Possible Solution

I previously sarcastically (kind of, I'm all about saving the planet) posted about Plant Amnesty but I am now a firm believer in plant adoption.  I had a second call the other day from Diedre at Florabunga who wanted some of the Salal.  She is landscaping a yard on a tight budget for an elderly man and wanted to try to transplant some the Salal to his yard.  She was super friendly on the phone and I mentioned to her that we are in need of help with plans for our yard.  She said when she came to take some of the plants she would have a look around.  Afterwards (I was gone when she came) she called me and we discussed the option of having her do landscaping plans.  The process for drawing up landscaping plans goes something like this:  They come out and discuss how you use the space, what you want, you show them pictures of things you like, etc.  Next they draw a rough sketch of just hardscapes, shapes of plants (but not naming them specifically) and where to put pathways.  Then if you approve this "bubble diagram" they move on from there.  So I asked her if it's possible to just have them do a bubble drawing for the yard because we have no problem picking out plants, we just don't know spacially where to place them and where to do pathways.  So next Tuesday her partner (the bubble diagram guy!) is coming out to do a drawing for us and we are paying him hourly.  So for a very reasonable rate we will have some rough landscaping plans.  I am very excited.  I'm going to have all of the pictures of gardens in my Inspiration binder all ready to show him!