Friday, February 17, 2012

For Rent...garden spying...

By now you’ve all probably figured out that I love to spy on other peoples gardens, whether invited into the garden or just from the sidewalk. Well, also I love to look at other people’s houses, especially when they’re on the market and I can tour during an open house. Imagining how I would live in and decorate the space, it’s a fun game.
The same goes for the garden spaces, it’s all about picturing the possibilities...what features I would build on, what I would want to get rid of. This house in my neighborhood recently sold and now is for rent. I covet the long brick planter on the edge of the carport, just barely undercover of the roofline.
The perfect place for cold hardy succulents.

I do not however long for an Arborvitae hedge, no matter how well they’ve been cared for.
Although those Arborvitae certainly do provide privacy, something completely lacking on the other side of the yard. The entire space is pretty much a blank slate, although it features an established Mimosa Tree, (Albizia julibrissin) which I've admired for years now (I’m not sure what the small tree on the left is).
There's a large brick deck…
… with an unfortunate view right into the neighbors back yard.

But here’s the most exciting feature, an outdoor brick fireplace! What fun!
Of course there is also a small portable shed too close for comfort (this would be broken down and hauled away in record time if it were my house). And there is also that (oddly placed) Weeping Japanese Maple (at least that’s what I think it is)
With some carefully placed privacy plantings this could be a sweet little garden. I hope someone cool moves in…maybe even someone like Kaveh from Plant Propaganda who is completely redoing the garden at the house he’s renting (there are good renters out there!). If the new tenants aren’t gardeners I just might have to do a late night Guerilla Gardening “succulent-style” in that planter.

24 comments:

  1. Looks like somebody needs "Landscaping for Privacy"... or maybe just some pots of bamboo. :-)

    I have never seen a brick deck before -- probably the craziest thing I'll see all day! I just don't understand it.

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    1. I agree about the deck and I really would like to know how it was constructed...what's under the brick?

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  2. This house is the perfect blank slate. It would be so much fun starting a garden from scratch, planting nothing but your favorites.

    You should talk to the new owners or tenants; they might be thrilled to have you advise them on what to do!

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    1. Or I'll be labeled that annoying neighbor! We'll see, I finally saw some movement around there yesterday so maybe it's finally been rented.

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  3. Cool stalking adventure. Have you used Adobe Illustrator, or one of the other programs, to play with some design ideas? I am entertaining SketchUp, since I do the same thing...often in front yards, so I can fantasize out loud on what their landscape could be.

    Guerrilla succulent bed - very cool.

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    1. I'm more of a hand sketcher than a computer sketcher. I like the print a photo and overlay with tissue that you then scribble on method.

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  4. I love when you spy on other homes and yards.. this space has so much potential here, I love, love the brick fireplace and the moss, oh la la!

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    1. I'm in love with the idea of an outdoor fireplace now!

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  5. i LOVE that house, it sold for only $250k, and had two indoor fireplaces. ONE IN THE KITCHEN.

    http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=784851&idx=1

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    1. I know! When it was on the market I showed the husband the interior images and for a few moments we fantasized about moving.

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  6. That deck would really scare me. Personally it would not be my choice of house because of it. I am very wary of any landscaping that would interfere with drainage. But, starting from scratch is always fun and every garden has great potential. I saw my grandparents garden after it was let go for 40+ years and remembered how it had been. Of course, it could have been put back exactly as it was.

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    1. "every garden has great potential"...you are more visionary than I Jenny! I've looked at several over the years that I saw very little potential in.

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  7. Oooooh! What a wonderful blank canvas!

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    1. And a not too big one, so you couldn't get too carried away!

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  8. Little house just needs some love. The moss growing on the fireplace looks great.

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  9. hmmm. I like this game. I would definitely go retro chic! There would have to be a combination of rich woods with industrial materials. I think the house would benefit from a clean design with bold architectural plants. Of course, I would plant several trachycarpus fortnei. That brick fireplace/oven has soo much potential to become an epic outdoor space!!!! Fun Game! it's soo wonderful to dream.

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    1. Oh good call! Trachycarpus fortnei would be amazing there!

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  10. Hey thanks for the shout out! My first garden bed went in yesterday and today. I may create a post about it later. Renters who want to create gardens are rare but we do exist! The house pictured above has a little bit too much brick and not enough soil but it is better than many I looked at. You could definitely do a great container garden on that back porch. And container gardens are easy and affordable for renters.

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    1. I was one too, on a small scale. Not going much beyond a container garden. Your right though, this house does really provide a great container area.

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  11. Cool house! How great that it looks un-remuddled inside. You would do wonders with the garden, Loree. I know we'd see bamboo in stock tanks for instant privacy and a host of agaves in pots on the brick terrace. Not to mention your unique style on the interior. Hope the renters have an interest and some fun with it!

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    1. Reading your comment was the first I realized that the brick deck would be almost an entirely shade affair, since it's on the north side of the house. Bummer! Still that built in planter would get plenty of sun.

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  12. I think this house would not meet construction codes. The steel posts supporting the roof over the carport are sitting atop a planter...and with minimal contact too near the edge. Hope the renter's car is not in there when the next earthquake occurs. I think that brick deck is a disaster, too. I doubt it has sufficient support beneath it...I cannot imagine there's solid concrete below that brick veneer, and anything less is, well, unimaginable. There is no railing around it, either. If it is close to 3 feet tall, there's another code violation. That brick fireplace is ill-placed. Not enough room there to have a couple of cozy chairs in front of it. The shed could also be removed, as you suggested, but since the fireplace probably would never get used, why not disguise the shed with a tall trellis and some climbing hydrangea or an annual vine. This set-up is not so much a 'blank slate' as a 'disaster' that needs remedial action before even considering starting.

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  13. Just the garden for this house Loree? No interest in doing up the interior? I'd prefer an outdoor brick oven and grill. That's just me.

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