Sidewalk Eddy-Quette
Forum Archives
tommyb
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-26-2005 at 7:51am
Not trying to hide my distain for "What will the neighbor's think", I am curious if I have missed some social training as regards the patch of ground between the sidewalk and the street. Inside the sidewalk I consider mine and I'll do as I am allowed by city laws regarding blocking views and such, being an independant type.
But what about the "patch of ground", for which there must be a better term but I can't recall it. I believe most cities require the homeloaner (think about that) to maintain this strip---mow it, weed it, whatever---while restricting what can be planted---no noxious weeds or over eighteen inches, etc, etc.
Yes, I'm looking for stories and discussion. And yes, this is on my mind because yesterday I bark dusted (OK, not the most elegant solution) the last 50 feet of the 200 feet or so of this "patch of ground" which as a "corner lotter" I am responsible to maintain. I am only too aware of the city "easement" which ultimately controls this area, as the city came through a couple years ago and ripped out the mature flowering cherries (pink snow in spring was wonderful) and junipers (which I spent weeks pruning for a magical effect). So I'm thinking about this issue.
As this area is the ultimate "front door" of us city and suburban dwellers, what's the proper etiquette?
Tom
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Mar-26-2005 at 9:34am
The Hell Strip I have seen it affectionately called. One the nicest, simplest strips I saw had a path of stone curving through it (if my memory serves me right) and Irish Moss or maybe it was Scotch moss, whichever one is the light green. There was a few other plants. Simple elegant and done in a way that could be easily redone if the city decides to tear things up. I have it in a photo somewhere I should try and scare up.
AmyPNW
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Mar-26-2005 at 12:49pm
Sorry to hear that the city ripped up your lovely area. I have always been of the "beg for forgiveness" rather than "ask for permission" type. Maybe the city just hasn't found me yet.
I planted a couple of wonderful purple plum trees in my hell strip a few years ago. I keep them pruned from growing over the sidewalk. They now bear sweet, juicy plums. The neighbors and I eat them as we go by and the neighborhood loves them. These trees are in addition to whatever else I think will grow with dminished watering. I have iris, daffodils, tulips, asters, rudebeckias, juniper, grasses, lavender and daisies in the hell strip so there is bloom from early spring to fall. One of my neighbors has a similar hell strip but she has a little more diversity and has chosen to put strawberries in hers as the snack of choice.
Amy
Wanda
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Mar-26-2005 at 7:09pm
Hi Amy! Gosh I've been away too long and miss everybody! Nothing like getting pneumonia to make me slow down and smell the roses (but no deep breaths yet!). No tomatoes in your strip? I'm shocked!
Tommy - you have to invite yourself to see Jane Coombs garden sometime. She has a corner lot, too. Her hell strip is mostly perennials but somehow she gets away with a big-leaved grape growing up the power pole. Absolutely beautiful!
Gosh, with all of Gary's ideas, maybe you should plant corn!
-Wanda
Carolyn
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-27-2005 at 9:45am
I formerly planted campanuela in my hell strip, but it was a maintenance problem hand clipping all the dying flowers off once a year and it didn't look that good in the winter.
I then opted for "Stepables". Wonderful tri-color thymes, wooly thyme, and I have lost memory of the ground cover creating little white daisies and another with light blue flowers (not blue-star creeper, tho). It looks like a patchwork as they grow together, no maintenance at all and withstand the high heat of summer and low temps in the winter. And you can step on them as you leave your car at the curb and the fragrance is nice as well.
I have a baptisia planted at the light pole and surrounding that are bearded iris, ajuga and sometimes poppies grow there as well. No one wants to part at the light standard so that is where I've positioned my taller plants.
Try it, you'll like it.
Wanda? Pneumonia? Are you all better now? I sure hope so!
Carolyn
Wanda
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Mar-27-2005 at 11:03am
Oh yes, Carolyn's Hell Strip is wonderful. The problem with hers is her yard is so gorgeous your eyes are pulled into the front yard and you don't even realize you are stepping on her steppables!
