how deep is the yard ... width isnt important .... except as to how many you need... but how much of your yard the swallow.. might be a bigger issue .... and we also need to know the height to make the sight block .... a pic will sure get you better ideas for diversifying your planting .. and making a statement .... ken ps: pines are conifers... they are NOT shrubs.. except in the most common usage.... if you are willing to use conifers other than pine.. then you will not get many suggestions here ... there is a conifer forum .... and you should probably throw in some trees.. so you might want to visit that forum ... and of course.. you are in the right place for flowering shrubs ....

1. Positively identify where your property line is located & whose side the trees are on. Then request no more pruning if they are on your side, put your fence in the same line as the trees, or interplant smaller bushes/evergreens/trees in the same line as the existing trees, keep quiet if they are on the neighbor's. 2. Bushes or trees will not block the dog from visiting you. It will require a fence. They will improve privacy and look more attractive than a fence, at the cost of some of the land you have rented out if you can't put them in the same line as the existing trees, but only a fence will keep the dog out. You might speak to the husband about splitting the cost of the fence. Around here, when fencing a property line, you stand on the line looking out. The half of the property line on your right is your responsibility, when the neighbor does the same, the part to his right (your left) is his responsibility. This is usually resolved by one person buying the materials, the other putting the fence in. Works out to 1/2 and 1/2. If the neighbor won't work with you to solve the problem, put up the ugliest fence you can create that will still be effective, then plant a screen to hide the fence from your view and let the neighbor enjoy it. 3. Your state may differ, but in my state, you have a right to protect your property and livestock. If the neighbor's dog attacks and harms your dog on your property, the neighbor is responsible for the vet bills and all damages. It is neighborly to warn the neighbor that their dog is wandering, and sometimes you have to make it clearer that you will take all necessary action to protect your property, but the neighbor is still responsible for the damages regardless. You may eliminate the neighbor's dog when he attacks your dog on your property. Here, the victim has a right to self defense and protection of property. Doesn't seem to be the case everywhere. 4. Foremost, make sure your dogs are trained not to roam off your property, which it sounds like they are. Otherwise, you are just as irresponsible as your neighbor.

Thanks for sharing that Fledgling...fascinating reading! I don't put up feeders for the hummers here, most seem content enough to feed on all the flowering plants I provide. One particular fellow has come back (at least I believe it is the same one) for about 3 years to the ivy geranium/scavaeola planted hanging baskets I have on the garage. Frankly, I'm ready for a new planting scheme for those baskets. Every winter I dream up a new scheme for them, but when spring finally arrives, I feel so guilty about changing the planting on my little hummer friend that I end up putting the same old planting back in anyway...just can't disappoint the fellow...LOL! Re the topr...I remember reading something about that. Isn't topr what also allows birds to survive in cold, wintery climates such as mine? Resin...I enjoyed your link too! I have never heard of a Godwit (cute little fellow) and honestly I thought you were making that name up...LOL! I'm going to have to do a websearch and see if I can't find pics of sunbirds...I've never heard of them either. Nature is truly amazing! Thanks guys for sharing. I hope Coniferfreak gets to see what's been posted. I'm sure she would enjoy it. P.S. Thanks Tcharles about the hibiscus. I did plan to make cuttings. Was wondering if you knew which technique would work better; dipped in rootone and the struck into the soil or rooted in water? I've always had amazing success with rooting coleus in water and it's a great way to carry them over since a juice glass of water is much smaller than a pot and allows me to grow many more cuttings in my garden window. Was wondering if I could grow hibisucs cuttings in water? Eileen

A couple of good dwarf varieties: 'Little Filip' This is a seedlingselection found by myself. It's yearly growth is half the size comparing to the the species which you can see at the left site. 'Mecki' This is a seedling selection from the Wittbold-Müller Nursery in Germany. It grows extremely slow and the needles are about 4 cm. long. A 3th good dwarf selection found between seedlings is 'Grüne Kugel' (translated 'Green Globe'). It's also found by the Wittbold-Müller Nursery in Germany. Unfortunately I don't have a photo availlable yet.