I've been holding off on posting something until I had something interesting to post. I had something in mind, actually—at last, the drawing of what I'm wanting to do with the flowerbeds in my front yard. This is going to require a lot of work to make this happen, but I think this is an arrangement that I'm going to be happy with.

I've greatly enjoyed having fresh herbs growing out on the porch. As I've gone through the year I've found that some things grow well in the heat of Alabama and some just can't take the high temperatures. So I'm incorporating what I've learned into version 2.0 of the front yard.A lot of prep work has to take place before this can happen. First, we've got to rip out everything that's there now. Granted, this isn't a whole lot (thanks to the Laniers, who didn't feel like spending money on the flowerbeds). But there are a few large holly bushes that have got to be taken out, and this isn't going to be pleasant.

After that's done, I've got to remove the layer of bark and rocks that they laid down so that nothing else would grow.

Once THAT is done, then I need to rototill in a lot of organic matter. For those of you unfamiliar with Alabama, the soil down here is a very thick, very dense red clay. It's not good for growing anything but weeds—and guess what, the Laniers didn't do anything to the soil, either. No wonder nothing grew.

So, without further ado, here's the plan, stan.

• sunflowers
• hydrangeas (I'll want them to be blue I think)
• rosemary
• lavender
• irises and daffodils
• tulips, other rebloomers
• tarragon and spearmint
• sage
• regular basil and lemon basil
• oregano
• catnip
• seasonal (parsley and dill)
• peppermint

  I'm planning on using different varieties of thyme—and maybe some small blooming flowers like Aubrieta—for ground cover. It'll take a few years for that to get to the point that I want it, though.

  I've still got some extra room on the right-hand side. I'm contemplating trying summer savory again, even though I had disastrous luck with it this past summer. I lost every single plant I had to spider mites, and it really frustrated me. Maybe I'll have better luck this year.

  I hope I haven't missed anything. Sean? See anything I should add?