I'm going to not have to worry about this til spring now. But I have 3 options that I can consider... 1) I bought this a while back. Since it's going to go more or less by the evergreen in the corner next to where the deck starts, it could blend in better than the next option below. I only wish this had some type of a hose winder, pain to try and put it back each time with my length of hose. http://www.amazon.com/Yard-Butler-HCF-3-Standing-Garden/dp/B000CZ2XRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321707766&sr=8-1 2) Hose box - bulkier than above, beige color, but winds up easily, sit sprayer on top 3) Use neither of the above in that location. Why I didn't think of this before, maybe my mind is going worse than I think it already has. Take the longest hose I have and hook it to the faucet on the right side of the house, which is right behind the lattice that's now up under the deck. I had one put in, right to the left of the door to the crawl space in the pic posted on Nov 11th, bascially to the very left of that picture. I think the hose I have could be used almost all the way around the house if there. Can't remember the length, but it's pretty long. Will measure it and see if it's a possibility that could work. That way, no need to wrap up more than 1 hose and it would be hidden and not be an issue. Here's hoping!!! I can keep a smaller hose on the first option just long enough to do the very front of the house, in which case, it's length would be a breeze to wrap up after use. Thank you all for racking your brains with me! On to the next problem....

I can give you a partial explanation. I have seen the same kind of deposits in plastic lined tanks, unlined tanks, slow moving natural streams and a large pond and waterfall built during the depression as well as most watergardens and ponds. It is a stew of dirt deposits from the air and rain, mulm, live algae and lots of dead algae, and a few minerals from all the rocks in the stream. You could get rid of it temporarally by sterilizing the pond and seriously scrubbing the rocks but that would mean getting rid of the fish and it will be back in 2 weeks anyway. It usually grows in sun more than shade but will occur there as well. It is more likely to form in still water or in spots that slow the water flow slightly which allows heavier debris to drop out of the flow. The stones you have in the waterfall that get such a pounding are actually acting as a sedimentation tank. Not a very efficient one since the rock layer is shallow but it will trap debris that will feed the algae and other biological stuff that lives in the pond water. You may be over feeding the biofilter. I have never added any bio active material to my five year old pond and rarely have a problem with the Skippy filter. I did buy some today that is designed to work below 50 degrees as an experiment but I expect I could do fine without it. I have no stones in my pond other than the ones that were knocked in by accident and the sides and bottom on the liner are virtually free of any algae growth or mulm but I know it is there. If you lift a planter that sits on one of the shelves or under a plastic crate the fishies use as a panic room you will find the deposits. The deposits occur anywhere the water flow is slowed. Excess food helps it along too. I expect to find similar deposits on the sides of pots as I pull them out for the winter. It will make them very slick or slimey to the touch. Make sure you are not overfeeding the fish, cut down on the microbes and remove some of the rocks at the lowest point. Mulm will collect there for you to vaccuum up and it will make you happy. Increase your filtration material. I use quilt batting on my skippy and a large prefilter on the pump for the UV light box. It won't get rid of all of it but it will reduce it. Sandy

I agree with some of the others..You have lots of potential there but if it were me, I'd start out making the front flower bed first. It's what you and all your neighbors and passer-bys see. They don't see behind that fenced area. Save those areas for last. Sit down and decide what colors you like best. Do you have any favorite flowers? I would start out with flowers that perennials in the back of the bed. These come back year after year and you can make more plants but dividing them as they grow and also taking cuttings. Use some container plants near your entrance. By the way, are there some hidden steps to get up on the front porch that we can't see in the pictures? I'm assumming they are hidden and are near the driveway? Since you mention that you are pregnant now, I'd start out with a few container plantings on that porch to give color there. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day..Ask friends or family for cuttings or to save seeds from their plants that you like. I'd stick to flowers that are low maintence and give you color for that front bed. Is there anybody that can help you get started and can do the digging and composting you will need? Does your city offer FREE leaf mulch? Take advantage of that if available or ask neighbors for their leaves. There are a lot of good advice offered here in all the posted messages. Read them all and start yourself a garden journal of helpful hints. All you need is either a 3 ring notebook or what we used to call a composition book with spiral binding. You can pick up 3 ring binders at yardsales for practically nothing. I like to buy the white 3 ring binders at office supply stores where you can insert a colorful page in the front of the book under the plastic sleeve. Invest in some sheet protectors for pictures from magazines that inspire you. Use your public library for ideas, you can even check out gardening magazines for inspiration. Order flower catalogues to give you ideas too. Good Luck! Did you mention the ages of your children? I see the swing set in the back yard so I'm assumming they are under 6 yrs. old?

Hi, I'm also plagued with the devils here, although I can't say that they have any color preference, and as they adore Hibiscus syriacus leaves (no signs of flowers yet) it's not specifically a scent issue either. As an experiment I put up pots of white geraniums and placed them next to two roses including their favorite meal (my Hansa rose - I've forgotten what a flower on it looks like, although I do recall they were fragrant). As you may know Hansa is not white, yellow or pink, but a deep magenta color. I had read that white geraniums were a delicacy and the beetles would eat the flowers and fall intoxicated beneath it. Well, it's been nearly a week and not one floret has been damaged. Last year I tried the same experiment with pink geraniums with the same results......Oh, love to spend more time weeding or enjoying my garden instead of hunting Japanese Beetles all day long.