Gorgeous flowers Kelly, thank you so much for the touch of Spring. I agree with Bright that the watering can next to your tipsey pots is fantastic, love the crystal "water droplet" it adds just the perfect flair to the setting. Hope you won't mind if I use your idea in making my own tipsey pots this year. I had the darnest time posting pics to the forum until I received help from another member so it's not just you that had the problem. Sal

Thanks for the eye-candy, Jan. I am seeing a few blooms on my new flowers, but it will take quite some time before I will have a really pretty yard to enjoy. The wonderful pictures that y'all post help to keep me motivated and encouraged....LOL!! hugs and blessings, Beth

Ken, no fluffing for me. I scuffed up the turf about an inch, just enough to break up the dead turf. Soil was dry as a bone and crumbly all on it's own with no mechanical intervention, unless you are counting the actual digging. The only place we get run-off here is on the driveway, 500' of packed road rock. I still appreciate the tips, for those times when I do run across such situations. Will, it is deceiving...We have a few trees, but really very little considering we are on five acres and two of the trees are not plantable under, being in the dog yard (and one being an apple tree.) We are actually very exposed here. It makes for most excellent views but does not leave a lot of room for mystery. I am making it two of my goals to 1) create some spaces that will stop the eye but not block our best views and 2) find ways to create some mystery here in the wide open. Here is another reason to be grateful for your location, none of this: two winters ago it was drifted this deep over our entire driveway for two days following a huge blizzard! This was the path I had to shovel to the barn:

We are about to purchase natural stones for our two bathrooms. Please let me know if you are happy with your travertine, marble or limestone in your bathrooms after a few years? Are you able to maintain the original color? Are you able to keep it very clean? do you have photos to share? We are ready to demo this weekend, but can't really make up our minds about it. Thanks much!