One more photo from driveway that shows the shrubs to be removed near the green cable box and view toward entrance walkway. Back right side green roofing panels are the goat's hay manger shelter. Yes, we have 3 Nubian does on lease helping us with the underbrush control to reduce fire danger & mosquito habitat as well as increase air circulation around the yard. Leaning mature fir & hemlocks near goat pen will also be taken down since they're too close to the house. From RE: landscape makeover Posted by: Yardvaark none (My Page) on Wed, Jan 8, 14 at 9:20 The walk is a decent width and the curve pleasant so it looks nice. I wish the arbor was 2' wider. When plants cover it, it will appear less wide than the walk, which will give a pinched look to the entrance. It would be better if the vines did not encroach into the walk space. A foot taller wouldn't hurt either. RE: landscape makeover Posted by: corrine1 7b Pacific Northwest (My Page) on Wed, Jan 8, 14 at 10:40 We agree about the arbor being barely wide enough for the 4' 2" path and certainly don't want much on it to catch you when walking through. We were thinking we'd leave the arbor fairly empty or entirely bare with just potted plants on the sides or very small shrubs. Our plant ideas were a small clematis or an evergreen like Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' or 'Emerald & Gold' because it grows slowly & can easily be kept to the outside of the arbor. We may use a gothic arch with the point at the top or build something larger with wood. Still thinking & looking at it for awhile. Then we'll take a photo with the gothic arch in place. RE: landscape makeover Posted by: Yardvaark none (My Page) on Wed, Jan 8, 14 at 17:59 "... it ...can easily be kept to the outside of the arbor." ...which makes it acceptable! Fortunately, many vines are fairly easy to maintain like this. RE: landscape makeover Posted by: corrine1 7b Pacific Northwest (My Page) on Sat, Jan 11, 14 at 22:55 We're sticking with the arbor in the photo since the curved gothic arch didn't look good. RE: landscape makeover Posted by: nadezhda none (My Page) on Sun, Jan 12, 14 at 4:45 Good time of day corrine1! Just a wee suggestion. It looks like you know what are you doing. If it was my project I would start with hedge, to divide road from the house. It will frame,embrace all your plantings and give a clean line to all your plantings. Build retaining walls if you have an access to stone. Build all Garden structures first. Then you will see how it will affect Sun exposure (shade) which may affect plants you have to plant. And yet. I have noticed (on a couple of pictures) that area looks a little mossy. Do you have wet area? Or it is just drainage and shade issue? If so, before you plant anything, do some research on culture of plants you want to grow. Especially, I would be very careful with Lilacs. They DO NOT tolerate any water issues Speaking of Lilacs? You do know, that Lilacs need an extending cold period, in case to bloom heavenly? There,on a market, are a few Cultivars which have been bred for warmer climates. And try to find Lilacs on their own roots (not grafted ones). Good luck! It would be nice if you would post updates. p.s. Do you have a deer or rabbit issue in your area? RE: landscape makeover Posted by: corrine1 7b Pacific Northwest (My Page) on Sun, Jan 12, 14 at 11:31 Yes to critters -- elk, deer, rabbits & more. We've lived just a short distance away for 25 years, so I know the growing conditions well and have many plants nearby that thrive. Yes, the soil favors moss -- acidic, compacted glatial till with clay, no topsoil, 65+ inches of rain yearly (with little rain 4th of July - early Sept sometimes October), & shade (removed a lot of trees close to house already). Grass will grow again when we correct those things. We already notice the increased light & air circulation, so the area isn't as damp & cool. I'll post updates after more completion. Post a Follow-Up Your Name: Your Email Address: Zone (optional): Subject of Posting: Message: Optional Link URL: Name of the Link: A copy of your follow-up will automatically be emailed to the original poster. Return to the Landscape Design Forum

Unless you are planning to remove the liner you will have a problem. 6000 gallons is a lot of volume and rain would begin to fill it up and would get nasty smelling in a hurry. That doesn't begin to address the leaf debris and dirt that would build up in it. Rocks are a lot more expensive than dirt, too. A pondless water feature is just that, it doesn't have a pond, just a fairly small reservoir that is a catch basin and a place to put the pump. The rocks in it don't go very deep. The catch basin can be wider than the splash area but not much. It will be important to have a way to expose the pump for maintenance and cleaning. The pump you have, will likely be too large, in gallons per hour to work in the relatively small amount of water needed for a pondless feature. The water would be pumped too fast to collect in the reservoir. Have you looked at designs of various pondless features? Can you give us a bit more info on the design you have in mind? Diameter of the feature and height of the fall would be good. Would it be just a trickle or a small fall or maybe a fairly wide fall? Do you envision a filtering system?

How about a small stock tank? Do you have a feed and seed store nearby or a Tractor Supply store? I have had good luck finding different size containers there that are rated for exterior use.

Hello neighbor, You are generally not allowed to touch the dunes except to build a 6 foot wide walkway. Decks can be built but are subject to CAMA limitations. We built at Topsail about 5 years ago. I can't imagine anything you are considering is legal and of course it would be easily visible to any and all (or maybe not). The CAMA regulations are a fun read. Honestly, I don't think the dunes are a place to landscape or decorate. They are a living structure that protects your house from a storm. They are fragile. And just because they are on the downslope to your side does not mean they are any different. Even those dune fences require a permit. There are very few places as heavily regulated as the NC coast.