sumac but had 3 instead of one specd. The jury is still out on the sumac for all the reasons you guys stated. Since I got it for $20, its no biggie if it doesnt work out. I wanted evergreens at the end of the beds and he specd Birds Nest Spruce. I like them, but theyre ho-hum and I think I need bright and color against the boxwood and Jane behind. Mary, thats great to know that Jane" has settled in nicely for you. I cant wait to see it when it blooms. What I heard from various nurseries is that the plants in the little girl series havent read the labels. At the nursery where I bot Jane, they have some gorgeous, huge, Betty and Jane, some 15 in diameter. But they can be pruned. Thanks T, and Marian. It has been alot of work, even without the stumps and dumps to clean up. Deanne, Ive heard and read various things about the size of the Weeping Norway Spruce. Its supposed to be a slow-grower, so size hopefully wont be a problem in my lifetime. I like the way the lower branches spread out like a skirt. Im keeping it staked so the leader will grow upright a little more before it starts to weep. Funny, I thot of you when moving those boulders. The two on the end are just there temporarily. I do plan to dig them in when I decide where theyre going. Yesterday, a friend gave me a tip on moving them buy a couple pieces of sheet metal and slide them! Could work! Thanks Michelle. You, Deanne and I are on the same wavelength about the container. I moved that one there for temporary color and found I liked it. I love Marties idea of cascading petunias out of a container. It would work well there if I found the right urn. I also like the idea of incorporating more containers, but Im not sure where. Hmmm. Any ideas on perennials in the courtyard? I thot of echoing the varigation of the azaleas by adding Hosta Patroit or Fire and Ice, or Lamium White Nancy. There might be too much sun tho. Here are some plants I need places for or can redirect out front: Leucanthemum Highland White Dream 2 Hemerocallis 'Romantic Returns' and 2 When My Sweetheart Returns 3 Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine 1 Deep Purple Magic Fountain Delphinium 1 Lt. Blue Magic Fountain Delphinium Hosta plain dk. Green w/yellow edge, sun-tolerant 1 Hemerocallis Big Smile (lt lemon yellow) Bearded Iris, yellow and deep blue (from Jain) 1 Sedum Frosty Morn 5 Sedum Purple Emperor Tons of Hermocallis Happy Returns See why Im overwhelmed? I need more room to plant these treasures!

We spent 60 but that didn't include any fencing or softscape. We did not replace any fencing and did all of the softscape ourselves. Furniture was from Costco and probably cost around $300 total. BBQ was a drop-in from BBQ's Galore, about $1000 plus $200 for the delivery. Our pool included: 345 sq feet, 3.5-7 feet deep (25x14) 7x7 spa Group 4 tile (from NPTG) Poured-in-place concrete coping with bullnose edge 3M Colorquartz, premium group Aqualogic PS 4 SWG and computer, kitchen panel, floating remote 400 btu heater, filter, and pump (all Hayward) Extra jets incl. calf jets in spa and booster pump Sheer descent RBB Hydrostatic relief valve Navigator with dedicated line Acid-washed, scored decking Autofill Overflow drain Umbrella sleeve Baja shelf and loveseat Special rebar & gunite setup to make pool freestanding (we are on the upside of a retaining wall), so if wall should collapse, pool should not be affected Gas line run All digging, demo, hauling, etc. We also had a back wall collapse and they had to fill up to 8 feet down behind the pool, and they did that free of charge. We did not have any extra costs or change orders during the build. Really, really think about what you want and make sure everything is included in the contract. Also don't make the builder think that you are without budget. Tell him what you can spend and stick to it. If you tell him you have 100 grand available, you better believe your pool is not going to cost 70. He's going to charge you what he thinks he can get. The market is in your favor. People aren't refinancing as much and therefore, not putting in pools as much. Good luck!

The stairs are quite handsome. If they get a lot of sun, I'd look at sedums, hens and chicks (Sempervivums), very small grasses (Festucas, Little Blue stem) in a couple of pockets. Actually the possibilities are quite large.