Nothing to be nervous about. There's really no way to do it wrong. Just look at The Earth. Plants grow from the arctic to the equator and from sea level (actually below) up to the tree line (and actually above). They grow in river delta enriched soil, in sand and in the cracks between rocks. You'll grow all the seeds and weeds you want in Florida. Of course, you'll also kill some plants and have some eaten by every type of bug you can imagine. Your lawn service will whack a few out of existance and the sun will dry some up. The heavy rain will wash out a few - some years it will wash out all of them - but they'll either grow back or you'll plant more. Every plant that dies leaves a space for the others to get bigger or for that new variety that just caught your eye. Then you'll have to find new places for the plants you get at swaps. One day you'll be thinking that you will never have room for all the plants you want and then two weeks later you'll wish you had kept it to one small bed because you can't find time to weed everything you have. You do have time to start some seeds and it's as easy as throwing some potting soil in little cups and dropping in the seeds. Or buy one of those trays at Walmart with the plugs in it and a package of seeds. Problem solved in less than 30 minutes! But don't stress because if you don't get it done, you can always pick up seedlings at any nursery or big box store about the time you want to put them in the garden. Although you might not think that's as much fun, they often carry the varieties that do well in this area and you don't really need the 25 tomato plants (unless you are Tony!) that you'll get from seeds anyway. 3 or 4 plants will feed your family and your friends. For every option in the garden that slips away, there will be several to take it's place. Take it slow your first year and you'll have more fun with it. Add more garden space each year if you want to but don't try to do it all right away. Never forget we do this because it's fun. If it turns out to be too stressful, then plant a couple shrubs where the veggies were going to go and find a different hobby. "Experts" say that most people go through 3 major career changes in their lifetime so picking at least 3 major hobbies seems OK too. You'll be fine and so will your garden. You'll discover parts of it you like and parts you don't. I learned to garden from women (Mother, Grandmother, Aunts, GreatAunts, and Crazy Garden Friends) who were committed to veggies as well as flowers. But I discovered that growing my own food was no fun for me. I believe that's why God made Publix. So I tossed the tomato plants and put in more cat's whiskers and coleus. I'm happy. Publix is happy. It's your garden and there is no right and wrong other than what's dictacted by the sun and the weather. You haven't screwed up and everything will be OK. Keep us informed and don't forget to ENJOY! Kate (PS - we really...

blah. yes. too wimpy. as for the white trim/garage doors,,,you have nothing else that's white. white around the doors is too stark. go dark. black, Urbane bronze, a dark taupe. colors on the left column: you could even do a navy door you could even do this sage green tone and bring in ivory trim colors. (I don't see what's wrong w/Confederate. it just happens to be that particular color gray from a time in history) light gray is just blah this one is slightly better, only because the doors are better looking. this would be a charcoal gray/green color. if this was mine, I'd prob get a nice wood door like this, new lights/door handle and new garage doors in black, w/carriage hardware

Here's what I would recommend for picking a color palette. Plan on a mix of 3 colors. Based on your " if I'm left alone everything will be black" comment, lets say one of them is black. Let's make the second color either gray or greige, because it's easy to find lots and lots of products in those colors. And for the last one, pick a "real" color that you like: blue, orange, yellow, whatever. Be specific: navy blue, royal blue, or baby blue? Boom, you have your color palette. When you go shopping for stuff for your apartment, those are the colors you are going to look for. You probably don't want equal amounts of all three colors. The 60-30-10 rule says that 60% of your room should be the dominant color, 30% the secondary color, and 10% the accent color. Don't get too hung up on the particulars, but do plan on one color being getting most of the real estate, one being used for accent, and one filling in the middle ground. For example, you could have your sofa and bedding be greige, use black for side and coffee tables, and use royal blue for throw pillows and a table lamp.

Joe- Your Instincts are correct: you’re gonna have a problem. Get an electrician involved before you have a fire or create an unsafe situation. I am all for DIY, except with stuff that can kill you. With all due respect, your questions, plus the workmanship like the electrical taping on the wire nuts, tells me you don’t have the knowledge or skills to do this safely and correctly.