Thanks, guys :) woodyoak- I do have an informal flagstone path cutting through the border right next to the side porch, did you see that? (Next to where I drew the Arctic Fire Dogwood). From a functional standpoint, that gets you into the lawn and could walk around to the front door (which is what we do now on the rare occasions we need to go over there.) Maybe I could lay some more flags in a much looser, "stepping stone" type pattern over around the crabapple and to the front door, if you think it needs that... So----- these are the questions stopping me from planting now, do you have any opinions? 1) What to put on either side of the front door? 2) Do you like the two evergreens I drew, one in the corner and one next to the bedroom french doors? Any other suggestions other than Chamaecyparis? Could the one in the corner be deciduous... if so, what (needs to remain narrow but with some height)? 3)Can you think of something with mid-summer fragrance to plant in front of the french doors -which will be open then :)? Thanks so much!

I'd check to see if you have a county cooperative extension. They'll be able to tell you lots of info about the fruit, what varieties work best for your area and when the best time to set them is. They very well may have a website, too.

Bumblebeez- "I will admit that I hate the heat. 4 more months of this, yuck." You took the words right out of my mouth! It's a relief to know someone else feels that way! It seems almost unbelievable to most that there are people who don't really care for summer. I find summer to be neither lazy nor crazy, just kind of hazy! I like to go out early too--to do yard work, and run errands. Was out at 6:30 A.M. today to rake, water and tidy up. (Went out yesterday afternoon around 5:00 for an hour and almost passed out!) Got a solid hour of work done and really enjoyed being outside as the temp & humidity was fairly mild and low. Then all the "worms" came out...people walking (and talking!) I do enjoy talking to these people, and enjoy visiting with their dogs as well, but then I didn't get much done the remaining hour I was out. After 9:00, certainly 10:00, I can't work in the direct sun. I may try to go out again after 5:00. There's a finite period during which I can get things done outdoors during summer. Your idea of a trip to the beach in November sounds nice! People are expecting me at the neighborhood picnic this weekend. Eating outside in the noon-day sun when it's in the 90's is not my idea of a good time. I told one neighbor, "If they'd just have this thing in December, I'd love to go." She looked at me like I'd turned green and sprouted horns. I'm such a grouch. The "Grinch who stole summer!"

I know this comment is very much after the fact but I would just like to offer Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area as a wonderful place to retire. I have lived here my entire life and while I have traveled extensively across the country, there is nowhere else I would consider living. First, the area is extremely scenic.......make that drop-dead gorgeous!! Anywhere you might choose to settle will provide views to mountains and natural areas and you are never more than a few miles away from water.........lots of water!! The Sound, many lakes and rivers and streams. Because of the geography (nothing here is really flat), view properties are plentiful. Any outdoor activity you are interested in - skiing and other winter sports, hiking, camping, hunting, boating, etc. - can be easily addressed without any extensive car travel. Second is the weather. Most who have never lived here have huge misconceptions about the weather. IMO, it is excellent. Never too hot, never too cold and contrary to common opinion, it does NOT rain here constantly!! In fact, total average annual rainfall in Seattle is much lower than many other places in the US. Summers are sunny and very dry........winters damp and cool and snow infrequent. Seldom a need for any A/C and no summer humidity. There are 4 distinct seasons and each offers its own attractions. And no strange weather issues that generate ferocious storms.......no hurricanes, no tornadoes and while we do exist on a major fault line, earthquakes are extremely rare. Seattle is a vibrant, active and very cosmopolitan city. Lots of cultural activities, a major sports center and a foodie paradise. Yes, it is expense to live in town but there are scores of smaller communities within easy access of the city that are far less expensive. I live across the Sound, just a quick ferry ride away from downtown Seattle but a world away in terms of a rural feel and reduced cost of living. Puget Sounders for the most part are extremely well educated, entrepreneurial, friendly, and polite and many have a very artistic bent with many smaller communities known for their support of the arts. In short, living in the Puget Sound/greater Seattle area will provide all the advantages of a big city (colleges, employment, superb medical care, museums, theatres, restaurants and shopping) combined with a very strong community feel of the smaller, more rural and very scenically located surrounding towns. What's not to like ??