Hi Wellspring/Charlotte! Lots of good things to think about in your comments... While everyone's experience is going to be different, I generally find the input from someone who deals with the issues themselves everyday particularly useful in highlighting details to think about. It did finally occur to me on the weekend to search on the Accessible Gardening forum here but I didn't find much. 'Introducing' my friend to her garden by walking around it and giving her a running commentary on it is definitely something we'll need to do. She's probably still in the early stages of developing those mapping skills you have so it'll be good practice for her to get very familiar with the garden space. She's still in the process of 'mapping' the inside of the house. She does have the depth perception problem (as do I...) so we're both somewhat used to dealing with that - but have the bruises to show that one can never let down one's guard! My friend just about knocked herself out last week when she mis-judged where the bathroom door was in the middle of the night apparently! (She was still following her old 'map' from the condo when she was half asleep...) I do need to get a better sense of what a garden means for her. Other than scented things, I'm not really sure. I know my garden preferences are largely formed by the gardens I grew up with as a child. I have no idea what gardens in her original part of the world look like and what expectations she might have with respect to things like foliage shapes, flower colors etc. We'll have to explore all that. There may be some unrealistic expectations to deal with too - I remember a girl from Guyana in my university days being baffled by the fact that tomatoes had to be planted again each year! And there's lots of new language issues for us to work out together I'm sure. The garden that's at the house now largely follows the foundation and the fence line. The path to the front door has garden beds on both sides. The path itself worries me. It's narrow at the driveway end - made with ~2' paving stones - and there's a 4-6" drop to the driveway at the end. At the front door end, the path widens to a landing area made with 3-4' patio stones - which are not level! There are 2 steps to the front door and then a step up into the front hall. The steps to the door are also not level and there is no handrail to provide support. It strikes me as dangerous - but is it something that she will just learn to navigate easily/safely from habit or should they be making a new entrance a priority? Is a trench edge also a hazard - i.e. if you step into it, it's easy to fall. (That's one of the reasons I spent a good part of last summer and fall replacing all my trench edging with brick... I was thinking that would be a good idea for her for areas she's likely to be walking frequently...?) Overhead obstacles are, I think, a big future issue at my friend's house. In this TINY backyard, the previous owner planted 3 (!!) pine trees of some sort. At the moment they're still only about 4' tall but in a few years they will totally eat up the yard! I think they should get rid of them now before they become an issue, but I sense it's going to be hard to convince a pair of non-gardeners to cut down these seemingly small green things! The previous owners planted quite a few roses up against the house. I've been wondering if they're likely to be an issue at all. I've seen my friend reach out her hand to the house wall for support, fairly near the roses. How often do do entangle yourself in rose thorns?! Should the roses be moved to places where she is unlikely to accidentally reach into or fall against them? I like the idea of brightly colored pots at the end of a bench that is easily reached. We haven't actually ventured out to the backyard yet so I don't have a very good sense of the space out there yet. From indoors, it looks a bit sloped and uneven and greatly in need of a level place for sitting etc. We'll probably have to wait another 6 weeks or so to really check things out. Probably some people are thinking this discussion doesn't belong here. I don't know how to switch the discussion to e-mail... But, since designing for accessibility is an issue these days in many situations, I thought this discussion might provide some insights into practical aspects from a 'user' perspective :-) There are certainly lots of well-meaning 'accessible' alterations out there that drive me nuts - and I'm sure you find the same sort of thing. As much as possible, I want to avoid inadvertently causing problems for my friend so I value your perspective on all this. Woody/Susan

Whew - What a week. First the new door came and it was the wrong size. The Volvo died again. It died on Lemmon Ave. in Dallas. But I managed to pull into a burger place with a hose and after I asked around about a tow truck, I decided to have a burger and then try to fix it. The last time it happened a tatooed lady in Midlothian showed me how to put the water in, so I knew what to do. After an hour, I was able to get the lid off and get it running. I mean smoke was coming out when I drove in. But this is cast iron motor. A Cuban transvestite gave me some directions. Nice nails. I made it to a no-parking zone in front of Children's hospital. Just perfect for a tow truck to pull in. Daughter was in the hospital and I was bringing in her wheel chair. Anyway, it just so happened that a Red Oak tow truck driver was in town having dinner with his son, so he picked up my car. He took the key and waved. He didn't ask for payment and I don't even think he asked my name. As I wheeled the chair down the sidewalk, I wondered if I would see the car again (not really caring). But it was delivered to the repair shop cause they called the next morning. Maybe the tow charges will be on my repair ticket? My daughter is out now, and home, and that dratted wheelchair has 5 more days to go. They finally figured out how to fix the car - new radiator complete with switch that is unobtainable by itself. I'm sleeping all day.

Raven, yes you covered just about everything. I have been using a three wheeled handicapped scooter for nearly 20 years. I try very hard to use courtesy while out and about, but there are times that I don't get the same consideration from the public. The truth is that the person on a scooter is out of the standing upright person's line of vision. They just don't see us in time. I have learned to anticipate sudden movement from those who often step into my path not knowing I am there. I would dearly love to go to one of those large craft happenings that are common at this time of year in my area, but haven't done so in many years. Trying to get to the booths to see anything becomes impossible as rude people have no regard for the fact that I cannot see over them and give me no space to do so. I don't have an aggressive bone in my body, so don't "push" my way around. I just hope that someone will give me a break, but wind up being disappointed. My DH on the other hand is not so polite (on my behalf) and winds up embarrassing me so I stay home. I guess in the end it is 'my fault' that I can't enjoy this type of outing. On another note, last week I spent 2 hours at the mall. In particular I was looking to see what is available in bras. In the 5 stores I was in, trying to navigate the much to tight aisles, not one sales assistant even acknowledged me, let alone offered to help me. In one store, I left the area for several minutes twice and then came back just to test the young sales assistant. At no time did she acknowledge me. Yes, I could have asked for help, but when I worked retail, as soon as any customer, handicapped or able bodied, entered my area a greeting and an offer to help was immediate. I am shopping mostly from catalogs these days because the aisles in department stores, especially clothing, are often impossible to navigate and many no longer have an assistant in the department, let alone one who will offer help. I will say that other customers are more likely to ask if help is needed, and it is greatly appreciated, especially in the grocery store.

Thanks to everybody for sharing your thoughts and insights. A couple more pieces of info: I live in a pretty quite neighborhood in Boston with very little foot traffic, so I'm not worried about tramplings or theft, if I use a container. I don't think it would be kosher to train a plant on the fence behind though. Also, there are no power or phone lines overhead. I hate to say it, but I think I'm leaning towards trying to plant a tree (with surrounding annuals) in the spot. I won't be heartbroken if my first attempt ends in a "teaching moment." :-) @edlincol, your idea about using the plot as an excuse to grow one of those plants that usually spreads too much to include a garden is interesting. What do you think are the chances a winged sumac tree makes it? Those seem virtually indestructible, and I wouldn't have to worry about runners in that location. Your idea about a honeylocust tree is noted. I might go back to that. This may sound stupid, but I ended up on the wrong side of one of those trees' thorns as a kid, and to this day I'm not a huge fan. I'm also slightly north of their prime growing range too, apparently. My other thoughts besides a sumac is a black walnut (which is supposedly tolerant of salt) or an heirloom apple tree. Are those going to be fool's errands?