OK I've got the privacy screen covered. 6 arborvitae crowned by 2 Italian cypress will be going along the back fence. Now I need way to frame my planting beds. I'm using the stones below as a border installed on the perimeter of the stamped concrete patio. The goal is to keep the river rocks, which I'm using as significant amount of ground cover, off the patio. I'm going to use the material to also create a couple of flower beds, and I could use some ideas on how to frame them. I want to use the material to surround a tree somewhere on the left side among the river rock on that side. How should I frame other planting beds using this stone? In the two back corners should I do half moons, framing the cypress against the fence corners? Also a half moon against the right side fence? The right side space is ~5ft wide, and the left is ~8 ft wide. Refer to my sketch in the original post. This is the stone I'm using for the borders:

agree -- extend and improve the patio surface. I don't think those narrow dirt strips, even if planted, improve anything. You have enough greenery there. Container plants would work, especially if planted with something colorful. The communal area is where you (or others) hang laundry? Can you, or do you, want to block that off with something to increase privacy? Perhaps a lattice or other fence type that would still let in light? Consider the lighting at night also -- some string lights or lanterns would add charm and functionality; an uplight towards the hanging tree would be romantic. This post was edited by Violet.West on Sun, Jul 20, 14 at 11:48

I would, but can't afford the vet bills! I used to hop the fence to the pasture next door and scoop up "patties" by the buckets full and put that in my compost. In fall I would pile it on the veggie garden and till it in and then pile on some more. By Spring it was awesome. I cannot hop fences anymore - sigh...and the scooping kills me. Raking too. I used to clean out people's stalls and barns...no more doing that either. The thing is, it leaches out as fast as I can pile it on. If I could lasagna all year round, it would be best, but that is almost impossible for me to do anymore. Thanks for the suggestion though. I will TRY to do that again. That is all I can do - right? Clouds still building and flying over us and no rain, at least not here. It just goes elsewhere and rains. While watching the Chris Mathews show yesterday on MSNBC I saw that it was raining like crazy outside his window. I was so envious! Tomorrow we will pull the old well pump and replace it and that will help. At least I will be able to run the water all day long without it continuously shutting off. Running up and down the stairs to the basement all day long every day to flip it back on has just worn me out. I am glad you got a little rain. Here are some pics of my peaches that I managed to get thru this heat. Water, water, water. Peaches and Gird Grapes - it took a lot of work but got some grapes too. These were grown from a cutting, the original vine was from my GG-Grandfather Gird's vines in California. It was named for him. (Girdii) I am proud to have them growing for me. Tasty little grapes. Grannie made jam with hers. I don't get enough for jam, so just enjoy them fresh. Today I am going to be canning peaches and tomatoes again. One of my big Beefsteak tomatoes. Yummy!

Hi all, Here's something I read in the Bryan Eagle. Might be of help to y'all trying to save your pecan crop. It's from Neil Sperry. "Use sheet metal to keep squirrels off pecan trees Posted 4 days ago Dear Neil: We have a good crop of pecans this year. Is there anything we can do to deter the squirrels? A. I face the same issues, as do commercial pecan producers. If a pecan tree is free-standing, that is, not touching other trees, power lines, etc., you can put a sheet metal collar in place around its trunk. Keep it loose so that it won't girdle the tree over time. Much better yet, affix it so that you can put it in place in early summer and remove it after all of the pecans are down in late fall. Other than that, there is nothing legal that you can do. I personally don't do anything to harm my squirrels. We always have enough pecans to share. Things like reflective strips, fake owls, etc. may work for a short time, but eventually the squirrels catch on." Lucy