I don't mean to scare you. When I read your original post, it sounds like you had a vision near the bottom where you itemized 1-4. One and two sound like you had a comfortable direction. The post seemed like you worked together with the landscaper to form a "vision" and then started implementing it. It now sounds like it was much looser than that, so there is a difference and with that difference there is reason to believe that you can have better results. You asked if I am a design professional. I am a registered landscape architect. "However, you scare me a little bit, Laag....as a novice gardener I wouldn't expect that the execution would be immensely difficult. Depressing to think that a lovely plan on paper could be spoiled in the brown-thumb hands of the wrong person." Implementation of landscape plans is actually highly variable. A layout plan of plant placement may not be that way so much, but you have a lot more in the mix than plant placement. You have topographic changes which brings a third dimension that spurs off a number of other issues. Sticking to just the aesthetic parts of those issues, you have the steps, terracing, retaining walls, and how the elevations affect how the plants visually interact (which is very different than if they are in a flat plan). A very good design can be drawn that takes all of this into account. But having that good design does not get you out of the woods just yet. The execution is very dependent on the ability of the person to layout the plan. It is much more difficult to do on varying terrain. That is not really easy for people who do it all of the time and is quite difficult for someone who has never done it. That is an area where a good plan can be horribly compromised in the implementation. Let's say that both the design is good and the layout is done accurately. Now we have the sculpting of the terrain to deal with. This is not easily drawn on a small scale plan with contour lines and very difficult for inexperienced people to convert from lines on a piece of paper to the actual contour of the ground, so a lot may be left up to the person doing the work to try and make it work. Let's say that is done well. Now you have the actual construction of the steps. You may have some well drawn construction details that show you what needs to be done, but a lot of garden designer's are not experienced in drawing up construction details and the added ability, time, and liability would drive the design cost up. But let's say the designer has provided good construction details. You still need the skill set to build them. Some things are fairly simple to do such as forming and pouring concrete. But putting together a stone wall takes more than being able to read a construction detail. It takes real skill. It is true that a not all walls have to be masonry masterpieces, but there is a point where rustic crosses the line to crude. Crude will detract from the intent of the plan. Let's say that the skill set to build the walls and steps are good. Now we can move toward planting. A #5 Nikko Blue Hydrangea might be called for on the plan. If you call three nurseries and have them each ship you one, will they all be the same? I can tell you that it is unlikely that they will be based on my own experience. This means that selection of a nursery can impact the implementation. Let's say you have found a good nursery. Now, plants are living things and they are handled at nurseries. This means there are variations from one plant to another. Someone has to know which plants are the healthiest, the right shape, and otherwise the best choice for this particular job. This does not mean that any other #5 Nikko Blue is not going to work, but it does mean that it adds a quality variation in implementing the plan. Let's say that we are able to do this very well. Our land form is shaped, steps and walls are well laid out and well crafted, and our beautiful plants are on site. Now there is the digging of the holes. Some will make them bigger and some will make them smaller. Some will amend and some won't. Some will amend with xyz and some with abc. Some will bury them 2/3 and then water them in and finish burying them after the water subsides. Others won't water them in at all. So, yes, implementation of a plan can take a great plan and turn it into a lousy landscape. ... or not.

I'm so sorry this happened!!! I will say in the pic (the way it is now) does not look bad at all. It actually looks like you have some darker stones on the fireplace, so from the pictures it does seem to blend well. And, had I not seen the original and known about what happened, I would never thought anything of them other than wood beams look great in a room! That being said, if it were me, I'd personally tackle it a few ways... 1) Call a few reclaimed wood places and ask them about a potential replacement and a potentional solution. There are so many ways to make new wood look old, I'm sure they will have some suggestions to restore these as best they can. 2) I wouldn't have the builder touch anything until I researched more options -just to be sure - you don't want them to make it worse. But, once I had some possible options, I would definitely have him try to fix them as you want them. 3) At the same time the builder is trying to fix them, I'd still have him (or you?) see if you can find replacements. And, if you find them, that's great and you can just have him switch them out. Good luck...and it will all work out....(it may be a little stressful in the meantime....but that just gives you an excuse for a glass of wine or a martini!)

might help to know where you are .... all evergreen plants lose interior leaves .. with conifers.. its on a 1 to 3 year cycle.. depending on type ... it can be significantly impacted by transplant ... especially if dug for ball and burlap ... also by drought.. and/or a bad winter ... and even worse.. all 3 at once ... not to mention improper followup care ... the buds are extending on yours.. and look pretty happy.. up top anyway ... one thing newbs to conifers dont seem to get.. is that they are trees .. and they grow in tree time... we are talking about an observable impact.. in what you see.. in 3 to 5 years ... dont look at it like an annual or perennial... and expect fast quick change ... finally ... look at the pix at the link ... IMHO ... its sited 5 to 10 feet too close to the house ... for the potential it has.. over the decades ... it appears to have been sited.. for the size it was at purchase .. but.. being a tree.. its never going to stop growing ... in your lifetime, anyway .. double finally ... its not a xmas tree.. and it will never look like such ... try to accept it.. for what it is.. again.. look at the pix ... its an airy kinda a tree ... dont let your personal expectations ruin.. what is a really cool natural form .. [and on rereading.. i see you noted such] ken ps: is it in full sun.. that close to the house??? https://www.google.com/search?q=Japanese+White+Pine+Tempelhof&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwhbu4297MAhWGNiYKHVBhAoQQ_AUICSgD&biw=906&bih=745&dpr=0.9

cindy_7 I wouldn't count on me being right about any of this! Though in my defence it would appear that basil can taste a bit minty, according to what I read. That said, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if my minty is another person's turkey! Also the tag that came with the pot said mint and spearmint, after tasting one of them I didn't question what the tag said. : / Here's some pics of the dethroned (remove from pot) mint/basil, it doesn't look too healthy and these photos were taken after I removed a good number of dead leaves. The sage and thyme look great though, aside from some minor yellowing. I've had to pot them together, as I don't have enough space otherwise. And the mint/basil I have carefully laid aside, after moistening the roots and having a good look at it. I'll be honest, I doesn't look long with this world! I'll place it in a pot on it's own this evening (UK time) and hope for the best for it. floral_uk You're like a human almanac for the UK plant-life and all it's need-to-knows! How's your kid's tomato plant hanging in? The weather this end has been cloudy and very cool in the morning then very hot and dry for the remainder of the day. That must have an impact of the taste of them, I would think? Hope they're doing well. :) Oh, and yes to the Kale. I'll be growing it to cut and come again purposes only.