The overgrown wall-o-Privet came out in early 2014 (photos of the removal here) and the whole feel of the back-garden changed. Here's a picture from August of 2013, a sort of "before"...
Post-privet the neighbor's bi-color garage became a prominent garden feature. I was not enamored, to say the least, here's roughly that same view in January 2014...
And below after the fence was built in February of 2014. Why some crazy developer thought it was a good idea to paint a shared garage two different colors I will never understand. Like the homeowners needed a reminder of which side is theirs?
Okay, to the point of this story. That was then...THIS is now...
Bye-bye ugly!
Foliage to the rescue.
I entertained the idea of asking the owners, both of them (the house has changed hands over the last 2ish years) about painting the eyesore, but knew all along the best solution was one I controlled, not them. So I planted. And planted.
Thanks Sammy! (our Yucca rostrata)...
Even when the (lame) line of demarcation starts to be visible it's still fairly obscured.
All those plants in the former Privet-lands have exploded! With just three summers ('14, '15 and now '16) under their belts.
The Paulownia tomentosa (big leaves, tallest thing going over there) is simply a quick answer to the screening problem. Long term there's a Daphniphyllum macropodum v. humile and Eriobotrya japonica in place to fill the gap (they're in there, doing their best to grow up big and strong, already helping to obscure the U.G.L.Y.).
I pollarded the Paulownia on my own last year, I don't think I'll be able to do it this year and will have to enlist the help of the husband. Maybe it's time to cut it all the way to the ground? Also mixed in is an Acacia dealbata (the fine-leaf) which isn't in the long-term plan, just a tiny twig when I bought it and supposedly not hardy here. Enjoying it while I can...
That's a look at how, thankfully, things have grown in over the last two years. I still regret opening my garden for the bloggers who visited in 2014, when things were so fresh and raw. Then again if my fellow bloggers can't understand how gardens evolve then who can?
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
The Paulownia wood is nicely weak, making it almost pleasant to cut back. I'm using it in a similar situation as you, except to block a neighbor's deck.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, I was worried last year when I cut it back, since I was sawing up over my head (safety first!) but it was pretty easy. It's just so damn tall this year that I'll need to be standing to catch what he cuts!
DeleteI remember when you first posted about this and went back to look at the "before" pictures. What an amazing transformation--absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks John, I am so glad we got rid of the privet but damn that was painful to look at for awhile!
DeleteI think you are wise to control this issue from your side, especially with quick changes in ownership. We have lived in our house 20 years and the house directly behind us has turned over 5 times. That first open space is always a shock to live with but it looks so lush and amazing in only 3 years.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty amazing right? Only 3 growing seasons. I'm so glad I planted that Paulownia but hope taking it back to the ground will be enough to control it.
DeleteWell done! I remember when you took the privet down and put the new fence up and I'm amazed at how fast your foliage cover-up has grown.
ReplyDeleteFoliage is the answer! (thinking back to my WV this week...)
DeleteWhat a beautiful space! I haven't been a reader long enough to have pictures of the whole space before. It looks like a wonderful space to spend time.
ReplyDeleteThanks gardenqueen, it is my favorite place to spend time!
DeleteHooray for fast growing foliage plants that are much more interesting than the privet! Glad that your view is once more obscured and your garden has regained the feeling of enclosure!
ReplyDeleteEnclosure...yes. It's such a good feeling, in a small city garden at least.
DeleteBUT... are you sad that your beautiful fence is also obscured? You'll see it in winter I guess... :)
ReplyDeleteNo! First of all I'm not really a fence person...second of all it's not completely obscured. The portion by the stock tank pond is still visible. Oh and there are enough evergreens in there that it's still pretty much hidden in the winter too...at least the hidden parts are still.
Deleteis it possible they just forgot to finish painting the garage? when we did a barn red exterior paint the primer was grey just like that. i struggle with loss of control and landscape design. at least you chose to cut down the privet. we had beautiful sightlines of evergreen shrubs. new neighbor cut them all down and plopped in an ugly shed with bright grey roof, after our plantings had already been done. now all the decidious vines and shrubs that screen nicely are useless in the winter.
ReplyDeleteNope, the "primer" side is the same color as the house that owns that side of the garage. I knew in cutting down the privet what would be visible, it was just even worse than I imagined.
DeleteThank goodness you opened it, it was a delight to see in the flesh! Glad to see that it is now covered and you're much happier now with your vista. Patience was the operative virtue and the plants thankfully fulfilled what they were set to do :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't mean to make it sound like I regretted having you all here...more like I regretted the timing of it.
DeleteTotally worth the wait! I love the layers, textures and shades of green! Happy you found a solution you can control. I doubt you would enjoy looking at the back of the garages no matter the color...plants are so much better!
ReplyDeleteI joked about Andrew painting me an Agave themed mural, that would have been fun to look at!
DeleteI enjoy then-and-now shots. It's fun to see a garden evolve. Yours gets better and better!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the plant in the last photo with the long narrow-ish leaves edged in yellow? Makes a wonderful bright splash.
I'm trying to get my act together to do a big then-and-now post. Wish me luck! Oh and that plant is Symphytum x uplandicum 'Axminster Gold'...it's fab!
DeleteHaving seen your garden in both the privet and the non-privet modes, I have to say when I was there for Fling I was so focused on the plants that the garage paint issue was barely noticed. I can appreciate your frustration with it though , I have areas like that in my garden that I obsess over constantly.Happy for you that the thorn in your side is at last obscured.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's right where I wanted your focus to be!
DeleteI don't think your garden has never looked so good. Of course I thought that last year, too. Which is a testament to you as the designer and gardener. The Danger Garden should be in Garden Design Magazine!
ReplyDeleteAh thanks Gerhard! Here's hoping you're here next year.
DeleteWhat ks said.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ricki.
DeleteNice! Sammy has a lot of game. But two thoughts occur to me. First, you probably don't want to even hint about repainting that garage. And second, the two colors could really be helpful if one of the owners has had a few.
ReplyDeleteThere is a fence that divides the front of the garage, so they'd have to be really messed up to get in the wrong side!
DeleteLoving these views of your back gardens and containers. Everything just looks wonderful and congratulation on being able to cover up the eyesore. Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim!
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