Gcreek, I laughed when I read your post about creating a long-term plan, because, if you ask my husband, he will tell you that I am the QUEEN of design plans. I have been working off of the original master landscape plan that I created for our original lot for 10 years now. I even gave a speech once on the importance of having a master landscape plan for your property! There's no way you could have known all of that from my above post, so please don't take offense (I'm laughing at myself, no one else), but it did make me giggle. :) I do have a working master plan of the "new" property; the addition onto the house, the shop, the possible apartment above the shop, and the main landscaping features (including how the new and the old will combine to look like it was always one garden). So, when I say it will eventually be garage, shop, & vegetable garden, I mean it! I was at one point contemplating a formal sheared hedge to hide the veggie garden from the street, in which case I would simply plant it now. But I decided I would rather have a pretty privacy fence facing the street, with low landscaping in front of it. I don't want to put that in until the buildings are in; hence the need for something temporary. I like the Ninebark idea, though! See, this is what I mean by a mental block - I've never grown it (mostly because I never found a good place for it in my yard). The cultivars would probably be too expensive for the number I need, but the plain ol' Ninebark could be a good option. I will definitely be researching that, thanks! Butterfly4u, I thought about a temporary fence of some kind, but it's hard to put something 12' high up 'temporarily' - metal stakes won't hold it through our winters. I know, as a gardener, it seems like a waste to grow something knowing it will be torn up. That was actually something I struggled with, because I am normally one to plan for the long-term in my plant choices. But my philosopy is a bit different than yours, I'm afraid. I will try to explain myself without making anybody mad. . . The bamboo was grown naturally, but was made into a fence in a factory, was probably shipped from China (where most things made from bamboo originate), then had to travel from some American port to my little town in Indiana, where I purchase it. It does not increase in value as it ages. It does not contribute to it's site other than screening a certain view for a few years. Then it will be rolled up (or whatever) and put out at the curb. If it looks natural enough, and there is no wire used in the fence (some do, you know), then MAYBE the guys that pick up the yard waste will take it. Or, more than likely, they will not see it as suitable material for the city's compost program, and it will instead be picked up on trash day and end up in a land fill. I might find another use for it until it disintegrates, but if I don't, it will just be in the way without a use, and if it has wire in it, I will still be left with that to dispose of. OR, I could plant something. I can find most plants at growers within a 4 state area (one of my favorites for tree and shrub seedlings is 2 states away in PA), and yes, I mean GROWERS, not people that buy them already grown to re-sell. The plant increases in value the larger it grows. While it is in my yard acting as a screen, it will also feed and shelter wildlife (perhaps even attracting different species to my place), help clean the air with it's "breathing", produce shade, create a microclimate that will reduce the urban heat coming off the road and sidewalk, and provide something interesting for my neighbors and I to look at during all four seasons. And if I choose the type of plant correctly, it will do all of this with a minimum of work on my part (do keep in mind that I am requesting LOW-maintenance plants, because there is no such thing as a NO-maintenance plant). When their job is done, I have options for their disposal. They could find new homes in my landscape or someone else's (at very least, they could provide cuttings for new plants). If they are woody, they can be shredded and used as mulch. If they are leafy, they can be composted. There might be a wildlife organization that needs a brush pile for habitat reclamation (large shrubs are good for that, I hear). One thing I can absolutely promise you is that they WILL NOT end up in a landfill. And look at all the good they did while they were here! It's just a different way of looking at things. To me a throw-away plant is better than a throw-away product, because at least the plant contributed something while it was growing. I am very lucky that my little town has an excellent composting program. They pick up all of my yard waste, tree branches, whatever, and take it to a huge, steaming compost heap at the edge of town. They also chip tree branches, etc., and compost them for mulch. This material is then free for the town residents to use. Believe me, it is a happy day each spring when they open the compost pile up to the public for the season! Sorry for such a long reply post. I guess I felt a need to defend my decision. I am off the soapbox now and still looking for plant suggestions! Jill

