Stilly River Sage, I'm with you on your replenishing soil and adding compost ideas. I try to run a smallish compost heap, and also add bags of soil-conditioning products when I can. It makes a great difference. We moved here last summer, and the garden hadn't been replenished enough. I'm hoping to rectify that this year. Also, this is a relatively dry area, so any moisture-holding tricks are favourite, eg mulching. Like you, I have many bird customers for the feeders, it can be a bit expensive but I feel we've saved their lives this winter, and it's such a pleasure to watch their antics. No-one who gardens can avoid having to make decisions about weeds. You can't just let anything and everything go mad. And I feel I have the right to decide which plants please me and which I want to eradicate. Otherwise, you'd end up with a bit of derelict land!