The adult beetles you found don't do any damage to plants. It's their larvae or grubs that do the munching. If you dig up more than about six white grubs per square foot, control may be needed. Choose selective, least toxic, IPM-compatible products whenever possible. The microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis and insect-killing nematode products that can be applied like insecticides have minimal negative impacts on nontarget organisms. The insecticides azadirachtin, pyrethrum (pyrethrins), and imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Lawn Grub Control, GrubEx, etc.) are also relatively safe products. Each of these products is effective only on certain pests and all must be properly timed and applied to be effective. You'll want to apply the product you choose when the larvae or emerging adults are close to the surface of the soil. Adults emerge from the soil June through early August appearing about dusk and are attracted to porch lights. Eggs usually are laid in the top 2 inches of soil. The developing grubs will reach the final instar (third) in late summer and early fall. Most damage to roots is done in September and early October when the grubs are full-sized (about an inch long) and feeding vigorously. Feeding continues until cooling temperatures force the grubs to migrate 5 to 10 inches deep in the soil to hibernate. By late March, overwintering third-instar grubs begin migrating upward near the soil surface to feed. They continue feeding on roots (especially grass) and organic matter until May, then move back deeper into the soil to pupate. Be sure to follow label directions exactly on whatever product you decide to use.

I'm writing to keep myself in check, that I do everything that needs doing today. I haven't hardly done anything the past 3 days after work. Last night, DD and I went out to dinner and for a walk along the dyke. We had a really nice time out together. I should have mentioned that DD's disability is a neuropathy of the digestive system which happened because of her life long diabetes type 1. She has to live with constant chronic pain while trying to manage her very brittle diabetes. Most days, she cannot eat but on the odd day she feels well enough to try to eat. Last night was one of those nights. Before supper, we went to a couple of furniture stores, just to look. My mind is made up about my dining room set - it's got to go. We saw an espresso table with a butterfly leaf (and chairs) that was pretty small, oval shaped, so it will fit sooooo much better in a small condo. Seeing that table put everything in focus for me. I didn't buy it but I will, I think, if I get this condo. I had been fretting about the stereo equipment and speakers. DD is engaged but her fiance doesn't live here. The marriage could be in a couple of years. She said that she wouldn't be able to buy the quality of the 2nd set that I was going to sell so we decided to store it for her. If there's room in her bedroom, she could use it now. She wants to keep my computer desk for now so maybe that's not going to be for sale, either. In return, she's almost made the decision to sell her large all wooden dresser. So, I am selling a big screen TV, dining room set, professional 5-drawer filing cabinet, king-size bedroom set (might give this away), washer & dryer, hardly used elliptical machine, carpet shampooer (used twice), sideboard (credenza) - not sure what people call it here, an end table, tools, etc. I might sell DD's dresser, desk, teak cabinet that holds stereo equipment, a table that goes behind a couch and a 4-shelf metal shelving unit that I had bought for the kitchen here to hold the microwave, etc. that perhaps could be used in a storage locker to hold boxes. There's also some lamps I might sell. I also have 4 large drawers of wires that DH would never let me throw out but I did keep organizing them. I have no idea if I should just throw it all in a bag and put it in the garbage or should I show people and let them take it. Some of the wiring is very expensive but DS says that in the past decade, even wires have changed. I still have boxes of books that might be worth something, music DVD's and CD's to sell as well as unopened expensive puzzles and models to sell. We decided that after we move, we'll figure out which ones are worth something and put them on E-Bay. I was going to try to find a CD store that would just take them all at hopefully $1 or $2 a piece but DD knows that DH had purchased quite a few from overseas that were very hard to find and were not cheap. It's worth waiting on these. I could always drag them to a store to get rid of. So today, I have to pack the stereos. I don't know if the speakers need packing. I also need to pack or throw out odds & ends from various surfaces around the house, move the boxes for future selling to one room, pack my night table (which I'd already gone through), do laundry, move the sideboard to the living room where I'd already put the dining room table and chairs, start sorting out clothes, etc. for taking with us while the stuff's in storage, pack up the bathroom (already sorted into containers), etc. So, these are the things I MUST tackle today. But I'm sitting at the computer not wanting to end this entry because I know I'll have to shut down the computer for at least a few hours while I get to it. Wish me luck!

I'm thrown off because I can't figure out the coloring. Is that a brick wall or just wallpaper? And the wall behind the sofa...is that a dark blue or a dark gray? I don't think the brown sofa looks good against the current color on the wall. If that is indeed wallpaper & you want to keep it, I'd repaint ALL the other walls some shade of white or lighter gray, some color that you can pick up from the papered wall. Right now you have the brick wall, a dark wall, & the other walls still another color. Too much for a small room. Figure out how to take that weird cornice down. I'd remove that bookcase/divider completely. If you feel the need for a "divider", put up a whole new wall but I'd take that bookcase out. It's just a receptical for more clutter/family photos, etc & you already have that shelving unit doing the exact same thing. Use the sofa to divide the space between entry way & living room. If room permits, I'd take the sofa & place it so that the back is parallel to that white console you have by the entry. Position the love seat so the both seating units form an "L" shape. If the sofa is too long, then try the love seat parallel. Place a side table with a lamp between the 2 units. I really dislike "signs" in the house unless they happen to be real, vintage, etc. & connect to the surroundings. See if you can find something else to put behind that white console or buffet table. Not sure where to place the shelving unit yet but once you rearrange the seating, you will find a space. I think most furniture looks ridiculous when placed diagonally like the current shelves are...looks like it couldn't fit in flat against the wall so it was placed on an angle to make it fit. Once the furniture is rearranged, go for details...a rug, pillows, artwork. You may even have room for another small chair . If so, get something in a colorful print. No more brown. It can be difficult to design a room when you walk directly from the outside into your living room & no foyer as a buffer. There are plenty of articles on Houzz about arranging furniture for such a situation as yours. Peruse those & you'll get some amazing ideas. Be careful with hanging art. It shouldn't be hung randomly without regard to size, location, height, etc. You have several smaller pieces that just don't work well.

@Joy Paray While all the plants you mention are lovely in the right conditions they also have problems. Boxwoods are currently threatened by boxwood blight. Breeding resistant types is underway, but no cultivars yet that I am aware of. An alternative my be a Japanese holly with tiny leaves. It looks a lot like a boxwood. Hydrangeas can be leggy and naked looking in winter. That can be attractive or not, depending on the companion shrub used, but not good against a white house. Jack Frost brunerra gets foliar nematodes pretty bad and there's really no cure or treatment. I love it, but don't count on it all by itself. Have a filler hand to hide it when it gets ugly.  Coralbells are favorites of deer. Do you have deer in your area? If so, there are plants that deer don't like. I can share what thrives in my yard and point you to websites that will help. Your best plant choices are those you see thriving in your yard or your neighbors' yards. You have studied hard on this so further study should not be a problem. I am not a fan of foundation plantings. I prefer patios near the house for building health, plant health, and use of your home. If you want to seriously explore that, I'd be glad to help.   Also, if you still want to discuss foundation plantings, that's fine too. There, I would just be careful not to plant anything that will grow so wide you can't easily get between them and the house to work on the house. I like evergreens near entries to keep the house nice looking in winter.  Let us know your thoughts.