You can physically have a lawn on a 10% slope, but I wouldn't recommend it, and leveling this off to create a more gentle slope would help the lawn act as the anchor to the surrounding plantings, or emphasize the terrace aspect. You have so many great public botanic gardens in the triangle area of North Carolina, that I got a chance to see this last May, and I think visiting them to get design ideas could help you alot. You might also find that you will get more relevant design feedback if you could perhaps scan your proposed ideas in plan, with your ideas superimposed. Verbal explanations are all well and good, but with a property this size it is hard for someone not there and familiar with your property to get a good sense of what you have in mind. Have you also considered a follow up consultation with the designer to flesh out the concept? I wouldn't be afraid to ask him to consider fresh ideas you may have, but the original design may have more continuity if it is fleshed out abit. As to snappish replies from the design pro's on this site, maybe they are suffering from cabin fever this time of year, as afterall, Iowa, Cape Cod and Quebec are not the most pleasant places to be gardening this time of year, and they may be sick of all the relatives over the holidays! While I admire the fortitude to stick with that type of severe winter year after year, I can't quite imagine having to actually endure it. It would be difficult for me to really give valid design input on such a large lot in such different climatic conditions, without actually visiting the site. Breaking down your requests for input and feedback might more realistically generate better replies if they were more specific and detailed and based on your ideas, rather than being open ended...

Hi, Blossom, I'm in SW Wisconsin and I've had an Iceberg in a terraced bed by my front door for 7+ years. It does have blackspot problems, but it responds well to the severe pruning I give it nearly every year. In fact, that's about all I've done with it (I have 3 young special needs kids)and it manages just fine. It handles drought conditions fine and would probably do really fantastic if I actually gave it more attention. It's a good bloomer for me, despite the neglect it receives too. I haven't even gotten to the winter protection for the last 2 winters and it's still okay. It is in a protected spot though. This year, my garden focus is the roses, and first on the list is dealing with the blackspot running rampant, so the Iceberg should be great this summer. Hope this helps!

You don't have to worry about the landlord and wiring because there are very good wireless alarm systems out there. If you are not familiar with the Clarke Howard show, he frequently discusses the subject of home security systems and what a rip off most of them are. He has some very good information. Below is one link that might be helpful. You could do a internet search and find much more. Here is a link that might be useful: Home burglar alarm systems

Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to post your advice and suggestions, we read and digested every one of them. We had 10 fabulous days in Arizona and have vowed to return as soon as possible. We flew into Tucson with no fixed plans apart from 2 nights I had booked in a highly rated bed and breakfast in Sedona a few days in to our vacation. On impulse we decided to drive immediately from Tucson to Scottsdale. En route I reserved a room at the Gainey Suites Hotel. What a lucky find! It was lovely. Peaceful, comfortable and relaxing with complimentary hors d'oeuvres (and beer and wine) nightly, complimentary breakfast daily. We hadn't realized how deeply exhausted and in need of this vacation we were but after a night at the Gainey we knew we had to stay another! We drove from Scottsdale to Sedona via Prescott (we had lunch at the historic Hassayampa Hotel) and Jerome. Jerome was fascinating and the drive was stunning. We arrived in Sedona a day too early for our reservations at the bed and breakfast but another room was available so we spent 3 idyllic days there. The photo above is from our private 2nd floor terrace at the Casa Sedona B & B. Wonderful place, best linens ever, and amazing food. We hiked the Doe Mesa and did the Ancient Ruins Pink Jeep Tour at sunset. We discovered the ChocolaTree organic restaurant, dining out in the peaceful gardens under the honeysuckle and stars! We also had lunch at the airport restaurant on the top of the mesa where the planes and small jets seemingly fling themselves off the top of the mountain! From Sedona we drove to the Grand Canyon. It was our second visit but was just as breathtaking and awe inspiring as the first. We stayed in a nondescript hotel but drove back to the canyon for a delicious breakfast at the El Tovar before heading out to Monument Valley. What a place! It has to be seen to be believed! Monolithic rock formations rising 1000 feet from the desert floor! We drove on to Canyon de Chelly. We took a jeep tour into the canyon with a Navajo guide. The history was fascinating as were the many ancient ruins and petroglyphs. Our guide was well informed, some of her family still live in the canyon. Only the women can own property. From Canon de Chelly we returned to Scottsdale. We stayed again 2 nights at the Gainey, lured by the rest and relaxation it offered and the friendly, quietly sociable atmosphere. Our plan had been to spend 3 or 4 days exploring the Tucson area but we were now left with only one night before returning home! We found a pleasant little B & B there for our last night. We explored as much as we could, including many wonderful hours at the Desert Museum, but the rest will have to wait for our next trip! Again, thank you all, our trip would not have been so easy or so successful without you.