Thanks Deborah. My mom has similar issues with asthma & COPD so we try to do the labor so she can just enjoy.
I intend to keep the irrigation but want to use just rain water. I will need many more barrels to be able to that without augmenting with city water but hopefully over the next couple years I can get them. Our house sits on a sloped lot so one corner is 5-6 feet lower than the opposite one (the front yard is level with a 3 foot retaining wall) so I have designed a pumping system to fill the front tanks when needed.
Yes, Ken, I remember those days, but we didn't have attic fans; we survived just fine. Now we are trying to figure out why Lowes doesn't air condition their parking lots so we don't sweat from the car to the store. :rofl:
We are thinking about putting a ceiling fan up in the front porch at some point. Not only would it help with a little cooling, it would help circulate air for the orchids summering there, and it might make the gnats have to paddle harder to get to us when the humidity is really high.
Tiffany, we put a planter out about 10 feet from the porch (raised beds prevent it being closer) in which I planted Lemon grass, a couple mints, basil, & other anti mosquito herbs and it has made a BIG difference. I get out past the front yard and the mosquitoes are DEFINITELY alive & well so I know the planter is helping. Now if I can just find some herbs to fend off the humidity & heat...
