I take a photo of the marker first and then the flower. When you upload your photos to your computer you'll have a quick and easy way to remember which is which as the marker comes first and then the flower photo. When so many daylilies start to look alike, it is easier to remember which is which. Just how I do it and it works for me. Julia

Cattleya, Hi there. Yeah, I haven't been on the C+S forum in a long time! Thanks for the compliment :) Speaking of which, your pics are gorgeous!! No such thing as irrelevant - speaking for myself, I love to see pics...and you have trees/plants in all your pics...so that's pretty relevant to me! By the way, when you see your fingerprints in a picture, you KNOW you can take a good pic! Congrats. Blackwyld, Got 2 questions for ya. First, what is the difference b/w SLR and a regular digital camera? I know that SLR is much better (and I can probably look up what SLR means and why it's better..but I thought I'd just ask you). Too bad I just bought a new camera before I saw your gorgeous pics! But it would be much too expensive for me right now anyway, which X-mas coming up. Second, what setting do you use to take those gorgeous flower pics? I like the in-focus flower pic and out-of-focus background. Thanks :) On a side note - it's funny that when I look back at my full jade plant pics, part of me actually likes the dark green foliage (in comparison to the light foliage it has changed into since being in the sun). I wish I could keep that dark green foliage with the added red tinge - oh well, not gonna complain! Gabi

When I started using Houzz I was amazed at how accurate the results of my searches were (in addition to the size of the photos database). It was a great resource. More recently when I've prepared to undertake projects, I've noticed that I just don't get the same, accurate results. My searches are riddled with results that just aren't pertinent. I think this is due to the incorporation of advertisers from my city and surrounding areas (contractors, builders, and others). There are enough ads (or results that are somehow influenced by someone who has something to sell) now to really hinder the flow of design ideas. I guess many internet sites end up using advertisers but it morphs the user experience. It's really made using Houzz less fruitful.

For my planting part of this project I decided to divide an ornamental grass that does well on our property and put 3 of the sections in some of the areas between the arbs. I am ordered 50 bare root cornus sericea, redosier dogwood 2-3 ft. and will add 9 or so to the area. I added various shrubs to the left (of the photo). Is this filling the requirement for different root systems? And a spreading shrub. We also sealed where our curb meets the city street, increased the height if the curb in front of our building. Next heavy rain I will do another dye test to see how we are doing, but it's been a while. None of this addresses the root cause, which I am working on. These changes were not costly, they increase privacy and decrease stormwater runoff, so it's all good. Thank you for all your suggestions. I learned something from every one of them.