Yep, I'm getting better. That's why I'm on the computer so much lately. My laptop is really getting a workout. Thanks goodness for wireless internet - how did I survive without it? I see Lisa is still not typing capital letters - I hope her finger feels better soon, too. Thanks for asking.
-Wanda
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Mar-28-2005 at 8:41am
Good to hear you are doing better, Wanda! I agree with Amy, ask for forgiveness later! LOL. Put what you want out there but know that the city could take it way at any time. As Wanda says, if you do put plants out there, it is a nice way to pull your eye into the garden! I am putting iris, lavender, daffodils and steppables out on my strip.
Jeanne
cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-28-2005 at 11:45am
How often have you watched local gardening shows who are visiting some local gardner who has planted every single foot of that hell strip with wonderfully designed skinny long gardens. I think the one about pegged roses last Sat. Darcy show, was in the strip--a rose with thorns, yet!
I love the "beg for forgivness" vs "the ask for permission" attitude--fits my style-- since we are out far enough to never be the recipient of the city's lawnmower style pruner/whanger both horizontal and vertical positions.
Carol
tommyb
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-28-2005 at 12:54pm
Hmmmm, some of these hell strips sound pretty nice.
How do y'all deal with the dog-needs-a-bathroom people and the oh-boy-a-bike-ramp kiddlies? Just curious.
My psyche is still in shock from the backhoe and stumpgrinder activity in my hell strip, complicated by the underground utility presence of gas-electric-cab-telephone companys. I am the proud viewer of two thirty year old telephone connection boxes---at about a twenty degree tilt---and a doghouse size cable box. I wouldn't mind a fireplug, at least they have character. Maybe in a decade or so I'll revisit "developing" the strip.
Tom
Carolyn
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-29-2005 at 6:58pm
I asked hubby to paint those boxes black and then I surrounded them with plants.
I've heard that as long as the the techs can access them, then the gardeners can meet the challenge to disguise them (and wish they weren't there).
I've got the telephone box and also a 4'x4' metal door over who knows what is underneath thingie right at the north side front of the property. So I've planted around it. Placed pots on it sometimes and let the ajuga wonder onto it. It makes for a good stepping platform for my not walking on the soil and compacting it.
I still remember the sprinkler backflow inspection guy complaining that he wasn't going to come back unless we dug up a Pieris. Well, I did dig it up, but only in my own time because "I" wanted something else there. But we never called that guy back anyway - so there!
Carolyn
Salvia Guy
Location: Oregon, Western
Posted: Mar-30-2005 at 7:42am
WANDA'S BACK!!!!!!!!!
I planted my 'Parking Strip', as I know it, with all sorts of plants from several Miscanthus to Vinca. It actually is becoming on of my best gardens. I took the Sycamore out several years ago and last year I took the Plane Tree out. Of course it is filled with a variety of salvias and other drought tolerant plants.
I run one of those flat green soaker hoses down the length of the strip, about 50' long. When I need to water I run the hose down to the strip and attach it to the soaker. In the evening, it looks real cool when the mistty sprays rise up with the sun setting through them.
This year I will rum two flat hoses down it for better watering and hopefully less will go down the street.
Some of my area neighbors have planted their strips, mostly with trees and shrubs. One has three Pampas grasses in it. They trim it so it doesn't come out over the side walk.
Wanda
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Mar-30-2005 at 11:20am
Thanks, Bill! I'm not fully back yet but life is starting to look up. One breath at a time.
Yes, Salvia Guy has a wonderful hell strip. I'm wondering what your "Plane Tree" was. Gives me an idea - instead of the Glorybower with the plastic Disney characters in it (another Salvia Guy original) I could hang a bunch of fighter planes in mine and call it my "Plane Tree" - hey, the Winged Euonymous bush would be perfect! Back to hell strips, didn't you have 4 o'clocks blooming there, too?
