The bolts seem to indicate something was once attached there: hot tub or gazebo seem most likely. There's only one pipe, so that seems more likely to be electrical rather than plumbing, and therefore a gazebo rather than a hot tub. Have you tried shining a strong flashlight down the pipe, and if so, what do you see? Anything that might be wiring? The "clog" a foot down is probably simply a bend in the pipe. Just to rule some things out: Are you on sewer or septic? Are you on municipal water, or do you have your own well? Did you ask the realtor what it is? Have you asked the neighbors? (Not simply the neighbors on either side of your property, but people in the neighborhood who might have lived there for 15 years or more, particularly if they were close friends of the people who lived in your house.) If you're adjacent to any of the country club facilities, you might ask them also. But in the meantime, I vote for the ghost of a long-gone gazebo.

Bahia - gosh - didn't mean to slight you; hadn't seen your reply while writing mine (must have started mine, taken a phone call and gone back to it). I was so not speaking to your choices. We're our own worst critics and after I linked the daffodils I had the thought that 'gee, everyone's going to think I'm some little old lady gardener - just add some petunias and they'll write me off.' My own judgement - no one elses. Poked fun at myself posting daffs so folks would know I 'get' it (I like em in pots and on hillsides, agree hard to work into a home garden without it looking dated - it's partially why I like that kedron one - easier to work it in). I've been going through old gardening and design books as I plan new hardscape for the front and in looking at them I've been so aware of how quickly gardens can look dated. Modular walls fit my budget, but I know within 6 years they'll be passe and for me (and my budget) this hardscape is once. For the books that aren't that old - seems like we've gone for more space between plants and more large rocks (simplistic definition). Anyhoo, so I'm playing with the dated concept and think a dated look for most of us is about the overall plan of how plants are put together more than the plants themselves. For a green backdrop - I'd use what fits the bill AND do something interesting in a bed in front of it or add a trio of large pots with great interest in front of it - love green privacy walls but I'm not all that fussy about how they're attained. Bahia - you do wonderful work (I'd looked at your site) and I don't doubt folks pay you to do something gorgeous plus contemporary. I'm always sending folks to UCDavis for the veg gardening info - will check out their top ten. Here is a link that might be useful: mists and enchantments my blog

The tree has turned a nice yellow now. I like looking out the windows at all the leaves and branches all year, I want the branches from 4 to 12 feet from the ground to stay around as long as possible. But I don't want the tree to get too tall, it's at the NE corner of my house so it won't give me much useful shade. It's giving some useful shade and screening to my neighbor to the north, but I think it would need to be really tall and over the roofs of both of our houses to give much more than it does already Can I radically prune it to keep it close to its current height and to keep the branches/leaves low on the tree? I think this winter I will try to reduce that branch to the right and maybe slow the whole tree down.

I could not name it but, here's about all the research you need: It's a broadleaf plant so use a broadleaf plant killer like Weed-b-Gon or Weed-b-Gon Chickweed, Clover, and Oxalis Killer. These WBG products will not hurt your lawn, but you will need to reseed in a few weeks. Don't put off reseeding until spring. Do it early in the fall so you have time to evaluate it and rereseed any thin spots.