Dear Randy Than you for asking me to explain and Please forgive my poor English. Tody. Us goverment and United nation use abbriviation of Japan as JPN or JP. If nothing wrong to use "Jap" as abbriviation of Japan, Us goverment still use "Jap" About 32 years ago, I was at bar drinking beer with other regular customer who is native Indian. He teach me to play billiard. while I was talking with him, a cauian man came in and sat few stools away. he was drinking him self for awhile, then he figiur out that I am Japanese. he staretd talking to me "Durty Jap attacked Peral Harber" We exchanegd few wards and he swing punch at me. I am 5'5" 170 lbs at time but I was young and practicing Judo ( I can still lift 260LBs guy on my sholder^^ ) He miised punch and I thorw him hard as I can on concreat floor. He was calling me "Jap". I never met him before, I have not talked befoer. but he was swinging punch for no reason other than I am Jap. Two day ago, I talked older Japanese man. He came to USA 1952, he was invited by US goverment as special skiled technician. He is about 5'1 130 lbs or less. He tolad me that One day,( about 50 years ago) he went to store and white womam kicked him and told him "Get out Jap" During world War two, US goverment strip off all right of Japanese American's right and Put them in Concentration camp . They lost home and most of possetions. Only One suitcase allowed to carry. Many young Japanese American men drafted to serve the Country while his parents, brothers sisters were in concentration camp and called Jap. Many of Japanese American solders were sent to 100th Infantry battalion, 442nd regimental combat team. They were alway sent to front line of high causualty. 442 regiment had hightest causalty rate in US millitary history. They were sent to rescue 36th Texas Division of Army. 442nd lost much more live than 36th Texas battaloin which saved by 442nd. Many of 442nd battalion of mostly Japanese American awareded many medal for thir braveness. When they retune to mainland after the war, in US Army Uniform with many medals, many restaurant, barber, store refuse to serve then or told them "get out" If you are intrested, Please learn histrory of 442 Battalion. Some of you aguing that Jap is simply abbreviation. It is not. If you know how Jap word is /was used in US history, then you will know why we don't want to see or hear Jap word. They died for us, I have to speak out for them. I had a custmer who is third generation of Japanese American. When she talk about concentration camp, she still cry. I know Only one Japanese who never had hard time during serving US Amy almost 50 years ago. His best friend was son of president of United state, no high ranking officers nor solders never bothered him ^^. One day, my daughter and son came home from elementary school, They told me that " Dad, Japan fought against us " ^^ In thire mind Japan was the Enemy. History has two side stories... Man who swing punch at me 32 years ago, he din't know that before Parl harbor, Four Us navy ship came to Japan and sunk ships and fire canon from ship to our capital. Text book of US histry teach own children different than how we interpret Black ship( Us navy ship) attack to Japan. My nephew serving US Navy, My son want to go US Navy too. Japanese man who was kicked by white woman and told get out, his revenge was give good education to his children and do well in this society. Two of chidren become doctor and other is on the way to be sucessfull business man. My daughter also will be doctor near future.She is in medical school now. Randy We all proud being good and productive citizen of United state. Thank you again giving me a chance to explain. yama

Thanks you for all your ideas and suggestions. You all are great! When it comes to planting near the house, I felt like I'm stuck in first gear. Maybe I'm moving into 2nd now. The front and west side of the house bother me more, probably because I see these areas many times a day and they are so BARE. I'm on the road now, traveling from Portland ME, and won't be home until Sunday. When I do get home, I'll take some photos so I can make it clearer what I mean. esh - You and dibbit hit the nail on the head re: using native plants. Yes, Myrica cerifera (Southern wax myrtle) is prolific here. It grows everywhere - even on sand dunes. . It tolerates long periods of wind and high tides (including salt water), and bounces back after tropical storms. Some are huge! I've also seen them pruned into multi-trunked trees - lovely. I'll see if I can find some small ones in the woods that may tolerate transplanting. Your post made me think about what DOES thrive here, not what I can MAKE grow here. In addition to Myrica cerifera, dominant evergreens include native Ilex opaca and magnolia grands. (Maritime forest) Spruce, that's great news about planting so many trees on your new land. It sounds like you are pleased, but maybe a little impatient for them to grow. My knowledge of Ilex opaca is limited to the prickly ones in the woods and next to roads. Since Isabel knocked down so many loblollies, our forests have been transformed - you really notice this in the winter. The dominant color is dark green with so many hollies and magnolias growing fast. Tomorrow, we drive from NJ to to Northern Va so I can make a side trip to McLean Nursery. If there is anything I should keep in mind (besides renting a closed trailer), please let me know. I remember messages between you and beng (I think) about what a great place this is. I've been waiting for a chance to visit. Ken: You asked "what is the descriptive term for that kind of house?" Good question. I don't know the answer but will see what I can find out. As background, my husband wanted to re-create the house he grew up in. That house was in Washington DC and was designed and built by his father in the 1950's. The house had a flat roof where people gathered to watch stars and fireworks, lots of glass "to bring the outside inside," and wonderful views of the city. Pete's father studied architecture under Walter Gropius who is viewed as a founder of Bauhaus, a school of modern architecture. When I first saw that house, I'd never seen anything like it! I think of our house as a beach house although it isn't in the style of most beach houses in the mid- Atlantic or southeast, in VA and NC. Maybe it's more like a California beach house? A modern or contemporary beach house? I think it's a reasonable facsimile of the house Pete grew up in, with lots of glass to bring the outside inside, a flat roof for star watching, and wide decks so we can entertain the neighborhood. Ken, you had a question about our "occasional short periods of salt water flooding during tropical storms." When a tropical storm goes through and if the eye goes is west of us, the Bay backs up and we get flooding. If the ey passes to the east of us, the water in the Bay drains out into the ocean. During Isabel (2003) and Ernesto (2006), the land under the house was under 3-4 feet of salt water with very strong wind and breaking waves. As the eye moves away, the water drains very quickly. The salt water damage is mitigated to a degree by several inches of fresh rainwater. After one of these storms, you swear everything is dead but the native plants spring right back in the Spring as though nothing happened. Yes, our local extension agent (ag agent) and especially the forester have become friends. They are unfailingly helpful but don't have much advice about landscaping. dibbit: The way you describe your entrance sounds similar to ours - a long driveway that curves (through the new forest one day) before you arrive at the house. Our entrance is unimaginative and uninspiring. Most things I planted died - including Nandina 'Firepower'! I like your idea of using cedar trellis to beef up the pilings and screen objects like the propane tank. I thought about using one of the smaller magnolias in that bed, adjacent to the weeping yaupon holly and tank - maybe 'Little Gem.' I usually have a small nursery under the house - it's fairly well protected but the trellis would be useful there. We also have 5- 550 gallon storage tanks for rainwater under the deck. I like your idea of keeping the design but ditching the plants. Your list is good. I've been making some changes since last year but am still stumped in some areas. What trees would you plant in front of a house like this? I thought about the Nuttall oak - it doesn't mind wet feet and is sturdy. Or maybe one of the new red maples like 'October Glory'? A small magnolia? Alabama - I am not familiar with Titi. I just started reading about it - it sounds promising. How do you use it? Do you know a source? Many thanks, Pam

