Marcia---Yes, those banana plants are mine. Here is a picture I posted last July showing my newly planted 2 dozen blueberries. The bananas are behind them. The pummelo tree is to the left. Anna---I do feel so lucky to have my 2 acres. I just love to be out working in my yard. Sometimes I stay out there all day. coffeemom---I almost forgot to mention, you got me laughing! My husband isn't into gardening, but he will do the heavy work that I am not physically able to do myself. I leave the tree dropping to him. As for my powers, my powers are that he says that he benefits from the veggie garden. He will eat the vegetables but he won't eat any fruit except the oranges and pineapples. I would like to say peaches but the squirrels get them first. Tom---That's not my back yard--it's my front yard, near the street. My house is located toward the back of the property. My yard is designed backwards. I don't mind because it does help with privacy. Tom, I would love to trade cuttings. I can root the poinsettia for you first before mailing it. I realize that the plumeria doesn't need to be rooted first. Today I got some tree dahlia cuttings that I potted up. If you are interested in one of those, I can include that too. The mother plant I saw was 5-6 feet tall. It is a background plant for sure. Christine

Downsize, don't give up! For a new gardener, a 100 square foot garden should give adequate growing space yet be manageable. Start thinking about next year. Fall is the best time to prepare your garden for the next growing season. Be sure to do a thorough clean-up of this year's weeds and any spent plants. You could start a cover crop to turn in as green manure, or start some late-season crops. Find out your first frost date and see what might still have time to mature this year. Radishes definitely, most likely lettuce, maybe even some beans. In the fall, plant a row of garlic (let me know if you need specific instructions, but it's so easy ... in good soil it grows itself.) Mulch, mulch, mulch to keep weeds down, stabilize soil temperature and conserve water. Start putting it down in spring as soon as the soil has warmed. Straw, salt hay, even shredded newspaper (black & white sections only). As for what to grow, choose things that will do well in your area - what are neighbors having success with? - and, of course, things that you like. Your state's Agricultural Extension Office might have a listing of easy plants for the home veggie garden. In January & February, study the seed catalogs and narrow down your choices so you can order your seeds in plenty of time. Don't forget to include some herbs (most are pretty easy and are quite pest and disease resistant) ... and some flowers for the pollinators. Focus on growing good soil. Make sure it is draining properly - very few veggies like "wet feet". If you're not doing so already, start making compost, known to gardeners as "black gold." It sounds like your grandmother is an experienced gardener, so she may have taken all appropriate steps, but if you've not had the soil tested, this is a good time to do that so you can add any recommended amendments in fall and they'll have time to work into the soil by next spring. Again, your cooperative extension can help with that. Here in NJ, the Rutgers Master Gardeners at the extension office will do a pH test free of charge; a soil test from the Rutgers Soil Lab is $25.00. pH is important because if the soil is too acid or alkaline, the plants' ability to uptake nutrients will be impaired. Most veggies like a nearly neutral pH of about 6.8. The first year I had my veggie garden was perfect ... perfect enough that I was hooked ... THEN the pests, diseases and critters gradually discovered my garden. I made it through The Year of the Whitefly (ok, so I was out in the garden with the shop vac trying to eliminate as many as possible ... but I knew any I missed would be killed by the first frost). However, this year and last I've been in a bit of a gardening rut because of [insert Jaws sound] the groundhog. I would happily plant enough to share, but this creature clearly has a scorched earth policy. It is really hard to plant seeds and seedlings only to see them heartlessly mowed down. Nothing we have tried has discouraged or dispatched the pest. But I'm not giving up ... there is nothing like walking a few steps out to the garden to harvest most of the ingredients needed for a lunch or dinner, or tasting summer in a winter's meal graced with produce "put by" for later use. Keep it simple, start out small, expand, if you wish, as you gain confidence, knowledge and experience. Good luck, have fun ... feel better ... and please keep us posted!

I think it looks GREAT! I do agree with elpaso that the décor above the wardrobes look too small to scale. I think the negative, empty space there is best. Anything in the right scale/size might actually be too overpowering. What is below the towel rope? A standard radiator? Is it not a fire hazard to leave a dry towel hanging on/over the radiator like that? It will look great, with crisp white rope. I'd probably secure it a bit more taut.

peren..thank you!..I love your garden too..your plants are beautiful..this is a big space for a SLOW gardener to improve and maintain..it DID feel overwhelming when I started..but I feel in control now..paths are established..my plants have grown..it's been emotionally rewarding..gardening sure keeps all of us busy doesn't it?.. Kathy..thank you!..clever of you to notice that the paths are wide!..that WAS a deliberate decision..I've said this before but I love this quote..an English garden writer said "I hate a path that feels pinched"..I agree!..you're so right that wheelbarrows, wagons, hand trucks, wheeled trash cans, garden chippers etc roll right down my paths and it's great..both of us have mature trees and I think we use equipment more than most people..I would love more privacy that a bigger property like yours offers..but I don't think I could take on more than what I have now..or is it easier because you can leave it natural?..it's way too large to cultivate all of it..