And Tommy, how about a barberry here and there to discourage the doggie and biker crowds. Have you seen that vertical red one - Helmond's Pillar? Too cool. Or just give them a fake fire hydrant and be done with it! Or have the misty-spray soaker hose on a motion sensor!
Have fun figuring it out.
-Wanda (slowly wheezing her way back to good health)
tommyb
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-30-2005 at 5:16pm
Yes indeed, Berberis: Crimson Pigmy, Kobol, Gold Nugget and, watch out, wilsoniae Ace have all migrated into my Hell Corner---the "you can't do anything but landscape" area of my yard defined by a fence and the "cullus de sackus" street. Eventually prunings left on the ground beneath these plants should slow the canine "visits".
But the Hell Strip gets medium fresh Fir bark, piled six inches deep in places, to smother the excellant crop of non-selected native and ob-noxious plants.
There was a Glorybower with Disney characters? Any chance of a photo??
And I've heard that chocolate liqueur helps cure breathing problems, Wanda.
I salute the "ask forgiveness not permission" and "paint'em black!" approaches to the Hell Strip. If I had water a wee bit closer (and cheaper) I might move my design plans up a bit.
Tom
Salvia Guy
Location: Oregon, Western
Posted: Mar-30-2005 at 6:07pm
WOW! Wanda Great memory!
The strip looks even better than when you guys/gals were here.
Yes, I did have little stuffed characters hanging in my Glory Bower tree (Clerodendron), thanks to the kids. They are no longer in the tree.
The Plane Tree is a type of Sycamore or it is a Sycamore, I don't know but hey its firewood now.
The Four O'Clocks were in a different part of the garden. I never semed to be able to get them started in the Strip.
Red Hare
Location: Oregon coast
Posted: Apr-01-2005 at 11:47am
I want to live in Amy's neighborhood, where they plant edibles in their hell strips! What a lovely idea!
My hell strip is a top priority this year, but the city is about to tear up the street to install storm sewers and I'm waiting to make sure they don't need to dig into "my" property before starting. I plan to lay brick in a design that would allow someone parking on the street to get out of their car, but with plantings of drought tolerant plants. While I'd love to plant trees, there are utilities underground, so I can't go deeper than 18". This is also where I'm planning to include orange flowering plants, along with purple to tie in with the rest of the yard, probably in the form of catmint because it's so reliable. I love the idea of a long winding path - I'm going to have to think about that. I also have to keep in mind that my neighbor needs to be able to see both directions when she backs out of her driveway, so that limits the height of my plantings. I like the idea of barberries until I remember that if there are any weeds or grass growing under them, I'm the one who gets mauled when I try to remove them.
I'm finding that small gardens are more fun to design and work with. It's easier to stay focused and get cohesion and balance. This is a fun topic!
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-01-2005 at 12:31pm
I apologize for the quality of these photos. My scanner is kaput so I copied them with my camera. You can still get an idea about them. I liked the simplicity of this strip in a garden I visited a couple of years ago.
I like the streetside view the best, but this next view shows a good deal of the strip.
I like the spiky plants, but I wouldn't put an Iris in a hell strip, they like more water and so when I see this drought tolerant looking garden, I would think a grass would work better. I would be tempted to put Miscanthus 'Zebrina' in here. Oops better check that name to be sure I have it right.
Red Hare
Location: Oregon coast
Posted: Apr-01-2005 at 2:26pm
What a stunning design! And kids walking by don't kick the rocks out of place? Very nicely done. I guess sometimes less IS more.
Thanks for sharing the photos. It stirred up some gray cells and challenged me to rethink my design.
Hmmm...
Screaming Eagle
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Apr-01-2005 at 2:54pm
Wow, I like it! Almost has a zen feel to it. What a way to arrive home after a hectic day...deep breath in... ohmmmmmmmm...deep breath in... ohmmmmmmmm...
