I really, really like hrigsby's idea with the deck. Under the deck storage can be for kid stuff--they can keep their outside playthings there, from bikes and scooters to enormous waterguns. Enclose it and make it a closet. >I was thinking of doing climbing roses and clematis on the shed, but I want to develop a clear plan before I start buying plants. You are totally overthinking this. If you want the look of a clematis and rose-draped shed, get a clematis and a big climbing rose. Go to the species forum and ask for advice, and then go and buy your New Dawn rose and whatever clematis everyone's enthralled by now. Plant them. Mulch their roots so they don't get weedy. Done. You are not going to throw off the entire garden plan by choosing the wrong rose and the wrong clematis. The rock work on the shed foundation is awesome, but as far as plants go...could you possibly do worse? >The park-like look really appeals to me with mulched burmed beds, if that makes sense. Manicured, simple, orderly. You mean commercial and/or parks-and-rec sorts of plantings? This seems to be what you're saying--shaped hedges floating in seas of mulch... This takes a lot of weed killer and a BIG budget for mulch. It also will look, at best, like a rather nice office building. I think you might need more exposure to various kinds of gardens. What you're imagining is mass-maintenance, not low-maintenance. And it's unsuited to a home, though many builders of cookie-cutter homes throw in the cookie-cutter shrubs like this. >Photos of Japanese style gardens appeal to me also. Not low maintenance. >I also love the idea of attracting birds more. I have seen blue jays, cardinals, sparrows, and morning doves. A water feature would be great but I don't think I want a pond. If you want a wildlife garden area, circle where you want it on your layout. Do you want to see it from the patio? From the windows of which room? I'd advise a prefabbed, plug-in type of water feature for low maintenance. Most are hideous. Some are nice. Eventually, you can find one you like. >We also love the idea of doing raspberry, blueberry, blackberry bushes for the kids and birds, but I hear the roots can be very invasive. Why didn't you go over to the fruit forum and ask? The very nice people there would have explained to you that you need a 2' deep root barrier for the raspberries but none for the blackberries. (The lazy way to do it is a 2' deep raised bed, but that may not be smart in your zone.) You will want to plant this either on the east or west side, parallel to the property line but with a pathway at least as wide as the mower. You want this on the OPPOSITE side of property than the wildlife garden, if you really want it for the kids. If you want it mostly for birds, there are better choices of plant--far more attractive for people. If you want several types of raspberry, each needs a 2' deep root barrier between them, or the more aggressive types will take over. The bed needs to be 2' wide. Mulch it well to prevent weeds. Each plant needs 3' of length along the bed. Put a hedge up along the other side, between you and your other neighbors, to reduce the feeling of exposure. As far as the existing arbs, I'd personally do a mixed shrub border, but I fear you will want an orderly row of evergreens that will do nothing to soften the shape of the yard and will grown unmanageably huge themselves in time. I can't really see the commercial berms and sterile plantings plus wildlife combination. It does not at all work in my mind.

The only reason to make a rush to sell is if you think you might sucker a buyer into falling in love with the view as you did. (No, I really don't think you are that dishonest.) Perhaps give it a year or so after the destruction to make up your mind. Unless the real estate market gets real weird real quick, the longer you stay, the more you will realize from your investment in your house. You might also try to augment the buffer with a dense planting of evergreen trees to help shield you from the clearcutting, should it occur. By the way, has there been a bond issue or anything to fund construction of the new school? If not, clearing of the trees could be years and years away. Your original timetable could still be a viable option.

Fortunately, I think, turkeys are hunted pretty heavily around here, so they are people-shy. I get them in large flocks of 20 or more, but they stay out in the cornfields and rarely come close. They do come up sometimes to the edge of the chicken enclosure to check out their cousins, but always hightail it (pun intended) back to the cornfields, when I go outside. I have more problems with deer, who have no fear of people, and who think that my garden is a wonderful smorgasbord put out just for them. They come right up to the house. If I were more aggressive, IÂd pop one and fill my deep freezer. littleonefb, if the turkeys are ever a problem when you are outside, just raise your arms over your head, make a lot of noise, and charge right at them. I guarantee, they will retreat. As an added bonus, your neighbors will also stop bothering you. ngam, we have fishers up here, too. They have that weird, hump-backed loping run. Ever hear one call at night? They sound like someone screaming in the woods, like they are being skinned alive. During a visit last year my father was in a panic one morning, when he heard one during the night. The local police say that they can always tell when a new person moves in, because they eventually get a call about someone being murdered out in the woods. terryboc, that must have been quite a sight to see. IÂve yet to see a hawk make a score up close and personal, except over at the raptor center in Quechee, VT, which just isnÂt the same. With all the small, furry critters running around out there, I always find the hawks, eagles, etc. to be a welcome sight. narcnh Here is a link that might be useful: VINS Nature (Raptor) Center

I vote Coyote. Based on your location. Coyotes do quite well in suburbs where small mamals are plentiful. They are pretty elusive unless they have babies nearby. You shouldnt really see them during the day. If you lived further south, I would have said red wolf. They are similar in size to coyote, with a snout that looks very close to what your photo has. We are lucky enough to have some here nearby (National Forest just a few miles down the road), and they are on the way to recovery. Of course we also get bear and deer. If you have bird feeders near that brush, you are likely to see more wildlife like Mr Coyote - easy pickins. The birds eat and spill seed, small mamals come to eat the seed, and house cat comes to eat small mamals. Mr Coyote is doing what comes natural. If he gets close enough to get photos - I personally would relocate the feeders (if you have them)further out and or avoid throwing food for the birds. Enjoy him from a distance but don't encourage him.