Two years ago, actually I think to the day, we bought a little 3 BR rambler. The prior owner had done a lot of landscaping, which coming from an apartment I found overwhelming. After looking at it for a bit, I decided the front yard looked too much like a nursery, rows of species lined up as if for sale. I was pleased to discover that my new neighborhood has a terrific listserv. So, when I saw a post for a highly recommended gardener, I called him up. He started to explain what he wanted to do, I told him, not knowing anything about plants and trees, to save the talk and just give me a budget. That was the smartest thing I could do. Now my front garden explodes with different colors and textures as the seasons progress. Stunning.