Thanks, looking into Western Windows, they don't show any skylights as being available but I did a "Contact Us" inquiry to find out more.

Google your question or talk to the staff at the local nursery. We had a large pine tree taken down and the stump ground out 20 years ago, and I think all we did was fill the hole with top soil and plant grass. It was directly in front of the living room window. The grass came in just fine, and we've never had an issue with it since. I don't think you should so long as you get as many of the wood chips up as possible, and put down a good layer of top soil for the grass to take root in.

Forget the ground cover idea. Fresh, clean and low-maintenance will sell better. Ground covers can spell "unkempt," and not the impression you want to give. Your little landscape wall project sounds perfect for the site! Put down a good layer of damp newspaper several pages thick, *then* add your landscape fabric. The good landscape fabric is more expensive. Save your money on it, but minimize weed regrowth further by using the newspaper. It will bio-degrade in about 6 months to a year, but will add an additional layer before the fabric. Believe me when I say I have lots of headache experience with "landscapers" that fly by night! I've figured out my own rescues, and the newspaper plus fabric trick works! Okay, then go get yourself a couple pick-up loads of dark, bark mulch and set it aside. Plan out a bit of a planting guide before you lay it down and then cut an x in the fabric where each plant will go. It's another trick of mine. Head off to the forest or nursery and get some already large ferns. Plant them in clusters of 3 or 5, and add just enough to add life to the space. Let the new owners figure out their vision for the place. Meanwhile, you folks have done just enough to show you care about the land and your home without creating the impression of work for the new owners. Psst..anyone that gardens knows about the old ground-cover trick for a tough spot. People will be more impressed with the retaining wall approach. :-) Ferns are cheap and will work for re-sale. Don't worry about what happens in the winter--you hopefully will not be there, but ferns do grow in Idaho-I've seen them, lol. Your total cost for the project? About 300 bucks. Head to Costco for a huge roll of landcape fabric and you might get the 20 year warranty kind-less than 50 bucks. Mulch? Guesstimate for mulch? The biggest chunk. Good luck and post a photo of the results if you care to.

Tropic, here is mine from yesterday. When I first bought it, it was 5 leaves in a 4" pot, labeled "split-leaf philodendron," of course, and had no splits. But recognizing the leaves, I grew it out as my new Monstera prior to realizing there was allegedly a "borsigiana" variety. It was only a few months ago that I realized it might not be, but the main feature was the geniculum (thanks!) wrinkles, which mine do not have. But I've also seen plants in stores and that belong to some people I know where the largest leaves have it, and the smallest and often oldest ones do not. So I have no idea what to make of it. Furthermore, this is the most comprehensive article I've read about Monsteras, and they don't seem to emphasize this difference, but they do emphasize that the juvenile form is very different. Making things even more complicated, even well-known nurseries that sell "M. deliciosa" sell plants that do not have the ruffled geniculum. I do have a R. tetrasperma here. I'm just focusing on Monstera. :)