It's a vast improvement over the shrub-engulfed house we first saw, merely by being cleaned up. One thing that jumps out to me as not enough, is the groundcover, which are few and far apart. The goal is usually to get groundcover to grow into a solid mass for the best look and so as not to need top dressing with mulch anymore and still have weed suppression. But I imagine you'll be doing some tweaking over the next year. As far as watering, it's hard for someone, by remote, to tell you if you've watered long enough. There are a lot of variables in how you might be doing it and with what equipment. If in doubt, dig down and see. It won't take you long to discover the right timing formula.

Lots of warblers passing through this time of year, and many in good spring/breeding coloration, too. American Redstart (or as I call him, American Orangestart. And I call the female American yellowstart! There ain't any red on either of 'em!) Black & White Warbler: Blackpoll Warbler: At first glance, you might confuse the Black & White with the Blackpoll, but the B&W is much "stripier" looking with a zebra-striped head, and the blackpoll has a black...poll. (Poll means head). The truly beautiful Yellow-throated Warbler: Not to be confused with the Common Yellowthroat, also a warbler, and one which stays in Florida all year. Look for this guy in brush alongside ditches, and along the edgees of canals and streams. I see them often when birding BlackPoint Drive on Merritt Island. And one of the very prettiest (the picture doesn't do him justice), the Black-throated Green Warbler. While the green is only on the head and upper back, it's quite visible and brighter than you would think, and of course, there is the black throat. You would think this one would be called the Orange-throated Warbler, but it is really the Blackburnian Warbler. And the Northern Parula (pronounced "pair-YOO-la") which is easily spotted in the spring, but which is one of the warblers that actually nests in central Florida, as well as parts farther north. These are just a very few of the colorful warblers who migrate through Florida every spring. As a side note, they really shouldn't be called "warblers" at all, since that makes it sound like they are good singers. Most aren't. But they ARE very beautiful, and it is always fun to see them. Keep your eyes open this time of year, and you might get a few surprises. And btw, they are chiefly insect eaters, so won't likely go to any feeders, but they DO go to birdbaths. Keep plenty of water around to attract them. Marcia

Plaidthumb, Yes, I am still here. lol Not planning on going anywhere else despite the heat, which does bother me more the older I get. I just greatly reduce the number of hours I spend outside in June, July and August and try to get outside as soon as possible after sunrise, back inside before noon, and then sometimes back out in the late evening. Less hours outside in the summer months means nothing stays as well-weeded, but I just do the best I can. I'm not going to kill myself working out in the extreme summer heat. It isn't worth it. That's true about repeated exposure to poison ivy just making things worse. My DH grew up around it so was exposed to it for many years and is more sensitive to it than I am. I wasn't around it much growing up so am much less sensitive to it now. We don't try to kill it. Just try to cut it back from pathways and keep it out of the garden. I mostly keep it out of the garden by cutting it back to the ground and then spraying it with a brush killer labeled for poison ivy as soon as it resprouts. It doesn't reallly kill it, but it knocks it down pretty hard for a few months. With 14.5 acres, most of which is heavily wooded, we'll never be rid of it so we just try to keep it back from the paths through the woods, and out of the garden. The plant in your "viney thing" photo is Virginia Creeper. Note the arrangement of 5 leaves instead of 3. It is very aggressive but, as far as I know, not poisonous. I pull it out of my garden with my bare hands and it hasn't caused me any sort of allergy-type reaction, but we have let it grown in the shrub bed on the north side of the house, and all throughout the woods as well. Your last photo is the dreaded poison ivy. We have a couple of different kinds here. There is one that climbs strictly by climbing/vining and it is always obvious because of its very hairy roots. There is another one that grows more like a tree and it is everwhere along the pasture fencerows here that are left in their natural state instead of being sprayed with Roundup or weedeated periodically. Dawn

Jeanne, your bird pictures are beautiful. Snow pictures always look so pretty, but I know what a hassle it can be to have to shovel it. So good that you feed the birds, poor things, everything is all covered up! I have Berber carpeting too, Jeanne, we put it in when we moved here about eleven years ago. Mine is showing wear in the traffic areas like in front of the couch and love seat, and I found it harder to clean with my steam vac because it was so "textured"--but I loved the look and it was really the "in" thing at that time. Now I need to see about replacing mine too, probably with more carpet unless the flooring guys think they could "blend" new wood in with what's already in my entry and hallway. Wish I would have just put wood in there to start, but we thought it would feel too "cold". Now I realize we could have used an area rug! Live and learn, right? LOL On your new vinyl flooring--make sure you follow the directions for cleaning. Just a slightly damp mop and don't use any other products unless it's something reccommended by the mfg. I used one of those Swiffer wet pads on mine and it left a "film" so it doesn't shine like when new now. And remember, liquids are it's enemy! Other than that, it is almost indestrucible and easy to clean. Enjoy! Luvs