You're off to a great start! Just think... you have all winter to look through catalogs and web sites to see what you want to start with in the spring. (Don't forget that things like mint need to be kept in pots unless you want it to take over.)

As far as the "I can't believe this" moments, yeh, we all have them. I've been working on a new bed for mountain laurels. When all was said an done, I had enough large rock (or boulders as our nursery called 'em) for a stone wall that was 6 1/2 ft long, 18 in high and 22 in wide. One of them was 22" by 24" by 21". And yes, that's the one that 'someone' wanted in the front. Of course, he was conspicuously absent during the rock moving phases.

Pics are available at http://garden.org/thread/view_post/1293032/

Rick I checked your link - looks like it's going to be awesome - and you can send some of that rock my way any time
At our house my DH was tilling up a new bed for me and cut through the underground dog fence - TWICE! Didn't notice it until he saw some wire trailing behind and wondered where it came from - and he was the one that put the underground fence in in the first place I usually manage to plan a new garden, market it out, and then they mark the utilities and they always seem to run right down the middle of it!!

Ginny, dear... do yo have any idea what it would cost to send you some rocks! Geeze lady! Sorry hun, but not enough ibuprofin for me to even consider such a feat. But hey, I'll keep you in mind.

I completely understand about the wire issue. We have both TelCo copper and Comcast cable running underground through the yard. I knew where the TelCo was/is, but have no clue on the Comcast. When I did a new bed early in the season, I had to dig very carefully until I found something. The Comcast line is heavy-duty underground and sticks close to the rock walls, so not a problem. The Telco comes right across the yard! I put a bright white fiberglass marker over it in the areas where I was prone to digging. At least it's enough to catch someones eye later on. Now, if I ever have a FIOS line put in, it's really going to get interesting!

I'm going to re-do the low-voltage landscape lighting next year, so heaven only knows what I'm going to end up with,

Thanks Rick - at least I know you were thinking of me Probably not going to offer to pay shipping on that one - you know how I hate to pay shipping

Get rocks locally, get seeds from a place near you, get plants suited to your zone, and native perennial ones are best. Annuals can come from almost anywhere. but need a good start inside under lights.

I do get my rocks etc. locally. Pretty expensive here unless I can find a farmer that needs to get rid of them. I was just giving Rick crap.

Ooooohhhh! Fresh crap! I can throw that on the compost pile to use in the spring!

You send me rocks and I'll send you crap

We're done here. Move along folks... nothing to see.

But is it insecticide-free? Weed-seed-free? Excessive salt?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Once the current election cycle is over, I'm going to need a new source of anthropoid dung for composting.

I'm visualizing a cartoon ...

sub-titled "American Elections" ...

it shows the North American continent ...

with a big brown hill covering it shore to shore and Mexico to Canada ...

emitting steam, hot air, and bad odors. (Too much nitrogen.)

But the heat and stench will subside in a month or so.

In MY cartoon, the result will be good for flowers and other growing things.

RickCorey said:I'm visualizing a cartoon ...

sub-titled "American Elections" ...
it shows the North American continent ...
with a big brown hill covering it shore to shore and Mexico to Canada ...
emitting steam, hot air, and bad odors. (Too much nitrogen.)
But the heat and stench will subside in a month or so.

In MY cartoon, the result will be good for flowers and other growing things.

Sadly it didn't go away and now is growing larger and anaerobic whilst growing thistles, Stinging Nettles and Death Angel Mushrooms on purpose.