Thanks, Digit, for some very entertaining reading!

My property is about 70% front/side yard, and only 30% backyard. Between the patio, the large sandbox, and now a children's playset that my husband just finished building, their isn't room for much gardening back there. And the fact that there are empty lots on two sides of us, there just isn't anyone with a view. About the closest thing to a show would be me running out into the backyard in my pajamas to fiddle with the tempermental irrigation pump, and realizing that the new house across the street from us actually has a view of that side of our backyard from their upstairs windows.

Now the frontyard is a different story. I'm always piddling with something out there, pullings weeds, deadheading, planting things, moving plants, harvesting veggies, squishing grasshoppers, etc. and the young married woman next door teased me that I reminded her of one of those wooden decorations you used to see in people yards that looked like a fat, old woman bent over. I have to admit that after she said that, I started being more conscious of whether or not I had the plumbers crack thing going when I did yard work. Especially since there is a tan stripe across my lower back!

When I really feel like neighbors and passersby are giving me the strangest looks is when I have my camera out, and I'm crouched down in some unnatural position to get a decent shot of some flower or plant. Or when I take advantage of the rare day when there's a drizzling rain to plant seedlings, so they won't fry in the blazing sun. I always think to myself, "Well, they're obviously not a gardener, or this would be perfectly normal behaviour to them!"

Bonnie

We don't have much "neighbor exposure" as we are set back on the back of a double lot and the creek is behind us. We do, however, have one side with a neighbor's back yard sharing a fence with our front yard. They have a ten year old and a thirteen year old and, wow, do those kids scream! I get to hear their disagreements at full volume and it can be quite startling.

Gordy, one of our chihuahuas, is a rescue dog who was severely kicked and abused. He still has some issues and can burst out into extremely high-pitched screams and "other" kinds of "sounds" for no reason and with no warning.

One day recently, the neighbors' kids were quietly playing outside just on the other side of the fence from Gordy. Suddenly, Gordy shrieked and squealed so loudly that I actually put my hands over my ears. Really! The neighbor kid said something to which his friend responded "are you alright?". The neighbor kid said "I'm just so startled at how loud he was." Hah! He has no idea how loud he is!! :)

And, today was another good day for Gordy. Darren did not latch the gate properly and Gordy slipped out while I was inside the house. I could hear his screeching and ran outside only to catch the last comment of a passerby, "You vicious dog!" Poor guy. At least the guy wasn't bit!

J

Bonnie, your comment about garden "decorations" reminds me of a certain Kalispell gardener . . .

I have one neighbor who seems very interested in "curb appeal" - shall we say. Well, it must be the case. She is always facing her house when she is in the front yard. The other day she had a fall and the ambulance showed up and took her to the hospital. I'm happy to report that she was back home that afternoon but hasn't made it out into her yard yet. I'm looking forward to her getting back out there when she can, can.

J. one of the great sighs of relief I've had this decade was when the Shi Tsu's on the other side of Dad's fence became accustomed to my activities. Mostly, it was my scratching in the dirt that seemed to drive them crazy. Hours would go by with the 2 of them threatening me, tooth and nail.

Change was a gradual thing, however. Early last year, I thought that the male must have died over the winter - - there was only the female with her nose pressed against the boards, snarling and woofing. Then something happened in another yard and 2 Shi Tsu's cut loose with the howling chorus. After that incident was thoroughly commented upon, the female came back to woof at me. The male went back to doze on the deck.

After a couple weeks of this (hey, it's better than the 2 years they barked at me in concert!), the female took up her position beside the male on the deck and left me to my own devices. Anything and anybody else - anywhere close to their backyard - get the full treatment, however!! And, it goes on and on. Sometimes, I contribute a few barks from my side of the fence. The help seems to be appreciated.

Steve

Some of you will remember my limited skill at handling a camera. It is so low that I've dropped the camera and stepped on it. The result was that it lost its memory. No one could blame it.

The camera recovered its functions. I, however, remain functionally unskilled.

I think this photo is out of focus because I didn't look at the camera but just held it above my head and shot. This was my second photo shoot - the 1st was so early in the morning that the flash went off and it looks like a spot light has hit the plants.

I was trying for this angle because, 1st - the plants are now so tall. And secondly, because this would be what the young lady would see from her balcony if the lilac wasn't in the corner behind me and if someone hadn't planted 3 poplars in her yard.

As it is, she sees only the corner of the garden that is just outside of this shot. She also sees the lawn where I mow and drag hoses. That is, unless she climbs on a workbench or car hood in her garage and looks out the garage window. Who knows?

Anyway, this is the larger part of the dahlia garden - probably about 300 plants:

A better photo may be possible next week but I worry that the weather could deteriorate soon and, with the loss of the summer sun, everything will just go out the window. . .

digitS'

Steve, how many of your neighbors wear neck braces? Beautiful.

I've got one going now, Salvia pitchardi with the deep, intense blue, over deep maroon mums. I will take a pic of that soon,