Post some pictures and we will probably be able to help you. Usually when something is blooming it is easy to identify it.

thanks-As soon as I unpack my camera I'll start posting some pics.

Welcome, Maria. There are tons of resources we can direct you to. Also, if you tell what area in Metro Atlanta you are perhaps some of the GaGardeners can come by and offer help.

Rosie in Sugar Hill

Thanks so much-- I live in Marietta

Ok I have been unpacking all week and finally got a chance to go into my backyard.I have taken some pics but don't know how to post them--CAn someone tell me??
Thanks

Open a free account on photobucket.com or image shack. Upload your pictures there. On photobucket.com, copy the HTML tag (if you just click it copies) and then paste it here. When you hit the preview message button, you should see your picture(s) if you did it right.

1. http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/maria3_3/yard/yard1004.jpg
2. http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/maria3_3/yard/yard1005.jpg

Ok it has taken me awhile but I finally learned how to upload my pics.

Pic #1 is of a few of my many hydrangeas which I love but never have been able to grow and now I have tons. My question is --From the the pic you can see a nice fluffy healthy hydrangea and next to it is a sick woody leafless one--what do I do with the leafless one and how do I trimm the other ones??
Pic #2 What is it????

Your second picture is a picture of a sedum, probably the one called 'Autumn Joy'.

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I've been in my house almost a year, but I want to really get into gardening. I want a beautiful yard with a lot of plants, trees, and flowers. I am on a budget and just want some suggestions on getting started.

Thanks,

Terri

The hydrangea in the middle looks a bit leggy. What I would do is right after it finishes blooming (if it does) cut it back to about 18 inches. They actually all look a bit leggy and could use some pruing. Hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so you need to cut them back in the summer/fall not the spring.

Also, this Easter, we had a bad freeze and many hydrangeas were damaged. I had to cut mine back a lot. They are actually blooming now, but are about half the size they were last year.

terri, the best I can tell you is to do research. Go looking in nurseries and gardens and see what you like. Smaller plants are easier to plant and cheaper, but will take time to grow and fill out.

Depending on what you want to do, you may even want to hire a landscape architect to do a plan for you, and then you could implement it gradually on your own. It will probably cost you about $500 but it may be worth it.