Here's a photo of the trees i planted in the yard. I plan on using BYOC (back yard orchard culture). Again all function and no form. Not pretty, but functional. The trees will be kept at between 6 to 8 feet tall with summer pruning. Part of the BYOC plan. Also trees ripen at different dates, providing fruit all of the growing season. In the back is a trellis of 8 blackberry bushes. They should produce 20-30 pounds of fruit next year. All 8 blackberries, and all 5 trees are different cultivars. I'll be adding one or two more trees. This garden, and all plants were put in this spring, so the garden is new. All cultivars ripen at different dates so I should have fruit all season. The trees are starting in front to back then left. Indian Free peach, an heirloom peach grown by Thomas Jefferson. Arctic Glo nectarine, 4n1 pluot tree, Spice Zee neactaplum, and on the back left PF Lucky 13 peach. I want to add Old Mixon Free peach. Another grown by Jefferson. In the front yard for looks and function a Weeping Santa Rosa Plum will be added. Since it weeps, it doesn't need to be pruned, grows to 10 feet tall. This post was edited by Drew51 on Thu, Oct 17, 13 at 9:09

Posted by bumblebeez (My Page) on Fri, Mar 18, 11 at 17:00 "We have a screened in porch that I have decorated and each spring, when pollen is winding down, I bring in a hose through the front door and hose everything down. It works like a charm and is clean in several minutes. Now, this would deeply distress dh so I always do it while he is at work. But I've been doing it for 10 years so somethings right :-) I might do it twice during the pollen season. And I always pick a warm, sunny day and start early in the morning so everything will dry out. " I do a 4 step process that is similar. First, I put on a mask and take the leaf blower to the porch. Then, I pull the central vac outdoors through a window (reminds me that I need to have the vac guys come add an outlet closer to this window.) Next, I bring in the hose and water down every surface from windows to floor. I don't touch the ceiling because it is wood, but do knock down the cobwebs. Luckily, we have a waterspout near the porch and do not have to come through the front door with the hose. :) Lastly, I wash the windows, glass tables, etc. with window cleaner.

I think you should decorate in the way that makes you happy. If I lived in Alaska but found joy in a tropical themed room, wonderful! Who cares what the rules are. Personally, not fiddling and cleaning constantly and not replacing faded cushions makes me happy. I don't mind mildly uncomfortable furniture if its looks outweigh the comfort value and will put up with inconvenience to have things look the way I want them. I love twig furniture and with plenty of cushions they are very comfortable. They don't rock and twirl like a manufactured chair, but the joy of seeing them everyday outweighs the maintenance, comfort loss (minimal to me) and more frequent replacement. They don't last forever. For instance, I need to have my vacuum cleaner sitting in the middle of the floor pretty much constantly as I vacuum something daily. But I put it away in the closet to appease my aesthetics. I need to get in bed each night, but I make the bed everyday for the joy of looking at it if even for the momentary few seconds before I turn it down again in the evening. I like having a botanical garden on my screened in porch. Lots of color, some money and quite a bit of maintenance. I don't care.

Patricia43... "I think there's a real need for someone who can marry an architect's vision for asthetics with a builder's ability to do things affordably" It's called an interior designer with a degree, not the ones who claim to be interior designers who are decorators with a continuing education or trade school, or OJT on where to place a vase. do you really think so? in my experience an interior designer doesn't know much about construction or building economically? i think the other piece missing is incorporating green building - to the extent that you can save money beyond your initial cost outlay especially - and someone who can answer the question as to whether it makes more economic sense to move or add on. Have you ever actually met an interior designer or just someone who told you they were an interior designer? They are required to have many hours in the building construction sciences and budgeting. I don't know where these interior designers you met with 5-year college degrees were that knew nothing, but that is what their business is. I think like most people, you are thinking about an interior decorator, total different kettle of fish.