pls8xx and gardenga148: I completely concur that the project should be broken down into 2 broad areas: (1) Land use/land planning for the overall 70 acres (2) Conversion of a small part to residential use I am still contemplating #1. However, I do believe I have settled on an aspect of overall land use. I believe, basically along or near the nature path, an area of sufficient width and composition to benefit bobwhite quail usage. In the old days, farms had small fields with lots of overgrown fence rows. That habitat was ideal for bobwhite quail. I believe I want to lay out the farm along those parameters (knowing that certain desires/goals compete with others). My research, consultation with my pastor (former horitculturalist and quail plantation manager) and personal experience are leading me to a strip approximately 15 feet wide of lespedeza intermixed with something like switchgrass or one of the other native grasses. I believe I want to combine the "habitat utility" of those or similar plants with a stepped (height and width) variety of native flowering, perennial plants, choosing a variety which is consistent with the wildlife management goal and visual appeal goal. There is a substantial likelihood that I would also break up the 28 acre agricultural field with a couple of cross corridors of similar plant material. These are among the types of things I am struggling with now. Comment on layout, continuity, plant selection and the like are what I am seeking. As each of you have said, this is a huge, long-term project and I seek input from others who's experience may bear on the layout, design and plant selection. I understand there are many, many different "right" and "wrong" ways. However, respecting the opinions of those participating in these forums, I would be interesting in reading your opinions and views and why you have those opinions and views. With respect to what I hoped to achieve with the pond. I like water. I like the ocean, rivers (large and small), lakes and ponds. I like to fish ocassionally but what I REALLY like is to feed the fish. It is very soothing. The pond can be an attractive focal point to the landscape. It can provide the "mirrored" images of the foliage surrounding it. And, if need be, it can provide for some irrigation. I have always liked looking out across the water, of sitting on my porch and looking across the water. I liked the idea of driving down the driveway into the house site and looking at the house across the pond as well. Back to another aspect of the overall land use. We initially intended to put the entire property into a pecan orchard, for both looks and future revenue. However, knowing there are always bad years along with good years with any crop, we decided that was not very smart. We also became interested in muscadine vineyards and fruit production. So, we will probably incorporate a bit of the pecan orchard, vineyard and fruit orchard. We want approximately 1/2 to 1 acre vegetable garden site. I believe we also want a "gardening" experimentation site of approximately 1/2 to 1 acre as well as a small greenhouse. I strongly expect we will leave the remaining oak ridge in mostly an as-is condition for the wildlife usage, but, with some modification to make in more friendly to the turkey and quail. I seem to have rambled a bit and apologize. But, with such a large overall project, it is difficult to include all the desires and keep them organized and coordinated. nandina, with respect to the observation of native flora, existing but possibly hidden features, I will try to do some walking and photographing this weekend. One focal point at the northern most point of the property where you see Potential Well Location, there was an old homeplace there. The shallow well still remains there. I expect to clean that well out and hang a usable well bucket there. An arbor is a possibility there. It could be purely decorative or be a "natural" appearing arbor with cultured muscadine vines so one could sit on a draw a bucket of cool well water, pick a few grapes, sit on a wooden bench, eat the grapes and look out over the landscape. One feature I didn't know about until buying and spending time on the farm is that for whatever reason, it attacts substantially more summer and fall breezes than most areas in the surrounding countryside. Thank you all again for your input and I look forward to more comments, critiques and suggestions. I will attach images of some of the wildflowers or weeds growing in the cut-over areas now.

I have 3/4 acre east of Raleigh NC. While most is "grass" there are wild areas. When we moved in I had the best crop of poison ivy in the Carolina. I have been pushing it back with Bayer Advance Bush Killer Plus. I have been using it since spring and it kills the poison ivy. Using a sprayer wih Bayer material I have removed most of the poison ivy, and have been able to keep the Virginia creaper, which looks similar to poison ivy. I also have been able to keep several small trees that I plan to bring to the front and side yard. There are several plants that are quite pretty that I have found walking through the area that I have saved from the poison ivy spray. With the poison ivy gone, I am find new plants that I want to keep with every trip through the area. While it works on the Greenbriars, I have found the most effective way is a weed hoe. Periodically I will take the weed hoe and spend a couple of hours enjoying the back part of the lot cutting out Greenbriars. My next project back there is the hornets and the ticks.

Don't know where you are located, so difficult to suggest specific plants. I'd suggest visiting a local garden center and checking out their plants suitable for part shade......lots of possibilities. Another suggestion is to visit any public gardens in your area and see what they grow in a similar setting.....most will have plants labeled. Get rid of the plastic landscape fabric and remove any weeds -- that's always the first step in considering revamping any new planting area. And I'd focus on tough shrubs. These will provide structure and year round presence, many offer flowers or fall foliage color as well and will tend to need less attention (good for a new gardener with a self-professed black thumb!) than fussier and often more demanding perennials. Pretty much all they will need is attention to watering. Mulching after planting - more pine straw is fine - will help to conserve soil moisture and keep weeds down. Also, investigate whatever classes local nurseries or garden centers may offer. These are typically free and are a great way to gain gardening information. Joining a local garden club will help too.

what do you mean the computer has fits if you try to add another browser,that is definitely not normal? maybe we need to work on that because having only one browser on your pc can be an issue should your IE crash, you would not have another alternative to access the internet. This is the link to firefox, when you download it, you will be asked if you want to make it the default browser just leave IE as the default for now, it will also ask if you want to get the favorites and stuff from IE you can say yes here and it will automatically import all your faves into firefox for you so you have them on both. Once you have it downloaded and installed all you have to do to use firefox is go to the firefox icon on your desktop and double click it, that will open it and you can use it, try going to your sites and see if the video works. Firefox 3