Moon, I've also read literally dozens of landscaping books, and still couldn't landscape my way out of a paperbag until I started studying design in a classroom setting. Some will say I still can't, but there it is. So it's not you. The way design principles are presented in gardening and design books makes sense only when you understand the principles by actually practicing using them. At least that's how it was for me. A scale drawing of your property showing the location of the house is a good place to start. Once you have that, you can use tracing paper to play with ideas. Start by listing what you do want and prioritizing the list. I can't tell from the photos if that's a little patio in the fenced off area behind the house or not. If you need a small patio for yourself and a couple of friends, you may want to start there. You can start by sketching in possible plantings around the patio to give it a little privacy. You don't have to block out the neighbors completely if you don't want or need to, but even a low planting will give you a feeling of comfort, and visually reduce the size of that space to a more human scale. You can then think about what you want to look at when you are on the patio, and sketch in ideas for beds that will not only give you a view, but a place to putter as well. Maybe a patio is not your first priority. It may be that you want to landscape the front to make the house seem more like it's "in" the landscape than sitting "on" it, all alone, as it is now. Think about adding some ornamental trees that frame the view of the front of the house. Pencil them in and go outside with your drawing, and imagine how they will look when they mature a bit. Do the same from inside the house, in the rooms where you will spend enough time that the view might be important. You may find that your placement blocks a view you want to keep, or will block the sun too much. Adjust if necessary. If you already know you want a fence, sketch it in, and play with plantings that conceal parts of it to make it less conspicuous. If you need shade, that's also a good place to start. Research trees that will flourish in your conditions, see what the local nurseries have available, and plan where to put them for the most benefit. The afternoon sun in the west tends to be hot, so trees placed to throw some shade on the windows or sitting area can be selected. They don't have to be huge trees to give shade as the sun gets lower in the afternoon, and the southwest and west sides might need it the most, but experiment with where shadows fall and pencil in some trees. Do you need a veggie plot? Compost pile? Shed? If so, figure out where they will be convenient to use. Veggie gardens need water, compost pile may need screening. I wouldn't worry about microclimates yet. As you plant things and put in fence, etc. they will change anyway, as sun and shade patterns and wind will be affected by anything you add. For the moment, select plants that are at least hardy in your zone, or go one zone colder to be safe in an unusually severe winter. You can experiment later with fussier plants. Hardscape is expensive. Fortunately, if there isn't a good reason to have a walk or other feature included, you can skip it. If you know you'll need a walk to make access from front to backyard more convenient in wet or winter weather, include one, just don't put it so close to the house that you end up with the dreaded 3' bed. Leave 5 or 6 feet for shrubs or groundcover, or a flowerbed if the location calls for one. I wouldn't put in a walk and focal point just for the heck of it. If you find that once you get started a walk seems like it makes sense from point A to point B, add it then. You can always wait to see where you wear a path in the lawn. All of this can take a lot of time and thought. If you're patient, you can start small with whatever ends up at the top of your priority list. If you're impatient, you can always hire a designer to do a full plan or give you some direction.

Greetings once again from the Queen of May. The Good Queen Mother, Queen of March, AKA Treesa, sends her Tidings of Welcome to Deni, Queen of June. Her Highness bids you a most wonderfully enjoyable month and regrets that she is unable to post her welcome message herself because she also is suffering from computer difficulties which prevent the site pages from loading. In her letter to me she related how her beautiful backyard has become a pond, thanks to what seemed like endless rain through our dear state of SC. We were treated by Mother Nature to a straight week of rain before our annual steam cooker summer heat really kicked in. On the positive side, those rains eliminated the need to water potted plants three times daily. A week's break from that was welcomed, though it did not allow any much needed planting to be accomplished. The Queen of May still owes Thank You notes to the Queens mentioned in her previous post. She is still in a whirlwind of kid shuttling and limited in her computer time. She has not forgotten any of you.

You are not going to believe what Jo sent me for the Thanksgiving swap. I have been crying since Thursday evening. I'm having a tough time trying to tell you about it. I have never been so overwhelmed with a gift in my life. Here's the first picture: From left to right: My gift that will make you all wish Jo was your partner, is the ladybug beanbag pillow and comfy red fleece blanket. I will bask in Jo's friendship everytime I use these, and she made them with her own hands, too! In front of the pillow are embellishments for my Brian scrapbook, as are the beaded trims and ribbons you see in the picture. Jo knows I sew and sent a cool tape measure and beautiful sewing themed stationary set that says "Memories are souvenirs our hearts collect throughout the years." How true. The bag you see is a Brian R. dahlia (my very first dahlia and so special!) A set of three wrapped soaps to pamper myself and 4 mini pumpkin candles that smell heavenly. She also sent me more decorations for my Thanksgiving table, the glittery pumpkin you see, the golden candle that is too pretty to light (but smells sooooo heavenly), a large floral arrangement (not in picture) of burgundy mums in a pot with a big bow. The adorable birdhouse you see will have a special spot on my spring table. See the scarecrow and turkey? SHE MADE THEM!! Out of colored clay. They are so tiny and detailed, a tribute to her talents. I'm amazed. Jo also made the stunning vase you see. I cant' tell you how impressed I am with her abilities and creative talents. The vase will go in my meditation room, it's perfect. She sent me a voodoo lily bulb as the Doesn't smell good item. That made me smile. The bulb itself smells okay, let's see what happens in the spring. Jo didn't forget Walt (Reece's peanut butter cups) or Maizie (bag of biscuits). There were two things Jo included in her package that have had me crying for two days. I emailed her a thank you but it feels so insufficient. I've tried to call her but have started crying each time and hung up. Jo wrote a beautiful poem (it's in the frame) entitled, In Memory of Brian. I feel like she looked directly into my heart and put into words what I can't express. I was speechless after reading it. It's on my dresser now. She also arranged for a spring delivery of a plant I've tried to acquire for 2 years, a miniature rose named Brian Lee. I don't know how she did it, I'm just weak from her generosity of heart. Again, let me express how amazing this package was, like it was packed by angels. I think this is the most awesome package ever sent in any of our swaps up to this moment. Dianne/dian57

Thanks for the votes of confidence. I really thought I'd be starting a riot. So many people have told me just to leave it alone, it's fine, classic white kitchen, etc. But it's just never felt right. Now I'm excited about it! The rugs were just cheapies from Kirklands. So not worth heart failure, Amy! Believe me, paint would be the most mild thing that has ever been on them. Dog slobber, muddy paws, hair, pancake batter drips, grease splatters, various sundry spilled drinks, etc. all adorn those rugs. The beauty of the pattern is that they show nothing, and they're wool, so they've so far been indestructable. Just to set everyone's mind at ease, the pic of the paint tray was at the very, very end of the project, and there was only a few drops left in the deepest part of the paint well. No rug was harmed in the filming of this project. :)