Japanese beetles will chew the purple plum to smithereens. As for deer, mugos are safe - and the dwarf varieties can go for a very long time before having to do any spring "candle cutting" to keep them close to a desired size. Deer (at least in my experience) ignore spireas (Gold Mound, Anthony Waterer, Lottle Princess are good choices), barberries and the ground hugging junipers and Birds Nest Spruce - I believe they're too lazy to bend down that far. For perennials; veronicas, nepetas and salvias are safe from any kind of browsing and cutting down in the fall or spring is the only maintenance - or pinching back after the first bloom if you want a second bloom. Even something like a peony could be a set piece - beautiful in bloom, nice foliage otherwise. All easy for a non-gardener. It's not a big space, you wouldn't need a lot to hide the AC and flesh it out a little.

I thank everyone for their contribution. I have no room for propagating plants anymore. Just enough for a few seedlings over winter. I may contact the Krispy Kreme manager and ask what firm does their landscaping to see if I can locate the source for this Hawaiian dwarf Oyster plant. Toni: Thanks for the URL for Peppers. I'd never heard of them before and they have several "houseplants" that interest me for outdoors. There just isn't much literature regarding using them outdoors in a southern landscape. My Sansevierias seem to take anything I throw at them, but my Clivia is a burned up mess after its sheltered position outside was destroyed when we lost a tree. I'm thinking a dark cave maybe the only place it likes it outside...Sorry that was OT. Thanks again to everyone for all your help....Maryl

I'd be happy to add more, I guess I'm just confused about what's wanted. I don't see a thing about countertops, and I'm not understanding what part(s) of the island would be walnut/black. * painting them off-white * adding dark knobs/pulls * installing a dark granite, tumbled backsplash * stainless appliances (all done) * we would paint or stain that dark brown (like walnut) or black. So... would the whole thing be dark? Or just the parts that are, in your original picture, cream? Would the part that's painted be dark too? I know you said you don't have the same legroom, but I'm unsure of the materials change as well.

Hey, no green thumb! I have been thinking of you and your patio. I'm so glad you found someone who really listened to what you wanted. Now, you can enjoy the planting and evolution of your outdoor area! :o) I hope you'll post pictures when you can. I totally agree that I never want to be "done" planting things, as you said. The expanse of land is for sure our focal point, and I don't want to overdo it or obstruct the view to the back yard. Squirrel, your dad sounds like he was a wonderful, creative person. I think that creativity is so important with outdoor areas, just as it is indoors. It's amazing how much is added to a property visually with plantings and color in the form of flowers and trees. I'm going to check out the link you posted. Thanks so much! While we'll value insight from a professional, we definitely want to have some input. It's not going to happen overnight, that's for sure. Maybe it's too much to Photo Shop too, but a visual would be very helpful. Carol, thanks for your thoughts. I would love a colorful tree, as the Redbud you mentioned. It's interesting you mentioned maple and oak trees. We have a 140-year-old maple and a 150-year-old oak in the front yard. I love them SO much. We had to cut down a clump of box elder trees to place the house, which may not have been a great loss, as I understand they are not great trees, but now the back yard has a large clearing, compared to our tree-filled front yard. I want to keep the clearing for the most part, but add some trees around the perimeter, and both maple and oak are native here. I guess we have to stay at least 25 feet away from the patio with large trees, and that's okay. We do get shade on the patio most of the afternoon from the house itself. Do you all think that the cushions for the patio furniture must be the same color, or can I mix and match with patterns and solids, etc? Thanks again, all, Jan