AZAmigo, you have your opinions and you are entitled to them (no matter how wrong you are). However, you are mistaken in your assumptions. HOA homes appreciate at a much lower rate than non-HOA properties. Over the last few years, homes in HOAs have appreciated 23% per year compared to non-HOA homes which have a appreciated 38% per year. The main reason, although really obvious to me, is that HOA fees represent a cost of ownership. Let me explain. Right now there are mortage products out there that are low enough so that for each $100,000 of your mortgage amount is equal to $330 in monthly principle and interest payments. So assuming you have a $250,000 mortgage, your monthly payment is about $825 per month (not including taxes and insurance). Now let us assume you have a $100/per month HOA fee. That $100 represents over $30,000 of your equity in a house in today's interest rates. So you do the comparison--2 identical homes in the same neighborhood, one in an HOA and one without an HOA. Assume both houses are listed for the same amount, except in one house the payments will have a $100 premium regardless of the cost of the home. Now which house is going to go for more? Pure economics would dictate that the HOA home should sell for about $30,0000 less (actually this figure depends on how much you are putting as a downpayment) here to assume the same monthly payment (which is what a lot of people care about) I have other issues with HOA's but this should appeal to the most basic instincts of money in your pockets and appreciation of home prices. These reasons should be enough to make most people get out of HOA homes on their own merits. However, it is a free country and people are entitled to make these choices.

Hi Bill, Just wanted to report back after my visit to UF at Gainesville. First off, I wanted to say there was a very large slope by a building that had a huge area of the asiatic jasmine. It was in full sun and looked great. The only thing I noticed that was not that great was that the area was so wide it could not be reached for maintenance from either side. Therefore, the long strands were visible in the central, unreachable portion, and it looked a little unkempt. So, I guess the moral of that story is to make sure it can be reached by a weedwhacker and an edger from both sides if you want to achieve a neat and tidy appearance. A ground cover I had not thought of is dwarf Indian Hawthorne. I saw it in so many places in full sun, no care and it looked great. Although when I looked it up it said it got to 3-6 feet, I didn't see any that were higher than about two. Maybe there are newer types. Most seemed to be lower than that. I have a friend who has it here in Sarasota, and hers is about two foot. I know she doesn't prune it or do anything to it and it always looks great and blooms in the spring. I know it is higher than your criteria, but I saw so much of it that looked good, that I thought it would be worth mentioning. I will mention another, although again, it probably doesn't meet your criteria. Wart fern as a ground cover is beautiful and carefree, maybe a foot tall or a tiny more. However, I think it does best in partial shade. I am experimenting with it this year in my garden and it is doing well and starting to spread a bit in half day sun. However, it gets late morning, early afternoon, hot direct sun. Shaded in morning and late afternoon. I have to tell you where I am coming from. I know you are looking for visibility from the street. My DH and I are the opposite. We frequently are in the garden in our pajamas, or, in his case, a lot less! It is essential to us that we have as much privacy as possible from the street as well as all our neighbors. The first thing we did with our landcaping when we moved here (even before) was start screening in a big way. I can report that he is now able to shower outside or skinny dip in the pool after yardwork as needed. Feeling like I'm outdoors most of the day is almost essential to me. Our home has many very large windows and no window treatments! This also makes it essential to have great screening from all angles. Although I've got to say I really don't care much if someone wants to see an old lady in her pajamas through the windows at night. Although we like our yard to look nice from the street, we absolutely have to have it look nice when we look out. My viewpoint from the inside is what I work on all the time. I just wanted to mention that I saw so many lovely, lovely vitex in bloom at UF. There were groupings with firebush (the yellow, shorter type) and coonties that were just stunning. However, some of the vitex reached 10 feet or so. A plant I had forgotten about that I absolutely love is oakleaf hydrangea. It was not in bloom, but the foliage is so lovely on its own. I didn't know thryallis did so well up there. Crinums and European Fan Palms were absolutely beautiful. I really like that picture #7. It is lovely and sort of what I had envisioned with the sabals, coontie, palms, etc. However, having had experience with saw palmetto, I would never plant it unless I knew it was going to be a permanent planting (although I love its look). We had a lot at another property, and tried to dig up some of it to plant something else. It involves a bobcat or backhoe. Definitely not a drainfield candidate, I don't think. I love the silvery one like in the picture, though. Well, that's all I've got. Good luck, and whatever you do, let us know. I also love sunworshiper's fountain idea, or even a hardscape with an umbrella, a table and chair for an afternoon beverage. Have fun! Anna

Jay, Allow me to extend my condolences on the KState-Butler game. I flipped on the TV and caught the last minute but that was enough..... It is NOT too late to start seeds and you know it. But, if you come to the Spring Fling, I'll bring you all you want and you can use them as earlies or back-ups or whatever. I have started seeds in early May and had ripe tomatoes from those plants in August. Even when I transplant in late March or early April into soil that is just barely warm enough, I'll often see a late plant that was transplanted in late April into warmer soils catch up with those planted earlier, so I don't buy that whole 'too late to start' routine. The truth is that when the soil and air temperatures hit the "exact right temperatures", tomato plants will grow an average of 1" per day and get to bearing-size very quickly, and it doesn't matter if those plants are 6-weeks-old or 12-weeks-old when that rapid growth period begins because they'll all make great growth and zoom into production. I ignore people who say its too late because it never really is. Carol, We can and maybe we will. We loyal subjects of Tomatoland have to support our King, especially when we're growing seeds he sent us. We should coddle our little baby plants and whisper to them that when they grow up maybe they can go to Jay's place to live in the land of endless sun and wind and no rain. Seedmama, It is funny how becoming an avid gardener changes your perspective on weather. When we lived in Fort Worth, it warmed up a lot earlier and we just did not have these lingering cold nights that lasted forever and forever. In early to mid-March I'd set out my tomato plants with no one iota of concern that a late frost would get them because it just didn't happen. Not ever. We only moved 80 miles north so you wouldn't think there would be much difference, but there is. It is hotter here in summer and colder in winter than in Fort Worth and we have more drastic swings in precip. In Fort Worth, we were astonished if we had a 2" or 3" rainfall in one day. Here we have had 5", 6", 9.25" and 12.87" in single-day rainfall. Who would have expected that? Here in southern OK we've had 90 degree days in February and 40 degree nights in June. I'll never understand the weather here. As for when to plant the tomatoes....ha! If you think you can figure out a good, safe planting date, let me know. I never have any idea when to plant mine. I've planted as early as March 9th in a warmer-than-average year and have finished up as late as mid-May in a very cold, very wet year. As far as I'm concerned, I'm mostly just guessing when I pick a planting date. My average last frost date here has proven worthless for planting purposes. I might as well just flip a coin and plant. Dawn

We have just about zero wall space. I put b&w photos my daughter (a jr. in high school at the time) took during our first family overseas trip (to Italy)on the sides of some tall cabinetry. I love the look and the memories (dd is about to grad. from college.) We also have small family photos (also from trips) on little shelves in the kitchen.