Awww, Terri...too bad you couldn't keep her longer and had a mini canny camp. Canning season is a nice time to have grunt....er....visitors drop in. So. Jessy. You do know Washington is right next door to Idaho, don't you?

mazer- I have a very large backyard so the dogs get plenty of running and playing time. Both together and separate, and with me and without me. There are many reasons they are separated, but I did not mean to make it sound as if they are kept separated. Sometimes they are separated from each other, sometimes they are separated from the human family members. They will be separated from Frazier because he's old and sometimes just does not feel like being bothered by them. Other times they are separated from each other because of rough play in the house or because it's easier to clean ears or clip nails. Also, if the cats are in the kitchen eating and the dogs are in the livingroom, then they have to stay there even if I have to go into the kitchen. This is where part of the problem comes in with Quincy. He hates when I leave the room and the barking begins. He really has to get over this. I have a daughter, grandchildren and other pets. He can't be the center of attention 24/7. I don't mind if he expresses his dissatisfaction, but the barking has to stop... especially indoors. Here is an example of this morning's barking episodes. Quincy and Charlie are in the kitchen with me. Frazier in the livingroom with DH. Frazier is always stiff in the mornings and the pups are playful so I keep them separated for that reason. I pass through the livingroom to go wake up DD. This sets Quincy off with the barking. DH shushes Quincy, but as soon as he loses DH's attention he starts barking again. It only takes me a minute before I'm back in the kitchen, so Quincy's fine at that time. Charlie just stands beside Quincy waiting for me to get back. I'm in the laundry room getting ready to wash clothes. I step outside to shake the feathers out of the bird cage cover. Quincy barks. I'm on the steps right outside the door. Quincy can see me. Takes all of 20 seconds and he's already barking, Charlie just watching me through the door. I come back inside, he's fine. By that time Frazier is on the move so all of us go outside. Time to turn off the heat in the greenhouse. Frazier goes his way, the 2 pups are running and playing. I go in the greenhouse and immediately Quincy is barking to get in. Took me all of 30 seconds. A few minutes later Fraz and I go back in the house, the pups are playing. I ask if they're ready to come in but they continue to play. Charlie gets her fill of playtime and scratches on the door. I let them both in. Charlie and Frazier go in the livingroom and lie down. Quincy isn't finished playing yet and Frazier doesn't want to be bothered. I take Quincy back in the kitchen/laundry room/bedroom area with me. He's fine until I have to go to the bathroom. Generally I don't shut the door (who needs privacy) but I was spraying down the shower. He barks, I shush, he barks, I shush. Took me less than a minute. I have to go into the livingroom now, so I switch dogs... Frazier to the kitchen, Quincy now to the livingroom with Charlie. I'm cleaning house so moving back and forth through the rooms. Charlie decides she wants in the kitchen, so away she goes. Quincy wants to follow so he goes too. Frazier doesn't want in the kitchen with the 2 romping pups, so back in the livingroom with me. After a minute or two, Quincy's barking because we're separated. It's revolving dogs all day and Quincy wants to be where ever it is he wants to be and is going to bark until he gets his way. Well, you get the picture. :)

They are alot of work Steph but fun work huh? I just love having all three of them everyday. Austin will be 2 in May and is catching up to Seth in so many ways. His vocabulary has expanded so much in the last month and he is now about a half inch taller than Seth. Fun times for sure....I am soaking up every minute of it, someday they will be grown and off doing thier own thing and I'll miss them so much. I just love this age. They wear me out, but it's worth it! At the end of the day I can relax with my memories and a big smile.

How about a native geranium or aster like ionactis linariifolius? It looks like the Rhode Island Native Plant initiative has flats for sale. I think they don't ship but maybe they are a reasonable distance from you for a plant road trip? A whole flat feels expensive but it is a great per plant value. A flat also provides a counter balance to the one-of-this, one-of-that tendency we all seem to have. It does take some effort to bring small plants along in the first year but will be well worth it in the long haul. As several folks have mentioned a drift (or edge or skirt or whatever you want to call it) in front instead of grass ties the whole thing together. With the yews at the back and a relatively consistent species or two at the front, the mid height ribbon's diversity could feel lively, not cluttered. I've read that mountain mint is amazing for pollinators, native and not really aggressive. I'm a wimp about anything with the word "mint," but it might work for you in this spot. Also available from the RI folks. I don't think I've ever seen any plants growing under yews, even weeds - not in public gardens, private gardens, or wild areas. The only thing I've ever seen that can live under a yew is a rabbit.