Hi All, I appreciate your wisdom. :-) Even though I may have sounded nuts (and I was!), I realize "Rome wasn't built in a day." I'm glad I've gotten to the plantings this year and think they will help a bit in time. Heaven knows that's the truth for the house--there was *nothing* here when I bought 4 years ago. So, it's come a *long* way. But, I'm a school teacher and during Aug-May I have *no* time. Honestly-none. So, I do what I can in the summer (although we have work on prep and admin. now). While I enjoy the product of gardening/interior design, I enjoy process less--esp in the garden where it is physically hard for me to work (due to an injury that makes walking/digging painful). Soooo...I'll admit I'm looking for something that works the first time, if possible. That said, I'm not beyond moving things if I have to and next year will move 2 laurels--somewhere--as they don't work where they are. And, I do enjoy it at its core. All this reminds me of the "what I learned from gardening" thread. I do need to learn patience and to enjoy the modest things that the garden brings. :-) So, resalesally--you are right that I should just "go" and stop obsessing. HA! :-) Nell- Thanks for your comments, too. It is a great door that they have. (Wonder if I might be too lazy to clean those panes?? Hmmm....) Memo- Thanks for the awning suggestion. Trouble is, I just don't like awnings. I know I'm getting away from the authenticity of the house a bit...but based on my completely crude "paint" experiments in WORD, thing something raised a bit will help give me what I'm looking for. But...you might be right about the awning being so tiny compared to the stoop. (Man, I have *got* to learn photoshop to test your theory out.) As for the lattice...so you're saying to post it in the ground *perpendicular* to the stoop? Is that right? Hmmm...possibly. Hadn't thought of that. What do you think about covering the concrete w/ wood and a railing and giving the house a more "cottage" feel? EVERYONE - Paint trim vote for the bottom of the house?? Thanks, ya'll! Keep those ideas coming.

I primarily lurk and learn. Have always had daylilies; workhorse clumps of the old Hyperion, some nice peach and peach with maroon throated non-identifiables, as well as the ever reliable Stella d'Oro. Last year when I decided it was time to celebrate daylilies, for me, the best plan to increase my stock was to see what was available locally and at reasonable prices ($8-12 is my range) - and was plesasantly surprised to find a scattering of DLs noted as good performers, worth having etc. by people on the forum. Since I don't do mail order or the auctions, I'm limiting myself to what I can find at good garden centers within a 50 mile radius of home. (And if Wal-Mart has an interesting prepackaged selection, that's fine too.) I won't have the latest introductions or anything pricey, but I do get nice healthy plants with multiple fans that can be split over the years. It can be bewildering with thousands of daylilies out there. At first, I wanted them all since I have plenty of space and a flexible budget for the gardens - then reality set in and I decided if I could cultivate 3 or 4 dozen real favorites I'd be a happy gardener.

Yes, I'd check with CA gardening forum too. Also, you sound like you might be in a state of panic. Don't panic...that soil will wait for you to decide what to do! Just make some educated decisions about what you want to plant, then go forward. Posting here is a good start. First decide whether you want permanent plants, or do you want to have annuals which need to be replaced periodically? Boganvillas would probably want more sun than you have, and they get very large. You should think more of ferns, fuchsias, heavenly bamboo, azalea, camellias. I have clivia in full shade, and they have done well for years. Impatiens might be ok there and bloom beautifully.Clivia blooms are orange, but there is a new creamy white variety out at Armstrongs. Be sure to take into consideration the final grown-up size of your plants. If you put in something that grows too big, you'll end up pulling it out and starting over. If you are going to do more gardening, you will probably want to get a copy of the Sunset Western Garden Book. It is very helpful.

I am so VERY lucky! Renée, the poppers were gone by the end of the 2nd day! I ate them all in 2 sittings, I'm embarrassed to say!! I enjoyed taking the pictures! The kids just cannot understand why I keep getting presents from my "Secret Santa!" [I don't even quite know how they understand the concept of "Secret Santa" (as we're Jewish!), but they do!] The DOROT cookbook is FABULOUS! I keep reading and reading it. It is so rich in stories, the recipes are almost incidental! I truly enjoy the reading and will continue to read and even reread! Renée, again, I am so greatly appreciative of everything! Thank you! Deb