It would be nice to have a little courtyard like that to pass through before you reach the front door.
kayac2005
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Apr-02-2005 at 12:38pm
I agree, what a gorgeous parking strip, it's so different than anything I've seen. Mine is much wider therefore I kept a border of grass so I could mow and then made the flowerbed [raised] down the center. I planted dwarf boxwoods and a couple of non-invasive nandinas so they would be around all year in Wa state. This spring I will be adding annuals to create some contrast, as it is full sun.
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-04-2005 at 10:38am
Putting bricks down is a nice idea, Red Hare. A place to put the feet when guests get out of their cars is nice. Tommy, berberis in the parking strip is good to keep the dogs out but it might keep guests out also! Roses were planted in one of my parking strips and I am always trying to keep them in check so they don't scratch my guests or their cars when they pull up to the house.
Beautiful parking strip ideas, Debbie. Is that Scotch moss and creeping thyme?
Jeanne
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Apr-04-2005 at 11:07am
I think this works because of the simplicity of it. I do think it's Scotch or Iris moss, whichever one is the lighter of the two. I don't know if children kick the rocks out of place, I didn't ask. It would be interesting to know though.
All I know is when we pulled up to tour the gardens this strip looked stunning. On the other side of the sidewalk they have some gold colored dwarf conifers that echo the color. I think that some larger rocks in the hell strip could be appealing too. Perhaps placed in certain areas to discourage walking in some parts and add height and depth besides doing it in plant material. I don't know what the restrictions are but I think some well placed rocks would be beautiful. Here's the other side of the sidewalk:
tommyb
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Apr-04-2005 at 2:17pm
There are no Barberries in my Hell strip Jeanne, just a six and a half feet wide pile o' bark. I might have exaggerated the length at 200 feet, might only be 150, but it would take a lot of plant material\hardscape to "do it justice".
The spiny creatures inhabit a Hell Corner: on my side of the sidewalk, but "controlled" by traffic "vision" limitations. Which will be eroded as the plants mature and I answer with "Oh Dear, are the plants too tall for you to hear your BoomBox Honda? or your Unmuffled Toyota? or your eight foot tall Subdivision?" Sorry, I slipped into suburb whine mode.
More pretty pictures, please!!
Tom
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-05-2005 at 4:40pm
tom, you should make a road trip to reed college. 2 years ago, members of hpso and joy creek's maurice horn redid one of their hell strips. it is stunning, gets buy on little water and little care. last year i think jeffrey bale added his wonderful stone mosaic skills to create stepping stones and landing pads in the area.
there's another local garden you should also see. i'll pm you with her address. i know she won't mind you driving by - or even getting out and walking her sidewalk but i'm not keen on sharing her addy on a public forum.
tommyb
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Apr-05-2005 at 7:45pm
Thanks Lisa, this do explain the cryptic pm.
I'll still try to get my beany re-propellered while I'm at Reed. Probably one of the Physist, er, Physic's, er, Psychic's, er, Engineering students can probably twist the propellers so they spin right again.
Tom
AmyPNW
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-05-2005 at 8:39pm
Wanda (HI!!), my tomatoes are not far from my hell strip. I share them with the neighbors but they don't get to pick the tomatoes, I do. I have the tomatoes waiting under cover for the bed to dry out to be planted. I probably could have planted today since the covered bed is almost dry now but life interfered.
Deb, I am surprised the iris do as well as they do but they seem to be a hardy bunch. I had some extra so they went in as a trial along with everything else I have there.
Bill, the salivas are, of course, the perfect hell strip plant. I wish I had seen yours at some time.
Lisa, the Reed College strip sounds great.
Happy hell stripping to all,
Amy
Red Hare
Location: Oregon coast
Posted: Apr-06-2005 at 10:52am
Cue hell stripping music......
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-06-2005 at 1:02pm
They used several yellow leaved plants in the Reed hell strip so it really is popping right now. The lavenders and rosemary are in bloom. The mosaics are a really nice touch. Just right for stepping of the car and on to a mosaic. I check it out every time I need to go north on McLoughlin Blvd.
Jeanne
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton