[Uptown Girl]

I agree with much of your post Gracie, (and thank you for the kind mention toward my artwork) our best bet before purchasing anything is to do what homework we can ahead of time, then have pertinent questions answered, to our satisfaction, before buying. An educated buyer is more likely to be a smart buyer.

I agree that some contracted landscaping jobs don't look so swell afterward...
but in some cases (two that I personally know of) there is a factor I hadn't considered until I saw it happen. (I love landscaping so much, I pay attention when it goes in around our enclave.)
In each case, the homeowner made specific, non bending choices of what they wanted and how/where it was to be placed, choosing wrong plant, wrong place. They were totally in the 'driver's seat' and would accept no suggestions or alternatives by the contractor. That they found contractors who would even do this was amazing to me, but each one found a landscaper to accommodate their wishes. One neighbor changed the plan's placement totally..... as it was being installed.

They got to have it 'their way', but neither job looked good.
They spent good money, but kind of shot themselves in the foot by being over controlling and undereducated.
Now that their selections have grown way out of bounds for the location, or faltered due to bad location or inappropriate zone, they have asked for MY recommendations as to how to make it look better! (I'm NOBODY.)

I have asked them, for example, why they chose a potentially 10' ft wide shrub for a 3 ft. wide space, or an Oleander right next to their front door, only to be told that it never occurred to them that it would grow much. I have asked them why they put a shade plant in full sun, only to be told 'it looked pretty there'. Neither homeowner knew anything about the plants they INSISTED upon having installed by the landscaper.

You said in an earlier post, "We may be old, but we're not stupid."

Most of us are not stupid, but sometimes we are not very wise for our years, either.

..... and P.S. I DID get lights and a horn with mine, you funny girl! Bwahahaha!