Since we have several professionals here who ... a. Have never sought clients through this board. b. Give tons of "free" advice on a regular basis. I'm not quite sure how to respond. You expressed a notion of "landscaper" above that reduced their expertise to digging holes and plopping in plants. Sure, there are the mow -n- blow guys who call themselves "landscape services", but landscape design can include site analysis, scale drawings, assessment of needs, resolution of drainage issues, soil prep, grade work, coordination of specialized construction, driveways, terraces, stairways, paths, patios, special features ... and a working knowledge of suitable plants for each application. For many it also meant 4 years of college, other professional certifications, and years of professional development. The fact that the pros here give us the level of information that they do, constantly amazes me. And, when asked, they almost always offer something. So, how about wondering for a minute what it was in your original post that pushed two of them to come back with pretty pointed comments. My guess is that it sort of steps on toes when, in a tight economy, someone who doesn't appear to want to put in any effort, asks others to give time and effort to your yard. I have a yard. I have plenty of projects calling to me now ... even in the dark. It's not quite the same as changing the paint color on your walls like they do on some home decorating forums. You are asking us to go and check our research on coastal plants ... I don't know a thing about them myself. Then offer up a changed photo for you to review with a list of plant suggestions. Sorry, if you don't have the time to research the possibilities, I'm afraid I don't eather. Besides, since soil amendment doesn't seem to be a part of the plan, new plants will probably do about as well as the ones your ripping out. But, since it's apparently so simple, don't worry. Just do it. Your home doesn't really need any "design" work ... Just rip out this and plant that. Voila!

Wonder what they are? Post some pictures and I'll see what I can do. I make no promises about giving you species names, but I might be able to give you a general idea of what you're seeing. I've seen some smaller, tiny bees on the rose leaves also. There are MANY species of solitary bees, and most of them are very small. They're probably interested in collecting rose pollen to feed to their babies. It's not unusual for bees like this to collect pollen & nectar, make a ball out of the pollen (using the nectar as the binding agent), lay an egg on the ball, and then seal the whole thing inside a chamber and do it all over again in the next part of the tunnels they've already created. Native solitary bee species often live that way. The babies take a year to become adults, and so show up the following year to repeat the cycle. Some parts of the season they seem more agressive than others. Yellow jackets are more aggressive in late summer/early autumn because their source of food in the nest is diminishing. After they feed those killed insects to the babies back in the nest the babies secret a sugary fluid which the adults eat as food. That works great at this time year since the nest is growing in population and so there are more babies on the way then there are adults now (creating a situation in the nest where the adults have access to lots of food). By the end of the summer the queen isn't laying so many eggs as now, and so there are lots of adults, but fewer babies to rear (and thus less food in the nest for the adults). That means the adults have to look for sugary stuff outside the nest to satiate their hunger. That's why they become an aggressive nuisance at Labor Day cookouts & picnics.

Curly, I, too, had a bird's nest in my Duchesse d'Auerstadt arbor - a cardinal's nest. I spooked her twice. Once trying to tuck in some wayward canes and once trying to get a photo of the babies. Turns out the babies were more mature than I thought. They flew away. Woosh! Scared me good. I was on the phone with my sister at the time, and she was yelling, "Get away, get away, you'll hurt them. They won't be able to get back in the nest." I said, "Sue, they FLEW AWAY. They're fine." Yours is very cute. Just wait till they hatch! Sherry Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

Hi Tom, yep it was little far but after reading the thank you's ;looks like it would have been worth the 2 hour drive each way. Have an experiment in 5 gal bucket SWC's underway with Ed S mix and Al mix. Will keep you posted on the results. Of the 3 tomatoes we have grown this winter, think the brandywine best, beefsteak next, and heatwave least. Have you grown these 3 and how do they compare to your favorites in taste. Have 2 big beef's that I bought plants from in SWC's with Ed Smith mix, have promised one of those to a friend. Also have one from your seeds in the intermediate pot. bernie