Having fence sections on each side would work...I was always told there should be an opening to make your home welcoming. Later a curved walkway leading to your front door could be added. This would help direct attention to your front entrance even if the walkway is seldom used. The lamp post could be incorporated into the planting bed beautifully, even used for a flowering clematis perhaps. I would only use taller anchoring shrubs on the outside ends so the fence itself does not become disconnected from each other. You could use lower evergreens in the planting beds for winter interest. If you do put in a path to the front door I think a grey PA flagstone randomly placed would be beautiful with your blue house. At some point a small sitting area under the large tree near your front porch could be amazing. You could use the same flagstones, along large planters rather than trying to deal with tree roots, groundcovers, fountain....ahhh, the beautiful things you can do! I can't wait to see in-progress pictures. I think starting with the fence will make everthing else fall into place. This project should keep you busy until you are ready to tackle the porch area

The first time I saw Tangerine lantana I was a passenger in a car. We were going south at Lithia Springs Road and Highway 60 in Brandon. There is a little grave yard right there. As lantana will, it was growing right at the corner in the sand and blazing heat. Such a color! The last of the bloom is a VERY deep red, red, orange-red. This must have been 30 years ago! I am dam near a native and had never ever seen that color! Just the usual orange and pink varieties. Next time, I saw it in landscape along with the gold lantana ringed around the base of palm trees. Taller tangerine in the center next to the palms with the sprawling gold on the outer ring. Very nice combo. Shortly after that it showed up in the big box stores. I am moving mine from too much shade to the hottest and grittiest part of the yard, just under the mailbox. I looked for a link but none of them do the color justice. Most shown are immature flowers. The color I am speaking of shows up at the end of the bloom cycle.

Thanks so much Jen - yes, it is most definitely A Big Job, especially for a newbie. I certainly have no history of having a green thumb, so I don't even know if things will actually grow for me, but I'm hoping that a lot of research, and a little luck may help me out some :) I will confess I had two college lads start the clearing in that back fence area - it really was 6ft high, we have no power tools (everything we've done has been with scissor-type hedge clippers and elbow grease!) and it was 90 degrees so I figured it was worth it! Once they managed to get it so it was simply "very very bad" it wasn't quite as daunting. And I made more progress today - my husband cleared and bagged everything I've torn down and that back patch is actually almost-entirely clear! Whoosh. I was encouraged enough that I threw down some Leafgro into the spot next to the gate in the pic above and transplanted some rather sad looking lilies which are over-shaded along the side of the house; we'll see if they make it! I'm going to sneak out later and get some Stella d'oros I saw at Lowes too - yeah, I prefer to buy from a nursery, but they were cheap and actually looked quite nice. It'll start filling the space, at least and it gave me a reason to mulch down the weeds in that little bit (plus I used some of the pile of stones I picked out of the "soil" - I use the term loosely - to make a little edge. I just needed to do ONE THING which had some kind of visual reward!). I'm still debating what to do to the right of the Rose of Sharon - I'm tempted to raise the bed on the left hand side and blend it in somehow, but what on earth do I know about building a wall?!?!? lol Anyway, I'm DEFINITELY interested in the swap - where is it? How does it work? (I'll search the archive as well since I'm sure this question has come up before, but any and all info welcomed :) Btw, I've been asking on the rose forum, but any other Bawlmor'uns have any opinions on disease-resistant roses for these here parts? I really love the old varieties and, as mentioned, am keen to cover those fences. I've been steered totwards New Dawn, Cecile Brunner cl and Brite Eyes (by the same guy who created the Knockouts), but other suggestions are definitely welcomed. As for any other perennials I can put in there (in particular things that would love to Cover The Fence). Also, I've heard that lavender is a bit tricky in this climate - is it possible to grow it as a perennial without lots of winter maintenance/protection etc? Thanks again so much - every time I've visited the Gardenweb forums I've been awed by the knowledge and kindness of the folks who post here, and this time is no exception! PS Oh, and if I'm sounding like I'm "trying to go fast" I'm not, really - I'm expecting this to take a while - I but I know already that my job will be keeping me busy AND taking me out of town in the spring, so I'm trying to get as much done in the autumn planting season when I have a little more time available. :)