@pattyannb..Idk..I am clueless on which plant that is

It reminds me of a spider plant, but those don't have woody stems in my recollection.

Thanks Jayme... guess I'll just got back (a good reason... hehehs) and ask when they aren't so busy... I am pretty excited about the patio this year... I am thinking the weather is going to be good... Some stories shouldn't be told... and it's a sad one, so....
We haven't used that space for a couple of years... The deck is just too hot some days... It faces the west, so everything needs to be "Direct Sun"... Including us... LoL...So, I want to make the patio (it is under the deck) a place to go when it's just too darn hot.... I have some plans... and will share soon... :-)...
Time for dinner...

Here's a question for the gardeners/landscapers.

I just got new neighbours last fall. I share the lawn on the south with them with my side being apx 15' wide. Throughout the winter they allowed their large dogs to do their business on the front lawn and often they would go on my side. Now I have lots of dead patches thanks to their dogs. So, what can I plant along the property line to discourage the dogs from coming over to my side? I thought about a short fence, but this will be the only division in the front yards on the whole block. Any other suggestions?

Robin, we had the same problem with the neighbors cats. There's a spray you can buy at Home Depot that repels animals, we tried it and it worked. There's several different brands, I think they all work. You do need to keep it up, like spray once a month or so. Other than that, maybe some boxwood hedges?

The spray is a great idea. I wonder how well it would work in the winter though?

Had 2 other thoughts... raised flower bed the length of the property line or taking out the grass and replacing with decorative rock or something else the dogs wouldn't like.

i'd present the neighbors with a roll of pick up bags and remind them it is their responsibilty to clean up after the dogs on a daily basis.

I already went over there a few times after coming home from a busy 12 hour shift to find a beeline to my tree ending in a large pile of poop. Poop is at least easy to clean up and generally doesn't kill the grass. It's the urine from the female that makes short work of the grass I planted last year.

I think short of calling bylaw and having them fined, I'd rather just discourage them from coming over.

Rose bushes have crossed my mind.

Eztia - I've thought of a picket fence too... Just not sure how to make it work with the rest of my yard and the rest of the block.

@pattyann - I htink this might be a type of sambucus nigra
They come in different varieties but this looks like a green lace leaf

Thank You studio... I will look that one up...
Robin... Oregon Grape?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon-grape

Not really sure where you are, but this is an evergreen...

Thank You ASV... the leaves really aren't split... they are thin single leaves...

G"day all - guess you are all about to hit the sack.

Well right now, I defy ANYONE to have a cleaner kitchen than mine!!! It is positively shining, every shelf is wiped, everything dusted, washed and polished, all food within it's use by date, and a generous contribution made to the garbage bin. I am knackered in a delightful way and so relieved to be able to cross one thing off my "to-do" list.

Patty - nice plant, don't know your plants but it looks a bit like a type of dracenta. Definitely not a stag.

I gave up growing veges years ago, we found it was costing us more in fertilizer and bug killers than it was to just buy stuff. Now the possum population have really put paid to growing a lot of things and the turkeys don't help either, everything has to be covered in netting and it just looks too ugly. The bandicoot is helpful, he just digs holes to help aerate everything. I'm thinking next summer I would like to try some butter or green oak lettuce in a pot where I can keep it away from nasties, and just pick leaves as I need them for salads.

Judy - how is you long distance decorating going?

Gotta go and sew a few more curtain hems - my next blitz.

Hi Roo...I haven't given up on the veggies yet but you're right about cost. A few years ago our garden crop was a real bust. After the water bill (on a meter) tilling, manure, Miracel Grow, etc we figured the tomatoes cost $50 each! :) We rotated the veggies to different beds and have more than we can eat now each season. Can't beat the taste of fresh home grown "organic" veggies. I like "no lettuce" salads. Everything a salad usually has...minus the lettuce. We don't have the garden critter problem tho.

Oh Roo.. I envy you finishing your kitchen project! Our pantry should have a major clean-out done as well. My husband insists that canned food "expiration date" is only a ruse to buy more product. grrrrr!

Hey Robin W
what about this

On second thoughts as it is motion activated you might end up soaking passers by.... ;-/ I will keep hunting!

Darzy, I wish I had known that, I would have taken a photo of a tin of fruit I found in my pantry - the bottom had totally rusted out. I had been wondering where the black sticky stuff was coming from but assumed something had been spilt.

We recycle all our fruit and vege cuttings and scraps and one year, after emptying a bin onto the garden I discovered hundreds of tomato plants growing. It was before I relandscaped the back garden so I just left them to it. They were only Tiny Toms but when they started ripening I was picking a large saucepan full every day and stewing and freezing them. I ended up with pasta sauce coming out my ears and ate pasta for weeks, but it was just beautiful, they were true organic. .

