Don't despair just yet. I checked a fact sheet from Rutgers (NJ) Cooperative Extension, "Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance" and this is just a fraction of the plants listed: Annuals rarely damaged: Snapdragon, angel's trumpet, dusty miller, cleome, larkspur, snow-on-the-mountain, heliotrope, sweet alyssum, forget-me-not, nicotiana, poppy Biennials: Common foxglove (digitalis purpurea) is rarely damaged; seldom severely damaged are sweet william, money plant and forget-me-not. Bulbs rarely damaged: Allium, bluebell, snowdrops, daffodil. All ferns seem to be rarely damaged. Groundcovers rarely damaged: Lily of the Valley, sweet woodruff, others Lots of ornamental grasses are listed as rarely damaged. Perennials rarely damaged: Monkshood, anise hyssop, wild and European gingers, purple rock-cress, baptisia, threadleaf coreopsis, corydalis, bleeding hearts dicentra eximia and d. spectabilis, hellebores, dame's rocket, iris, lavendar, statice, rose campion, forget-me-not, peony, Russian sage, pulmonaria, garden sage, lavender cotton, lamb's ear ... And a whole long list of others seldom severely damaged. Shrubs rarely damaged: Heather and heath, daphne, caryopteris, broom, pieris ... and a long list of more seldom severely damaged. Vines seldom severely damaged: American bittersweet, winter jasmine and wisteria. That's just a taste; there are six pages in all! Below is a link to the Rutgers site for this publication; you might find it easier to download and refer to the PDF version, as the plants are grouped a little more clearly. Latin names are provided as well. As others have said, your house has wonderful bones and Linda did a great job with Photoshop. What fun it will be (as well as hard work) to make your dreams for your home and yard a reality. FYI, at the front of our house I did create a little garden similar to the one you originally proposed. It is between the driveway and the front door, southern exposure, and was to be my "winter garden" ... but then we built a pond in the back yard and now we seem to gravitate there no matter what the season. It's still a lovely, welcoming spot, though. Please do keep us posted ... I'll be looking foward to seeing some updated photos when you're ready. Here is a link that might be useful: Plants Rated by Deer Resistance

It's probably got to do with what it's made of in order to date the age. Hand forged anything has become so costly, it could well be unusual to find it on anything more modern but the most pricey of buildings since steel came into popularity. Here's a quote that might offer a lead or clue w/regard to texture: Wrought iron was produced before the years when steel became a common building material. Wrought iron has a fibrous appearance because slag is included in the iron and gives this type of iron its grainy appearance. Full text is here.

When I think beach my mind goes to heavy rope with knots, nets and seashells in natural colors. Be careful putting metal things on your fence--you may get rust stains. I second the TJ Maxx/Marshall's/HomeGoods idea. Also try Joann Fabrics for cute accessories. Everything's 70% off right now.

Rob...please post it! blfenton...for you... Here's a railing for one of the houses I designed. My DH made it. Note: the base board went in later & the stairs are carpeted. The wood under it is mahogany/salvaged out of a bank demo. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ladypat......For you...my lower patio....