When we were looking for a house a couple of years ago my NUMBER ONE criteria was ABSOLUTELY NO Homeowners Association or Neighborhood rules!

The covenent here isnt too bad. It restricts eyesores like RV's stored on the property and unlicensed cars on blocks,no clotheslines ( we ignore it and wash and take down the same day to mention a few.
Some Owners Associations have to have a meeting to approve changing the tulip colors at the signage at the entrance. Nothing prohibits my gardens that cover every bit of the ugly mulched islands with evergreens in them.
this is one border 2008
I have marked where the scots pines were cut down within 2 years of moving in.diseased.



Nearly the same view last year.

Debra.I LOVE Roald Dahl. He wrote some of the most wonderful childrens books. He was married to Patricea Neal a fantastic actress in the 60's.

I did not know they were married--*I* love Patricia Neal. My two favorites of hers were The Day the Earth Stood Still and A Face in the Crowd.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda.

Your Birches came out BEAUTIFUL @ge1836 !

Dont forget James and the Giant Peach,book was great,movie not so much.
Also The Fantastic Mister Fox.

Jo Ann, I love the painting of the birches. They are one of my favorite trees.

I love to paint them.White trees are so unexpected in nature.

It is beautiful

I have a newest birch painting on my blog
http://garden.org/blogs/view/g...
The painting avatar is ages old and sold 6 years ago. Thanks to digital storage I retrieve it now and then.

"no fences of any kind" ???
so I guess that rules out backyard llamas to guard the chickens then--
no really, are there no dogs? or do the dogs run free or are they chained up or kenneled inside?? or what, seriously--what about the dogs?
and do you have a problem with the antlered rats?

Nice paintings Jo Ann!! looks like a lot of fun and I'm jealous some more (I used to play around with watercolor years ago when I didn't work so much)

Wonderful, Jo Ann.

Okay, farmgirl, admittedly. I can live with eyesores but not without dogs. I cried when I sold my skid-steer and gave away the chickens and peacocks. Brought the cats and dogs with me...and a truckload of plants and a few special rocks. Moderator ? can move it to the critter page if I offend you all with this:

Don't know about anyone else, but dogs are an indispensable part of my house's colors. You can also post whatever you want about them on these links. All are welcome.


The thread "Pets in the Northeast" in Northeast Gardening forum

Thought crittergarden started one, too, but I didn't find it.

Dirtdorph: If the no fences post was about my neighborhood, no fences. Cats go where they want but many are house cats. Dogs are kept inbounds with invisible fence .They wear a collar that reminds them when they are off the property.
The lots here are almost an acre I think. The dog parade every evening is a sight to behold. Pairs of Standard Poodles,Waterdog and of course the Black Labrador symbol of suburban living.They ought the have their own flag in town. I am not a dog follower so some of the newer breeds look like rescue muts,I just have no clue.
It's winter so off topic wandering shouldnt be scrutinized too closely.

Ah--the invisible fence. That never worked for my greyhounds. When they felt the need to chase something, they ran right thru it. They would not cross it, however, to come back in. They would stand at the perimeter and bark and whine to be let back in. Ridiculous. At the farm, they ran free for the most part, kept the varmint population in check and the couch warm.

Thanks Debra, I love daylilys and pets and I've got some great pics of Duke running the sand-dunes somewhere...maybe I can find them for the sandbox

Here's one from the farm. The color of the grain shed: aluminum. Adorned with rusty farm junk and looked great with the diablo ninebark and any other color of flowers that grew in front, which was daffs followed by daylilys, leadplants, and echinaceas, followed by asters. But this here is winter and the brothers blue:

How beautiful!

I wish I had privacy fencing, but can't afford it. I am hoping to at least put some up between my east side neighbor an me along my shade garden area. The rest will be chain-link if I can come up with the money for that! My neighbor is junky. There are 2 propane tanks, a pile of old wood, some dead trees, a wrecked car, an old lawn mower, a pop up camper, a couple of old BBQ grills and a host of other misc junk, and that is just along that one property line. But they are nice people and we don't have any other problems with them so I guess it could be worse... An they do at least keep it all on their side.

Speaking of winter, I took alot of clearance plants that I got at Lowes and buried the pots with just the plant sticking out, in a big pile of mulch. I have penstemon, rhododendron, drift roses and a crepe myrtle. Will they over winter ok like that? I worried that the mulch could prevent rain/moisture from reaching the pots an they could dry out?


Beautiful peacocks, my daughter collects peacock things. They are hard to find, I painted her room a deep turquoise color. I was worried at first, but it turned out really pretty actually. Then we put up a deep rich red colored silky looking curtains.

dirtdorphins- your dogs are beautiful. I have 2 toy poodles. Foofie and Romeo. Foofie is my youngest daughters dog. But little Romeo is my boyfriend.

I was suppose to go to a potluck today for our daylily club, but it was canceled due to the weather. bummer!