Woody, your trellis is beautiful--a real piece of Yankee ingenuity. But it is made of rigid materials, and I am absolutely sure that the mgt. would equally ban one like yours. I got 300 feet of 37" long pieces of UV resistant foam tubes meant to protect various bars on trampolines for $17.55 (eBay). I then got 2 plasticized bamboo stakes at HD ($1.25 each). Finally, I ordered some green (near invisible) trellis netting from Amazon. My dastardly plan to thwart the attempts of the mgt. to make me get rid of my clematis--which I've been cultivating for 5 years waiting for it to bust loose like it is this year--is to create a trellis fit for their Theatre of the Absurd. I will bend a piece of the foam tubing into an arch, and lengthen each side with one or more pieces of foam tube, via matching duct tape. I will place this new arch over the bamboo stakes sunk into the ground at each open end. Then I will string the trellis netting tautly between the forks of the arch and tie the clematis to it with vinyl plant tie tape. If the mgt. opens their stoopid mouths, I will invite them to feel it. It's FOAM, morons, even if it blows into the building, it can't hurt anything.

You all are so kind Mary- that huge shrub is a rhody.. starting to bloom right now- let's pray all this rain doesnt dash it all to bits this year! I hate that. Gotta Garden.. yes- I am goign to try the larger rocks when i get a chance :) You all can notice the difference? I look at these pics and think- gosh for all that work- it doenst show much of a change! :( Msscarlet- thank you for thinking my home is pretty. It's a little hosue- but i think it's kinda cute.. and i hope i get the cottagey feel across. I hear what you're saying about that blue spruce that blocks the view. it will only get bigger too... but here's the thing.. getting rid of that ONE might not make a difference- as you cna see in the pic- there is a HUGE one next to it and and even bigger one next to that one!!! haha. at first i hated them but I am rather attached to them now.. and this small one is the only one i can attempt to decorate for christmas. haha PLUS- there is actually a VAST amount of space betwee that spruce and the first corner bed by the house.. the angle the photo was taken at it straight one.. but coming from the other direction yu can actually see th ewhoel house.. i'll try to take different shtos for you guys and you can tell me what you think. Now Gladno1.. yours is the silliest question..hahahakeep bermuda grass out of my beds? You make me laugh!are you kidding me? what do you think i do all spring- march to may!! I dig out all the bermuda grass and re-edge my gardens.. it's horrendous. if anyone knows any trick- please tell me.. but i'm with you gladno.. this stuff is eveil. the only good thing is that it requires no water and stays short in summer and crowds out the weeds. however- it is EATING my driveway too.. can you believe it??!!! now you know why i need hired help right? all my energy goes into keepig bermuda grass out of my beds. haha

The spot is nice, and never looks dried out, but never looks soaked. That whole area has probably been neglected since the house was built 12 years ago, which is probably why I have nice soil over there, leaves everywhere all the time. it will save me a ton of work if i plant there, every other area of my yard and garden beds is sand or clay.will running a lawn mower on mulch over some piles of winter leaves be ok for mulch over the beds? Maybe I should identify the maples before I pull them out. My neighbor has 3 Japanese maples directly across from where all these babies are, but I think I have a maple somewhere because of the amount that are showing up.They are about 1-2 ft now, and one 5ft one., normally the vines kill them but I killed the vines first. One is red with red leaves, one is green stem green leaves and then a bunch are red stem green leaves. Do you have baby ones come up? id love to see if any of mine are baby japanese maples because i would definitely transplant it if it was giong to be anything pretty. ill have to take pics of a few things that have shown up and maybe head over to the plant identification forum. last year the town cut down a flowering tree or shrub that i really liked and in the spot they cut it down are 5 unknown young shrubs.

Check out Prairie Moon Nursery, www.prairiemoon.com, or Prairie Nursery, www.prairienursery.com. Their catalogs have plenty of info on starting a native plant patch, and you can also get seed mixes specific to your area. Another place to try is the New England Wildflower Society, www.newfs.org Good luck!