Well they neighbor is moody. Some days ok and others just weird about stuff. I really can not replace the fence now but might want a butterfly bush and some upright evergreenjunipers or something there. I love the grasses but know they get big. Can they be cut back or cut out(thinned in spring?) I saw a yard down the street with a very private back yard that has many big shrubs around the backyard.Yes uses alot of yard space but behind our shed is township land we can use for the kids to play ball on and grown vegie gardens.. I guess I should have continued the fence but at the time we really were ok with each other and I liked the yard with a more open feel. High fences make me feel closed in..Where as bushes are a different feel to me. More natural. Depending on the day she is ok other days she is not ok. We have known each other for 16 years and our kids play together still so we are trying to keep piece. She never liked when we put up the simi private fence as she felt we were trying to not be neighborly. I told her it was just for privacy at the patio area. Our patio looks into their living room window so we really needed a buffer there. I was not putting it up to be nasty and not neighborly at the time. She felt that was my reason at the time. Funny how some people feel putting a fence up is non neighberly. I am glad its there now but will have to give up some yard space for more shrubs along the back section on her side (don't think she finds bushes to be as non neighborly only fences!)No ones out during winter so don't really care about privcy then...

Nancy, It's a lovely garden! And pink cane begonias are one of my favorite things. Several things come to mind. I don't know how I would decide. Here's a few to consider: red shrimp plants maroon red sage pink hibiscus (I know it's overdone but everyone uses it because it's so pretty) perilla - it would get huge but would be easy to cut back porterweed (my favorite plant)- also huge but also easy to cut back and you could be in your pool watching the butterflies and hummingbirds! The blue will compliment the pink of the begonias nicely, too. Mexican sage - more butterflies and hummingbirds anything shrubby with dark red leaves Kate

Ya gotta maintain about a four foot clearance around that A/C unit, too (If it's still hooked up). Keep that in mind when you're planting. If you block the intake and exhaust, you're fighting a losing battle with your electric bill and the A/C unit will wear out sooner than it would, normally. You might be able to put some low growing plants around it, mebbe. Those pics also illustrate why you don't want vines anywhere near your home ...or near anything else you want to keep. Looks like you removed it before it did any major damage. Scrape the sidling, seal it and paint it and you're good to go.

I came across the following website that has info and picts....easy to use, too. http://www.huntersville.org/interactive%20ordinance/Zoning_TOCshrub.htm. We are having the same privacy issue since our back neighbor's huge cedar tree is quickly biting the dust. On our side of the fence, I planted a short row of native bamboo which I love (I also love weeping willows and have planted those). I do not know if the bamboo will take hold or not--I would like to see a small "forest" eventually! Serenity and movement. Lots of people on Craig's List, propagate and sell bamboo so it is easy to find. If that does not work, my next endeavor is wax myrtle,