Thanks for the comments, and I appreciate people being able to see what I'm trying to accomplish. It will take some time. Woody, you're right, that is just the kind of plant that I like. As both you and Catkim noticed, it is the interplay of foliage that I garden for. So I do use "garden variety" plants but I always plant close and plan for layers of foliage. It is true that conifers can't be rejuvenation-pruned, but if you keep them pruned to within boundaries from the outset, they can stay functional for many years - hedges being the prime example! The point, I think, is one that applies to growing all woody plants - you have to have a plan for them and pretty ruthlessly enforce it, because if you don't, they'll follow their own plan, which may not suit your needs at all (and with a fence in the picture, their plan often has them following the sun). Your Rodgersia bed, Woody, is an example of the serendipity of a plant whose plan happens to meet your needs perfectly. It does look great, and that Euonymus obviously either grows nicely upright or is well trained. That's what "right plant, right place" is all about. Some conifers, incidentally, resent having their foliage shaded out by other plants, and are not as co-operative of my gardening style as others. Spruces, for example, which I think that one you posted is, are like that. By the way Holley, the main reason our spaced pavers don't work is that we didn't fill the gaps with enough dirt before planting grass, and honestly, I think the soil is getting gradually washed away too. But even if you can keep the surfaces dead even, there are limitations - chair legs have to be carefully placed, and if you put something like a pot on the patio across a gap and then move it, there goes the grass and here come the weeds. So you may be able to make it work... I can't! Also, ours happens to be where we walk a lot, it's a defacto pathway. Perhaps on a destination patio where you weren't always charging across it wouldn't matter so much. My mistakes needn't be a complete dissuasion; perhaps they can help you to get it right. As for removing plants when they've outgrown their space, I couldn't more heartily agree that it's hard and I have a lot of trouble doing it. Sometimes you can move things around, or find new homes for them. But we've seen overgrown landscape disasters so often that we do, I think, realize that no installation in a yard is ever permanent - if nothing else, the next homeowner will often tear out plants treasured by the resident before. It helps when one of the plants is actively bullying others, you feel like a hero for rescuing the underdog :-) OK, drtygrl, your turn! KarinL

Nj, if I've got it right, you are planning a higher-6" to 8"-mowing just for this coming growing season, and perhaps the one following, to interupt weed seed cycles. IF that is so, it is indeed a normal part of meadow establishment. I guess to answer your question, the only one that will flower despite this early-stage mowing is what you've already identified-Rudbeckia hirta. Not saying none of these others won't also, just that in my experience R. hirta is one that can be dependably counted on to flower despite these early-stage mowings. The thing I'm not getting though is the presence of the tree and shrub species within this mix. Not at all saying I don't like them, just I don't see how you can have a meadow in which woody plants are purposely part of the mix. Are you intending to have these woody species around the perimeter? That could work. Then, once you've got your meadow up and running, fire is the best tool, but timely mowing can and often does suffice, depending on other circumstances. Or, one can purposely let the meadow undergo natural succession. That's what happens in nature, in areas of the country like yours and mine which were formerly primarily forested. Meadows would indeed exist, but as a seral stage following a disturbance of some kind. When we create these things, we have to bring the disturbance to them if we want it to remain as meadow, prairie, etc. Quite an extensive plant list BTW. +oM

justgotabme - Oh how pretty! Thank you! I'm impressed with the shelves. It does help me visualize that space better. Thanks so much for doing this work. This is just what I was picturing until I read valinsv's comment below about the header post - duh! I think that pretty well takes out the idea of high windows in that room. And since I won't do low ones, well, shoot, onward to better lighting I guess. I love the wood mantle and that's on my to do list too! Bronwynsmom - I forgot to say thanks for picture to show me what you meant by the angle of the chairs. I've been wondering how to angle them. Will move them and then take a picture and try to mockup what else to go with them. Side tables are going to be a pain until we do the floor and can add some floor outlets. I don't want cords trailing out to the table. When 75 pounds of German Shepherd start running around there's no telling what she'll trip on. :) Here are a couple of fuller views of the room. I'm not a fan of the columns, they look just sorta stuck in there (which they were since the previous owners took out a wall.) Someday low bookcases linking to the columns somehow would be nice. Railing goes on the stairs next week. And then doors on the under stair thing which means finding a new place for dog toys. Bronwynsmom , when you talked about light and the art, did you mean direct the light overhead toward the light in the painting? Here's a better picture of it for those of you who have had kind words. I do love it and hope to use the colors in it to help me bridge to the dining area. Can't wait to get the room done so I can play with decorating that mantle. Here is a link that might be useful: a few more pictures of inside the house/larger even

I love the drapes you have! I think the problem is the wall color. The soft gold in your great room would work well with both your drapes and the fireplace tile. Or maybe a warm, soft terra rosa, glazed or color-washed? But personally I like the gold. Ivory or a paler version of the gold would also work. Do some big sample boards - just some old cardboard will do - but at least 2'x4' or 3'x3'. Your windows read very high-set - that stands out as not being the usual placement - you can experiment with the height the drapes are mounted and see if a different proportion pleases you better - maybe a little higher, even almost to the ceiling. The drapes are puddling, and maybe they have a hem that could be let out - they could go higher. Or sew on a contrasting band of terracotta on the bottom. (or whatever color the inner curtains are - hard to tell in pictures sometimes.) The bit of wall between the window and the crown molding is so narrow that it might be better not to treat it as the wall but as panelling, like over the mantel. All you would have to do is frame it with short vertical pieces of flat molding over the window casing verticals, just glue it on. Paint the molding to match your trim and either do the recesses the same or to match your over-mantel recesses. A bigger rug out to six inches of the walls. Something easy to clean and with a pattern - you have children eating there. My youngest is nine, we still have spills. Low pile, no loops, not fuzzy. Something to occupy the walls will make the room feel cozier - a long window seat with a bench cushion and pillows, and cabinets underneath. Do you ever have many people to a sit-down dinner - an L-shaped banquette would give you lots of seating. Kids could play there, do their homework, look out the window, keep you company as you worked in the kitchen - put away homework and toys in the cabinets - presto clean. Also your linens and servingware not used every day. Accessories with more weight and color, more dimensionality than the plates on the wall and the pictures and things over the hearth. It really is a good dining room, good bones, good molding, good view, good fireplace, good flooring, spacious. It won't be hard to love. The fireplace is your starting point because you can't change the tiles. Then either wall color, rug, or rug, wall color, working with the tiles. THEN drapes and upholstery. Then accessories. Paint is your cheapest element. Even if you hire someone to paint, you can buy the cans and do big sample boards yourself or directly on the wall. You don't like the color? Worst that happens is you're out the cost of the sample can. So it's worth experimenting, because it will set the mood of the room.