I would love to see Chris be able to join us in this swap as so many others seem to agree. (I read a little further and see that she's in... WELCOME, CHRIS! You're gonna have a great swap with us!) Amy (morguegirl) - I would love to grow those Guyanese Peas, if you don't mind sending some in for me. Thanks so much for posting the offer! They sound very interesting! Mark (markcase1964) - If you're sending more in to Patty, I saw that you had Black Walnut, Native Pecan, and Jerusalem Artichoke available before. Do you still have some of those that you could send in for me? David (intelkid) - I sure hope you decide to stay. It seems that others that thought they didn't have much were still able to fill some wants when they posted and were able to participate and get things back that they really want. I think it'll be fun, and you'll enjoy it if you stay! (As I read more posts, I see stage_rat has offered very generously to assist you! Wow! It amazes me over and over again, how wonderful the GW'ers are! Welcome back, David!) Happy New Year everyone! Blessings, Angela

I've really enjoyed reading about all the projects. Thanks for sharing! Maybe it will inspire me to get going. Very long, I'm sorry. This has been an odd year. It was not without its social drama. DH retired- twice- and DD got a new job in a new state (at least a little closer, only one time zone away this time). Then she got engaged, bought a house and got married. DS and DiL had baby #3 in June. We kept our older grandbabies for the month of June, at first only during the day and then full time. (Need a vacation? Keep an active 5 and 7 yr. old for a month then send them home. The relief and relaxation you feel will be as great as any you can get on a vacation.) Mom lives alone about 100 mi. from us and manages quite well. This year she fell. Fortunately someone was there to help. We were able to get there and take her to the doctor and nothing was broken but it continues to concern us. Next the weather- a long drought with less rain than normal at the beginning of summer, only a sprinkle or two for the rest of summer and then none at all for fall. Temps higher, at times recordbreaking. Till now. After Thanksgiving we began experiencing wind, rain, more wind, then cold, down to 20's and lately teens; actually not abnormal for early December. However, we had only about a week of fall and we are far behind in our fall chores. The biggest gardening problem we had this year came from a neighbor who decided to sell some of his wood in late summer during the drought. He cleared the right-of-way that he owned between our house and our neighbor to the NE and cut the trees behind our property and that of our other neighbors. He felled a good many trees that were deemed not market worthy and left them. However, very hungry wildlife, now with nowhere else to go, came into our yards hunting for food and water. The deer destroyed our vegetable garden and a good bit more of landscape and flowers. Even things that deer had ignored before were fair game. The exceptions were native salvias, lavender and rosemary or something deadly like digitalis or hellebores. So the projects- Drought and less time than needed for gardening have made me realize that I need to plan for these things in the future. With no water source in the front of our house, the bed beside the drive was reachable only by adding a long second hose to the first and then snaking it around to reach the bed. As a result, that bed didn't get the water it should have. The tree removal in the woods behind us didn't seem like a welcome change but it allowed more sun from the east in the back of our house. I am planning on making a new bed for those roses behind the play area/sandbox for our grandbabies. It will be a tight fit but I think it will work. I'll move my culinary herbs to the driveway. That bed is also a place where I planted a lot of my heirloom daffodils and iris, so I want to keep them where they are. Bulbs and herbs are better suited to low rainfall and not much supplemental water than the roses. Second project- On our own property, we also had a couple dead or dying trees removed that were likely to fall on our neighbors' buildings since the other trees between us had been removed. After clearing out some of the exotic invasives, we have some room to add a few natives; a sourwood, a carolina snowbell, a native smoke tree, cinnamon clethra, maple leaf viburnum and a couple of Guthrie chickasaw plums on the edge of the clearing. Someday they should bring in pollinators, provide food and shelter to some of the birds and forest creatures and be a delight to the people who live here. I don't know if we'll see much of it but it won't happen if we don't get it started. I will need to make wire cages to keep them deerproof. The weather has cooled and we have some rain so time to get started. Third project- I start most of my garden from seed or cuttings. I need to be getting my milk jugs ready for all my winter-sown seeds ready to go. First I have to finish planting everything that I couldn't get into the ground earlier this fall because of the weather. And somehow I have to get ready for Christmas. <Sigh>