Shai,
I have X10 control of my garden (low voltage) lamps. I used an Appliance module (AM466) that I put in a plastic bag (Baggie) and poked the AC prongs through the plastic. I added a little duct tape to seal it against weather. ( And as my wife said, to be sure it is butt ugly!) The whole works is controlled by ActiveHome and it works great. No more do I have to move those little plastic tabs that set the time. I was forever dopping them under the ground cover. Now ActiveHome knows what time the sun sets, and takes care of turning the garden lights on. I set them to go off at a pre-set time instead of dawn.
That's your number one. Let us know about the rest of your goals.
Ed