You have the best gardens I've seen anywhere! Love it all!

Thank you for answering all my questions about your fountain. I have the perfect area in the backyard that I want to do something similar. You asked about our pool. We had Patio pools do ours. But, I would NOT recommend them at all!! The company I would recommend is Top Gunn Pools (813 948-4474. The owners name is Bob Mull. We have known him & his family for years. He's a good guy and does excellent work. Tell him you were referred to him by me Kathy Metcalf. My husband is a firefighter and also owns an electrical contracting business. So he refers him alot. For a landscape architect. I don't know one. Check out Tree Mart on N. Nebraska Ave. 972-4006, for a good source for plants & trees. They might be able to put you in touch with a landscape architect. They are having a spring expo this Sat. 3/13! It's not too far from your area. We live in the Carrollwood area. Sorry this is so long. Thanks again and good luck in your new home.

Oh, I forgot to add, the trees are mostly oak..on the streeet side. I have one Pin oak on the west end and the others must be burr oaks? One maple at the top of the wall and a maple at the bottom on the east side.
Our yard is 115' x 185'. The pictures are taken from the street and facing North. Our yard has streets on 3 sides and a part time person in the lot next door in a camper. (Would love to hide that view!
I'm thinking a small yard would be better, but with a child and a dog, big is good!
Thanks again!

Thank you for your ideas! I get so wrapped up in the finite details that I have trouble seeing the whole picture. Plus, it is such a large area, I am overwhelmed at the moment. I think if I follow your thoughts to do large plants first, it will be easier.
The spaces are, approx 30ft from deck to top wall, and then another 30-40ft from the top wall to the boat storage. The top wall is over 50ft long, bottom wall is 20ft.
I am also planning to redo the beds around the foundation. When we moved here last year, the plantings were "builders specials": over crowded and right up against the foundation. I'm moving some plants and tossing others...I'll see if I can find some pics of last summer's plantings to show you.
Your suggestions are so helpful, and I am so thankful that you have taken the time to write back!
Lisa

Your garden is so inspirational! My goal is to have our yard looking like yours someday.

I just posted our pictures of our yard yesterday. We just finished building retaining walls on our very steep yard this last fall. I can't wait for the space to be more usable. I plan on placing a pond behind the new garage, which will be near a patio.

I'm wondering if you ever drew up plans before you planted, or just went with the flow? If you did plan, can you give me some hints? Our garden is zone 5, and I would love to have some hints about more of your plant choices. We obviously have more sun than you do, but eventually the trees will fill out.

Thanks! (I've been looking at your pictures daily to get me over the winter blues...your garden is amazing!
Lisa

I have spring fever so bad!! When I feel down all I have to do is visit your posts!! I know you mentioned that you also have a house here in Tampa. I was wondering if you knew if hostas do well in our area? And have you found a good source for plants in the Tampa area? I go to Lowes but, everything there seems very limited. Thanks for any help. Again your gardens are the BEST!!!

Love the creeping jenny--Nice combination of plants

A great design. All your pictures are saved in my Favorites. When I come to the web site, I immediately look for your post to see if anything new has been added. Luv it, luv it, luv it. Keep it coming

Thank you for stopping by and visiting. We just had 7 inches of snow and the gardens are all covered up again. Ten days ago I was cutting down my grasses and pruning bushes. Oh well that is WISCONSIN. THINK SPRING

This is sooooooooo pretty.......I am so ready for spring and summer...........your gorgeous garden is giving me the fever.............I love hosta.....I have several throughout my yard............your garden is soooo very neat too.........what is the light color green ground cover in the back..........thanks so much for sharing..........smiles