Hello! Thanks for the additional comments -- it's nice to get some feedback. Over the weekend I had an opportunity to view several front yards that don't have grass, rather more of a xeriscape like I've been aiming for. They do have quite a few perennials, something I do not have down on the slope. The perennials are mainly in the foreground, and in nice groupings. I have a better idea of how I should use them in the fall, which is when I plan to do the rest of the planting/transplanting. Karin -- I agree, I want to keep the feel of the front, from the perspective of being in the yard, pretty close to how it is now. But I think I can improve the street views w/o affecting MY view too much :-) We can't really see what's down the slope from the house/yard, nor can we see the front of the birch tree area. But from the street I can see that the birch tree area is overgrown and weedy, and the slope is haphazard/incomplete. Taking photos has been the biggest help, when I saw them I though "Oh wow, that really DOES look bad". bahia -- yes I started that thread b/c I was curious how many people go ahead and put their plants in, even in dry hot summer, and who holds back. I'm definitely planning to hold back. If I find some plants to buy (which I have not, yet...) I will maybe put them into larger pots but keep them in an area of our yard that has afternoon shade (the rear side yard next to our garage/dryer vent/waste cans). We don't have drip irrigation on that slope, what I have is a soaker hose that is covered by mulch. It runs around the top area and works out really well (when I remember to connect the hose to it). Our front yard sprinkler system doesn't work, but maybe that is something my DH will look into. Here is an updated photo of that area in the very front of our house, where I was considering planting the mandarin and lime trees. I have taken out all the plants I wanted to keep; for now, I decided to make it VERY low maintenance since it was growing a bunch of weeds. ;-) We will make a decision in fall/winter. Hopefully it will be a relatively clean slate by then. The artemesia and the yarrow in the foreground will probably get new homes on the sloped side of our front yard. I've started waffling about whether or not we should make a patio w/interlocking pavers, or if I should go for a nice evergreen groundcover. I'm thinking a groundcover will be nicer in the hot sunny afternoon. I want to keep the path that goes around the right side, leading to the fence gate, so we may use interlocking pavers there, instead. It's been very helpful to chat about the yard and what to do with it. Thank you :-)

My Kentucky Blue Blend seems to spread faster when she's a little higher. My opinion is to let her grow a little higher. Helps get those roots nice and strong thus helps her get ready for the summer. +1 on the milorganite. Awesome summer fertilizer. Won't burn the grass, get the benefits of organic and a slow release nitrogen will get her green with a slow growth meaning you won't have to cut it every couple days and she won't burn out like she does after using up all the quick release nitrogens in synthetic fertilizer. Plus, longer helps control nasty summer weeds. Best of luck

High Country Gardens, in Albuquerque, specializes in plants (including grasses) for xeric landscapes. Check them out. They also have a sale going on ornamental grasses right now. You can't go wrong if you use grasses native to the desert environment, although many of them are not very attractive: Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides) Needle and thread grass (Hesperostipa comata) Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia) Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) Most of these can be grown from seed. www.curtisseed.com www.graniteseed.com www.pawneebuttesseed.com This information is from The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 ext. 14 or E-mail them at cottonwoodmg@yahoo.com Here is a link that might be useful: High Country Gardens

As far as grasses go, buffalo grass is a warm season grass that might not be very successful, if at all, in your z5 location. Kentucky blue, especially in a mix, might be a better choice. There is an outfit in East Rochester, Crossman Seeds, that specializes in blends of turf grasses that are especially suited to our climate. Google their website. They have about 9 different blends, one might be right for you. If the perimeter of your property is a mix of sun and shade, privet hedge might not be a good choice. I have a neighbor with exactly the same situation and she has been befuddled trying to get her privet to be full and lush. It just wants full sun really badly and isn't getting enough. In addition to makalu's edible suggestions, which sound quite intriguing, maybe blueberry as a hedge. Yews also tolerate shade pretty well, take a good shearing at any time of the year practically and just keep on coming. They live nearly forever. In front of the windows, I would think maybe of a box hedge, which can be kept nice and low.