Comments on: Secrets From the Master Gardener

By: Maria

Maria — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:03:44 +0000

I love to garden and I am glad that the dream house has one. I can’t wait to plant veggies and drive my new car.

By: Kevin Potter

Kevin Potter — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:00:32 +0000

I love everything about the gardening around the house. The house I live in right now is also on a corner lot and has a “football” flower garden. I was about to get rid of it the other day but now that I’ve watched the video with the master gardener I actually want to keep it and just change the flowers and plants that I currently have in it. All the changes I’ve been making to my house are ideas that either I or my wife have gotten from HGTV.com or from watching it on tv. Thank you.

By: Megan Bassett

Megan Bassett — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:47:45 +0000

Does anyone know the acreage of the lot? It must be quite a bit, considering it’s on a corner, has the huge backyard and garden, the garage, etc. If anyone knows, I’d love to know as well!

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:21:49 +0000

When I am the winner of HGTV Dream Home, I would love to invite Paul James over for dinner!

By: Teresa Alford

Teresa Alford — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:43:32 +0000

I LOVE love LOVE the new HGTV home!! I’m a gardener myself, so I was so impressed with the garden in back of the house but the great “showy” flower garden in the front yard is so wonderful too. Sonoma is probably such a fertile location too! I have 30+ rose bushes and perennials in my yard and can not wait for May/June here in the Denver, Colorado area to get my hands in that dirt! The HGTV house is just fabulous this year! I would be so proud and excited to win…and I will show that too, if I do!

By: Lora

Lora — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:12:05 +0000

Thanks yet again Hgtv & Master Gardner!
You know it has to be absolutely incredible…to have all of us fantasizing and California Dreaming!!
Even way over here on the freezing east coast! Where it is below zero here for the third day in a row now!Brrrrr!Oh what I wouldn’t give for some Cali SunShine! xox

By: Lora

Lora — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:52:25 +0000

YUMMY! Fresh Fruits and Vegetables…Right outside the Back door??How awesome is that?? Looks as if the kids and I would be having Fruit salad…yummy…yummy!! And of Course MANY vegetable salads as well!
Wow…would that be awesome!!We can’t grow anything here in Pennsylvania!Only a few things in the summer months.Which isn’t long enough!!
If I lived somewhere where it was nice year round.I think I would become a vegetarian.I would just love the fresh herbs,veggies and fruits!!Like the Strawberries and Grapes!
And definately Tomatoes!!
I can just imagine my daughters outside picking and eating fresh fruits and veggies as if it were candy…lol! Of course So much healthier than candy..though! Now I am So hungry for a salad!!Too bad there’s no fresh fruits or veggies here right now..Well I guess it’s time to make a trip to Wal*Mart (Ugh)!Would much rather get it from my backyard!!!So much fresher and tastier!! Btw, AWESOME job MASTER Gardner and Hgtv!!!xoxox

By: Dolores

Dolores — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:00:40 +0000

I’d like to thank lovelykitty for mentioning the ON DEMAND availability of the DH special. Since I fell asleep on New Year’s Day before it was over, I was so happy to see the complete special … over and over again. For some reason, I do not have Flash capability on my computer (bought secondhand), so I’ve never taken the ’360 degree’ tour. Before I saw the Special and the still photos, I vaguely remember that I was also puzzled as to where the first floor bathroom was. However, if you scruinize the photo gallery, you will notice many details that have never been mentioned in these posts. It is a lovely home, no question about it, and the area is magnificently beautiful, but I guess some people are just trying to be realistic about the whole thing … which can be good, and bad. I must admit, reading these blogs about the taxes due has rained on my parade somewhat. I have few things to dream about in life, and dreaming ‘big’ about this Sonoma Victorian farmhouse gave me joy, temporarily . Of course, I’m not crazy enough not to think about how I could possibly keep it if I won, being single and turning 61 … but still, I am voting everyday and hoping … and imagining myself (and my brother, my daughter and my cat and dog) living there. I’ve never owned my own home… it would be like going to heaven before actually going there. Yes, as I said in a much earlier post, there are probably a few things I would like to change, a few things I don’t quite ooh and ahh over, but the gift of a new house? with furnishings to boot?!! Please, this could only happen in America. We are so, so blessed to live here, and have what we have. yes, I live in an old, small house (L.A. area) that I pay more than half my salary for, but it is a lot more than many people have, both here and around the world. As a people, we need to learn to be more grateful and appreciative of what we have, not what we don’t have. Ok, I’m stepping down from my soap box now. I just want to retire in a peaceful, beautiful place like Sonoma and write, and walk my dog … if only in my dreams. God bless one and all.
Dolo

By: Tricia

Tricia — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:45:54 +0000

Wow. I can not understand how people can complain about the design of the house, it’s beautiful!! Hope I win!!!

By: DBCoop

DBCoop — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:12:10 +0000

Mais oui, Marie, I DO have a French (and English) background, with many relatives scattered about the French countryside, as well as England, and I’m lucky to have the opportunity to travel extensively and visit them all. I just spoke with French relatives by phone this morning asking me to return soon for a visit—but I have other travels to pursue before I get back to France once again.
As for reverse mortgages, I’m hardly the resident expert on them, but I’m told that the minimum age to secure one is 62. As I understand it, the formula used to project how much you can receive, both in a lump sum and monthly payments, is based on life-span expectantcies, current home value and equity. Obviously, the older you are when taking out a reverse mortgage, and the higher the home value/equity ratio, the greater is the sum which you can request. Whether at any point in that equation you could receive the full amount as a lump sum prepayment to pay the taxes on the Dream Home in full, I do not know. As I say, it varies, and there would be limits on the maximum lump sum payout. You’d have to consult with an expert for your individual situation—after you pick yourself up off the floor when the Dream Home Team shows up at your door to film the winner’s reveal.
Happy Dreaming to All.