Seil, I never really used to see that much red, or as I like to call it "ruby," on PARADISE either. Once the plant got well established in the ground tho, it often shows that darker edge. Seems to be more prevalent in high temps. I like it when it does that! Thanks Mark. Hope it's not too many in one batch. I hadn't realized how many I put in that album til I was all done! Thanks Carol! I love the peaches and apricots too, as you can see! Adrienne, I don't think you want to catch up with me! It's a LOT of work!! LOL

Ok, so I worked on some bubble diagrams for some of the new areas last night. As you look at the picture of the house, you'll see there are several cone shaped shrubs next to the foundation of the house. Some have boxy yews in between them, some don't. I am getting rid of all the boxy yews and replacing them with flowers. THose are the box diagrams I worked on last night. Those gardens will have delphinums, foxgloves, platycodon, phlox, catanache caerulea alba, cransebill geraniums, and campanula. Also, the one in front of the garage is larger, so that one will also have a Rose (probably 'Peace' variety). So I've got those all planned. But here's my dillema. Or actually, I have several dilemmas that I need input on. 1) Since those gardens are mostly blues/purples/whites/pinks will they look ok with my burgandy shutters? I would love to change the color of the shutters, but my roof is red, so I really can't. And I tend to pick flowers in those color families because I don't really care for reds. I do pick yellows too though. Just not in those foundation gardens. 2) As you look at the front you will see there are the three areas next to the foundation. The sidwalk goes alongside two of them and ends at the third. I plan to continue the pathway along the remaining front and wind it around to the back in the Northeast corner of the house. I'm planning on using flagstone to make the pathway. That leaves two large bump out areas in the front with a narrow strip along the sidewalk connecting the two. The narrow strip will probably contain angelonias. What should I do with the bump outs? I want to make sure they look good from the road and from the side walk. I'm going to have a dogwood planted in the bump out in front of the garage and as you can see in the pics, i just planted a multistem crab apple in the other bump out. I'm also thinking of putting a mountain laurel in each of the bump outs, but from there, I can't decide. I also want to make sure that they don't block the foundation gardens from view completely although with the tall flowers I've selected that should be fairly easy to accomplish. 3) As you go around the NE corner of the house following the pathway I'm going to put in there are more shrubs. I'm going to remove those and I am thinking of putting in some sort of large perennial like Nepeta Six Hills Giant or a larger lavendar or something. Not sure though. I've also got a lilac there that's small right now, but as we all know will grow and get larger. Should I put anything else in there or just keep it minimal? 4) If you look at the photo titled NW gardens around pool aerial view...I have started a peastone pathway which will go all the way out to the grass. Also, coming from the front of the house will be a flagstone pathway that will follow the line of the house until the deck then follow the curve of the garden and go around the pool (I think?). I can't figure out how to merge the two pathways where they come together? 5) Any other suggestions for other areas would also be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!! Tara

Thank you for posting so many lovely, inspirational, and informative photos. I am extremely impressed by your kitchen, but actually, I was wondering if you could give me the paint colors you used for your exterior clapboards and trim--they look fantastic! tia, Alex indentured servant to an 1887 victorian, hoping to actually be done in 7 years.

I love the box (chest) you have been working on. I have liked that since the first day I ever saw it. Will love to see that completed. Oh I like how if you scroll over your pieces you get a small narative about the piece, thats really cool!!!!