Hi there I'm in zone 9 (70605 - Lake Charles, LA). Supposedly there are a few varieties of apples that do well here, at least according to the LSU agriculture site. So, that building in the back, is three things. There's a gym, a bar, and a home theater. I put the kitchen out there because it seems like it would be nice to have it out by the bar, perhaps with a pool close by, so that it would be a nice area to congregate. I'm not dead set on that. I am a terrible designer so that's why I want to hook up with a landscape designer. Thankyou

i have lived i three separate geographical locations. upper midwest, southern great lakes and now the hudson valley. in no place has aphid on acer plat. cultivars been an issue of concern. individual specimens may have a problem, but it is not wide spread. as far as being concerned about what the neighbor plants...here's hoping that your neighbor never chooses to plant an oak. egads, all those acorns not to mention that big bare spot in the lawn a large growing shade tree will produce. even lindens, generally considered a clean tree, are magnets for jap beetles and i know a woman who broke a hip falling on one of the nutlets. granted, she was elderly. and by the way...it is also a large growing shade tree. bare spot. anyone ever actually measure the growth rate of a burgundy leaved gree as opposed to the species? other than in oregon, that is. in the real world, they are slow to moderate...which for large growing trees translates as slow. oh shi*&%. your looking for reasons why your neighbor is an uncaring, unthinking lout for not seeking your input in what he plants on his property...which he is soon vacating...so...??? so for a suggestion of a tree that produces no mess, does not have a shallow root system, and which you can convince someone else to plant on their property at their expense... not sure about the last two, but the first two kinda limit the field to sculpture.

Ahem. Borderbarb, that is- or should I say was- St. Augustine in the second photo. It may stand up to football cleats, but it's no match for me and Sam. I'll try the netting; the iron grates work pretty well that way too, but the bricks have been a dismal failure. I even tried planting violets there. No one can kill violets, right? I see photos in the Cottage Garden and Rose Forums of paths of lovely long bladed grasses- ryes, bluegrasses, fescues, and I DREAM ON. If it's not stoloniferous, it won't live here. In my next life, I'll live in a place where it rains. I'm planning on learning how to use my new camera this week... Renee

Gorgeous!! I laughed when you spoke of wandering around the garden in the morning! Thankfully, I have succeeded in making my yard as private as possible. Surely, no one should see me wandering in my morning finest!! It's such a great feeling though, isn't it? A nice cup of coffee and a stroll through your own beautiful yard, borne of hard work and love!! Enjoy many more garden moments this season!!