Aw, those shelves are cute, Lavender. The first place we lived after we married had shelves like that. I loved them! I remember putting some tea pots and plants on them. They were very happy. : ) I drew up your sketch. I'm not sure how to "zone" it. Baking to the right of the sink? Or would that be the snack and sandwich center? I should mention that at 5' 4", I can walk under the landing of the stairs. If I was any taller, I don't think I could do it without hitting my head. Should I extend the pantry all the way under the landing, even if only for less frequently used stuff? The thing I'm hesitating about with this plan is that it's a lot of work of moving the heat run for a gain of an opening of the same size that we would have had if we did a layout similar to what Lyfia drew (without having to move the heat run at all.) Here are a couple of inspiration shots. The first one is similar to Lyfia's which is similar to what we had drawn up earlier. Where the windows are to the left of the stove would be a shallow pantry along the 6' wall. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/crocus-hill-kitchen-craftsman-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~3317777) [Craftsman Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/craftsman-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2116) by Minneapolis General Contractors Full Circle Construction Inc. I laughed when I saw my description of what I liked under this picture in my houzz album: "Everything." (Although the curtains are a bit more formal than I care to be.) This is similar to the layout that I felt was so balanced above. Just put the fridge where the double ovens are located. But...no entry connection... [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-island-traditional-kitchen-phvw-vp~1788863) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Princeton Design-Build Firms Lasley Brahaney Architecture + Construction Lastly, Catmom's kitchen dimensions are nearly identical to ours, so I've played around with her layout too. I hope she'll be ok with me sharing her picture. I've dissected her photos trying to get a feel for how this layout would work for our lives. Hmmm...where is her entry in relation to the kitchen? (It's a split level, right...how does that change the game?) I find Chinese Grandma's old kitchen inspiring, too. I like her pantry setup pretty well. Um, I kinda like the whole place, actually. ; ) Here is a link that might be useful: Chinese Grandma's kitchen from 2010

mindshift, I have many years experience gardening with deer; before I retired, when I did garden consulting, it was my specialty. I also have extensive gardens with quite deer resistant plants, so I'm just mentioning that Thalictrums are eaten here--in my gardens, even the native one that I never planted. Deer herds differ widely in their preferences, and even now, after so many years, some years certain plants will be browsed that have been untouched for years. One year, Euphorbia 'Chameleon' was browsed repeatedly; yuck, all that sticky white sap! I always advise that when a new plant--deer resistant or not--is planted that it should be sprayed with a repellent so the deer's first experience with it is unpleasant. They remember, and they tend to spread the word.

The more I think about it, the less I like just having shrubs in this area. I've been trying to put together a plan that I like better, I just don't know if it actually works. Help?! Here's what I've come up with so far. I haven't decided whether I want something more practical like a 'Little Lime' hydrangea or a more care-intensive bright pink mophead. If I do 'Little Lime' I'll want something colorful to the left - maybe move the Nandinas to the end and put something in between them and the hydrangea. The plant(s) on the far left are TBD depending on which hydrangeas I decide on. It can't be anything spiky or too delicate since we need to be able to get next to it to cut back ivy on the fence. The Euphorbia on the right stays for now, might replace or reduce down the line. Thoughts? Should I throw a vine in there for the fence? Scrap this and start over? Go back to just shrubs because they're easier? Forget it all and have a margarita?

I wrote out a post but it disappeared when I submitted, so this is a repeat but also an addendum, in case the vanished post ever shows up. Your idea of Plum Perfect for a container is spot on. For me, as of yet, t's not the most prolific rose, but the flowers last a good while, and the foliage is very nice. A bottle green leather, like the old english chesterfield sofas. I have mine in a squat ceramic pot with an earthy dusty twilight blue glaze, and even when not in bloom, I admire it. If you pay attention to attractive pots (whatever that is for you) and supplement with others plants, your deck garden will always be beautiful to you, even if roses are between flushes. In my yard, I am consistent with one brand/style of classic taper plastic pots in dust and rust colors, because 1) I live in the shades-of-brown desert and those colors are thus relatively inconspicuous, and (2) I cut out the bottoms. But on the patios or decks where people sit, I tend towards more attractive pots (pots noticeable in their own right). And the wonderful thing about attractive pots is that if you choose with the rose color in mind, when the rose is in bloom, it is double the pleasure. I combine big roses with minis, because they are almost always in bloom. Even if you're not a fan of minis in general, I highly recommend picking up a plant or two of Pierrine, a pink mini rose that I think of as a universal donor in a mixed color scheme. It's prolific with pretty foliage and a pleasant pink. I use it liberally. I also use pots of Algerian Ivy to round out container groupings. And pale yellow moonlight marigolds, which in the desert climate will flower prolifically even when nothing else will. Lastly, I'm now growing corkscrew willow cuttings, so I'll finally have patio trees, which to me really adds to container gardens and what my groupings have heretofore been lacking. Just some thoughts from a fellow container-garden enthusiast. :)