welcome Welcome -- and it's great to see so many posts from all over the world. I'm in Illinois.
lilies I think they are stargazers-- beautiful!
groundcover There are some sedum groundcovers that you can walk on -- yellow flowers for a short period in summer.
squirrels We use a bird feeder with the metal section that closes down when too much weight is put on it -- so birds get the food, but squirrels...
ceiling You can do this yourself, but it takes a little finesse. I'd recommend going to a free seminar on textured painting and then practicing...
to plant I vote for zinnia's also!
deadheading I deadhead a lot and it seems to help, although I'm not familiar with those two plants. Perhaps check with a local nursery.
Yes, now is the time to move them.
weed killer I'm going to try the vinegar myself!
lawn I have to admit the sounds of more plantings is tempting, but I still like grass. Go with your instinct, though. Adding groundcover, hostas,...
reel lawn mowers We used one several years ago when we had a tiny yard. Very nostalgic, but we had to cut three times to get the job done.
shopping spree I think the blue is a caryopteris -- (different from coryopsis -- not sure on spelling of either) The blue is a late summer...
yard pics What a great project. Are you doing it section by section or a lot at once? Keep up posted.
lawn care Also try your local town hall --many keep lists of people willing to do such work.
I have lots of experience restoring old house and can tell you that it's well worth the effort IFit's structurally sound and you can do some of...
Try Nature's Miracle to get rid of the smell -- just soak the area with it. Then use Feliway if you think the cat may return and mark the area.
We are in a similar boat, although the neighbors are not complaining. We are about to start over in the back, as our lawn has tons of weeds and...
They don't like too much water, so to avoid the powdery mildew, cut back on watering. Once every 5 days is plenty.
We have had great luck with Mosquito Barrier, available online. You mix it with water and spray it around your yard and it really forms a barrier...
what to plant You really need an overall plan, even if you plant in stages. That way it will all come together. Think first about big areas --...
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