@sueinmn You have no idea how supported your post made me feel! When I came up here last August, first thing was to have the five cedar trees along driveway removed. They closed the property off, and were intruding on safe navigation of curved driveway. I like seeing the surrounding hills and feeling the breeze. Hubby mourns their loss, but we will plant some boxwood hedges between the Japanese Burberry still on that driveway fence line. That will be visually pleasing, and offer some privacy.

Sometime next year we will replace the property fence, once we know what direction the vacant lots on two sides will take. If the owner does not sell them outright [he won't sell to us], they go to auction by end of the year. I will be moving the lovely rocks that semi-line that fence. They make keeping a clean line difficult, and some will be used to create my "directional" yard feature. Eventually the bigger ones will help on north slope. Someone went to a lot of work and expense to bring these rocks and boulders in. My husband laughs that the first words out of my mouth when we looked at house, "I hope they are leaving the rocks!"

The biggest challenge I have is finding out what will grow best around here. Wild blackberries, definitely. Ivy snaking up our pine trees. Ferns in the shaded areas. Daffodils, iris, and roses are established.

Thank you.
Ginger