Spitfire, pretty much my entire family is like that, very frugal Yankees. Furniture, rugs, lamps, etc. were/are only replaced when they get too ratty and worn-out to keep using, or broke and couldn't be repaired. Grandparents grew up in the Great Depression - both sets of grandparents married when the men came back from WWII, saved up and built modest houses around 1950. Pretty much everyone in the family just didn't have the money to be redecorating just because something was no longer considered "stylish". So a bedroom might still have 50-year-old wallpaper on the walls because it wasn't scraped or gouged or badly faded, so there wasn't any point in buying new paper. Although I do remember both grandmothers having very up-to-the-minute-for-1950 bathrooms, one had the robin's-egg blue fixtures complete with the metal-legged console sink and matching tile and the other had goldenrod yellow fixtures, but neither one would have dreamed of remodeling just to change the colors even though the style mavens considered them outright horrible thirty years later. I think a lot of it rubbed off on me, because I see little point (for me) in my decor having to constantly be "fresh" and "updated", it simply doesn't matter to me - I would just like to get things finished and be able to go on to other things to spend my money on. ;-) Practicality also trumps style in a big way in our house. We recently purchased a sectional (wow, brand new furniture, woowoo, but I'd been watching CL for quite a while to no avail) for the most effective use of space in our small, awkwardly-designed living room and I chuckled at the saleslady's comment that although of course you could still BUY them, sectionals were very "out", and we really should be getting a sofa-and-loveseat... even though that's what we were getting RID of because it wasted precious space! (DH and I bicker lovingly over the corner spot. Wonderful place to nest with lots of pillows and a warm blanket.) ljwrar, I would do any number of horrible things :-) for the kind of original features in your house, since my ca. 1900 house was almost completely stripped. Treasure them! If you replace the original light fixtures, wrap them well in acid-free paper, box them up carefully, and store them for a future owner to put back if they wish.

It can be overwhelming because there are so many levels of concern. On the right track with your radon resistant new construction thread and think everything gets easier when bringing your home's performance up to meeting international level building code prescriptive minimums and EnergyStar certification. Obviously picking a good designer and builder! Tough to beat Oaktown's brevity and would emphasize an outdoor air ventilation system into the HVAC plans. It's more important than any finish material's concern with the possible exception of new carpet. Having heightened needs for chemical sensitivity warrants better selections of hidden and finish building materials. The title's quoted words and terminology carry political and emotional feelings for many people. I think green is more environmentally focused and puts reducing dirty energy use as the main priority. Materials and systems that achieve energy independence often contain ingredients which some may consider toxic or unnatural. I'm natural minded and think meeting the newest building code's energy and outdoor air minimums, gets you most of the way there. Might also plan for current or future PV production.

Hi everyone! Thank you! Jane, Oooooh, don't get me started on squirrels. I wish I could contract eagle hitmen to deal with them.... they've ruined many an orange with one bite, chewed up many succulent leaves, then spit out the leaf in disgust and do it again the next day. The bigger hoodlums are raccoons that decided the center of all my bromeliads have hidden treats. The carnage! Plant parts everywhere and, yes. Orchids and succulents thrown down to the ground. Haven't figured out how to deter these furry gangsters..... My trees....there are 3 trees sort of fighting for canopy space. A guava above the Mary Eliz B bench. A large Australian Umbrella tree that blocks the afternoon Western sun somewhat and a 20 year old Chinese Elm I am annoyed with. They have leafed out and the shelter in heat waves is appreciated, but, they all need taming. Saving pennies for arborist..... I enjoy seeing how simply growing spaces are organized, including yours'. Love how your phalie is happy in the tree! I used to have a few laelias growing on an apricot tree, now long gone. Ariel, how humid is your climate? Seems the orchids would be happy year round.

Hi, Patty. Just catching up on the forum. Everyone has offered wonderful and understanding suggestions, but I'll add some of my thoughts and garden info in case they're helpful. My last garden was at least 4x the size of my current one. (I just checked the city map.) I live on a 5,400 square foot lot, but the house, garage, deck and oversized driveway probably swallow 3/4 of the lot. Like you, at my last residence, I grew countless bulbs, perennials and shrubs (many of which were roses) that I wished to keep. Before leaving, I made a list of all I wanted to move and begged favors from any gardening friend who would help dig. The most precious plants I dug myself. I acquired a gazillion nursery pots in advance in addition to a pile of potting soil. This reduced the bed creation and planting pressure. Like you, I took cuttings and hoped for the best. With traveling OGRs like Gallicas and such, I sliced stolons and tagged the canes to be dug and moved later. I've been trying to decide whether or not to share this on the forum, but I will since it's best to be prepared. My former garden is gone. It lasted through several years and two owners who enjoyed it, but the current owners ripped out everything. Yes, everything. With that said, I want to emphasize that the latest owners of my old house are executives that seem to have purchased the home for its proximity to downtown. They did not buy it for its historical value or its garden. I think there's a very, very good chance that your property will attract buyers who appreciate 100-year-old farmhouses and heirloom plants. Your place has that kind of magnetism. You could even offer to take a tour with the new owners to identify everything. I made that offer with my last garden. :-) Even though my current garden is a postage stamp, I manage to grow about 70 roses. I grow them in ground and in pots. I grow them over and under, vertically and horizontally. I am eliminating all my grass. The remains are disappearing this summer. All that's left are either seating or bed areas. Someday, I'll post photos of my multi-layered, hodge-podge green space. It's amazing what can be crammed into microscopic patches of dirt with a shoehorn. I'm both a collector and designer, so I'm highly motivated to smash plants into any crack in the composition. That's my abridged story. However, I've saved the most important piece for last. After a few years, I began to positively celebrate my small garden. I've learned to hone my values, to make choices and feel content with the results...and I live a more balanced life. The upkeep of my last garden was almost overwhelming at times. My current beds are a tangle of bohemian chaos, so who can see the weeds during periods of neglect? I culled out my highest maintenance roses and enjoy the ones I have more than ever. There are plants for all seasons, and each one is a special event. Really and truly, Patty. After the period of adjustment, I've never looked back. Ever. Best wishes for your sale, purchase and move! Carol