I was on the phone with my brother the other day, and all of a sudden he asks me to design and implement the landscaping around thier new house when it is finished.

I was like "heck yea". I would love to do that.
The only thing he asked is that it be simple to maintain. Other than that I have carte blanche to do whatever I want.

This is an exciting project. I have already started picking out plants and shrubs and sending pictures to them so they can see what they look like. I just have to make it as deer proof as possible since they are building in the hills, and have deer on the construction site daily, along with the occasional elk.

I just had to tell someone and spread the news.

YIPPEE!! Sounds like you are going to have a GREAT time!
I'm a landscaper and love to take a "nothing there" yard and make something beautiful out of it

Pictures is one thing I will get lots of to show everyone.

My brother's property is Weyerhouser land that was logged about 10 years ago, and now they are selling it off in 5 acre tracts. The topsoil is about 4 - 5 ft. deep. What has not been cleared for the house is all 10 - 12 ft. Douglas fir Christmas trees, where the timber company replanted after the logging. They have a wonderful view of the entire Cowlitz River valley outside of Longview, Washington. It will be awhile before I actually get to do the work, probably next summer when I go back to visit on vacation, since the house will not be finished until next May. But, I get to do all the planning over the winter.

That sounds like so much fun! Are you going to enhance their view with plantings?

I am going to try, but the property is sloped downhill towards the view, and that is where the backyard is going to be, along with the deck, oh, and all the toys my soon to be arriving nephew will have out there. Due date has been moved up from the 25th to the 14th of this month.

Whoa! Next week! Hello!

The slope sounds like an interesting challenge.

What are your ideas?

My first idea is this. At the front entry area, there is a 15 x 21 ft. space bordered on two sides by the house, and on one side by the driveway, the fourth side kind of goes out in to a side yard, and there will eventually be a 40 X 40 shop there.

I was thinking of making a rock garden/sitting area there with a water feature. It would be a soothing place for my sis in law to sit after a hectic day with the baby, or putting up with my brother. <img border="0" alt="[perplexed]" title="" src="graemlins/confused.gif" />