"The paper today said that homeowners should be raking and discarding all their leaves and removing any dry garden debris." thats standard procedure over here in fire prone areas at the start of the fire season. The idea is to remove anything dry that might provide fuel for the fire, particularly around the vicinity of the house and buildings because if you get a fire coming close then all it takes is some embers or sparks to set that dry fuel alight. I guess it's up to you but if you do get a fire coming through then every little thing you do to halt the fire could mean the difference between losing your house or possibly saving it. "I normally do my spring-clean up starting in mid-February, but it takes me 2-3 months to get everything cut back and cleaned up - and you can't even imagine the piles of clippings I generate." just my opinion, it's best not to do that pruning right now which will only generate more potential dry material. I would leave it until the end of the fire season and then prune away, that way you wont lose all that compostable material but you wont have piles of drying material lying around either.

So I have done a little research on the web to start figuring out how I want our backyard to look. I don't really think I want a particular "style". I do want to be able to entertain in a relaxed manner (think family backyard bbq - nothing formal). I do want a place for us to go outside to cool off during the summer when the house becomes to unbearably hot. Someplace the kids can go play or hang out with their friends, without having to worry if a errand ball or frisbee lands in a "prized" garden. So this is what I came up with. I used the planner on Better Homes and Gardens website. I have two pics of the plan. One with the shade tree and one without. The one without is so that you can see the stone work under it. The patio and line of green hedging is right up and connected to the house. Just didnt think it was necc to include our house in the plan. I know its there. lol Under the patio there will be a comfy seating area as well as our current surround sound system. (Hubbs likes this because it means he can get a new one for the living room. lol) And I forgot to put it in, but the area beside the deck and house (where the hedges on the right side are, will be our bbqing area. We have a moveable (on wheels) gas grill that will go over there at first. Eventually it will transformed and a permanent built in with brick gas grill. Under the deck will be lattice doors that lock. They will have shelves that will hold pool chems and pool toys & towels. Also at the top of the stairs to the deck will be a locked gate. I do have the youngest (my almost 3 yr old with Ds) to consider. I am thinking the deck is going to be 4-5 ft tall. Havent decided on the particulars of what plants and trees yet, but the plan gives me a good starting point. Oh and last but not least - the tree in the upper left corner is already there. It is a gorgeous pepper tree that has a tree house built into it and the ground. Planning on keeping that. Still very sound and "fix-up-able".

First most all of the bad chemicals have been banned so I doubt you have anything to fear because with rain most of what they used would dissapate, but I am not certain if they dropped some on your leafy plants but I would cut back just to be safe. Since it is their fence they have every right to access it on your property, but then many people are inconsiderate of others needs. A knock on your door would have been the right approach. Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

I have several gardenias outside, in pots, right now. They usually do fine over the winter. But don't let them stay waterlogged over winter, and don't let them get too dry over summer. As for Crinums -- plant em and stand back. ;-) But have patience, 'cause they may take a few years to really settle in. I had one clump of bulbs bloom the first year after planting, but another clump took THREE years to see the first bloom.