Love the water scarecrow, I'm sure I would forget about it and douse myself. Problem with dogs though is that many of them LOVE water and would not be in the least bit put off by it - probably think it a new toy and try to play wth it.

@robin..have u mentioned it to the neighbors? Sometimes people just don't think and once it's called to their attention, they realize.

you guys must post all night when I am supposedly sleeping. well, I never really sleep. I might as well join you!
by the time I get to the end here I forget what I was going to say to about 50 posts!!!
okay lets'; see. Jayme? did you walk out of a magazine? you are beautiful!
I agree about Target, although sometimes they do have nice things. They did carry Michael Graves designs for a while. I never go to Walmart. They have destroyed archaeological sites, they don't pay their work force enough, they don't cover health care costs and they are currently involved in a bribery case.

i found pictures of clay pot scarecrows in several garden books. they were hilarious and i wanted make one..but could i find the books again? ha. no of course not :) i found out later (famous last words) that i can sign up for history on the library website so can you check out what you've checked out :) anyhoo, i have the pictures but i'm not sure how to put it together. i guess we could figure that out.

mousemaker, I would love to see these scarecrows! We have a gi-normous cherry tree in our backyard and the crows just go nuts for the cherries. I'd love to put a scarecrow out there! And the funny thing is while there are thousands of cherries on the tree the crows and bluejays will fight each other for ONE cherry.

mouse, my LA dd has told me all sorts of horrible things about Walmart and how they treat their staff. I think they were thinking of coming out here ............. HA, see them try anything here, they would face massive fines. I get a lot of jokes about the people of Walmart, do you ever get them - hilarious.

BTW you are now a day behind - come over to 5/8, we are well under way. I think this lot get up at sparrow twit. I know what you mean about trying to answer posts, that is how I feel when I come on in the morning and am at least 7 hours behind. I've given up on a lot of it unless it is something really important.

Meanwhile, I'm off to bed.

Bobbi, I wonder if you just tie plastic bags to the tree if that might work. I know you wouldn't be able to get up too high but it just might deter them.

olldroo are you on the other side of the world? what do you mean "off to bed" ? :)
oh and I am careful where I post these days. after being bullied, I reported it and I stay away from you know who.

Walmartians! I'll try to find some good pics and post them on 5/8.

I will try to post the pics.. just a sec.

@mousemaker, thanks for that lovely compliment..Prob. looked better that day because I was "bathed in the light of love"...(ha ha)..next to hubby..he took me to a concert I wanted to go to...he has a way of lighting me up!

mouse - I'm an Aussie.

hope this works!!

oh pooh. their heads are cut off!!! the standing one has a plant in it.

olldroo, I am in a fog. I knew that!! :) of course you would be!!

Put your cursor on the photo and you get the whole picture.

LOL - too early in the morning. But then that is why we are OLLD!!!

oh good. i'm so glad the whole thing is there. um about Walmart. if you want? there is Walmart Watch online and they have the latest dope :) recently they wanted to build one across the way from a famous Civil War Battlefield.
I haven't checked the site for a while, but I do read the NYT :)

i think the pots are held together with wire or rope and knots. i'm sure the hubby can do it :) with my supervision lolol. i have the bike actually which he thought i would love and i do!!!!

Thanks for the photos mousemaker .. I originally thought they were clay posts with scary figures on them, and knew that wouldn't chase anything away!

i'm not sure these will either but they are cute :)

Thanks for the pics! Our birds would never be scared of them, tho, we have very nasty birds :((

Those are fantastic. I have a pic of something similar on Pinterest that I plan on making eventually. I fully expect a pin-fail, but I'll give it a shot.

I have spoken to her, but she doesn't give a hoot. Not the most ignorant of neighbours, but close. I figure deterrent is going to be better than continually having to go over.

Robin -- try barberry. It's kind of thorny, and I don't think the dogs will try and cross it, at least not more than once.

Razor wire? hehehe

It's almost as sharp!

Russian Olives have barbs too...Used them once on a property line..

How about one of those easy, push in the ground type picket fences?

I think I may have a solution...

I have to still talk to my dad, but I saw a great idea for a trellis here, so I'll see if my pops can help me out with it. He has a C&C (?) machine that he does woodwork & carving on, so he can probably make a bunch of these no problem.

Oooh, that is nice Robin!

I'll probably put in a raised 1'W x 1' H x 15' L bed with the trellis on top.

Robin you might want to file a complaint with your city. There are ordinances which they will give a hoot about after they are fined. but a barrier is still a good idea too.

thanks eztia! never thought of that! although our squirrels would probably enjoy them :)