Looking at a property which has many of the ingredients I want, except it has a backyard with a pool and overlooking the pool from three sides - two story mansions with balconies.
Can anyone think of a creative solution?
Yes I know trees, tall trees can be a solution. But there is not a whole lot of room, and mature trees are difficult to transplant. I thought of bamboo, but even clumping tall bamboo can be cost prohibitive to plant all around three sides. Besides the root system can invade the pool structure. Another problem with tall trees or bamboo around the entire perimeter - the falling leaves will all drop into a pool, creating a cleaning nightmare.
A tall fence? Nothing that tall - not for a two story building...
"orangetrader" snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@dsli.com:
I don't think I ever got back to you, sorry =:-( Things here got crazy a bit suddenly...
There is a book I'll be ordering that deals specifically with landscaping in the Gulf Coast states/areas, including FLorida. If you're still looking for info, I can get back to you once I've looked through it.
I'll be in a similar situation so I'll be looking for solutions to the problem of lack of privacy, and I'd be happy to share whatever I find that might offer reasonable soluitions.
"Don" wrote in news:44aee.3908$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net:
That's OK, I heavily favor natives as well ;) ! I think non-natives can be used, but very carefully. There are too many disasters already - purple loosestrife and the indian pepper tree being 2 I remember off the top of my head.
OTOH that's part of what fascinates me about reading up on the horticulture of each new area I end up in - I really enjoy the natural history part of it, learning what the native species are, how they interact with the native critters and soils, what cultivars exist, and how/where to use the various forms and colors.
Possibly because the hardwoods make stronger roots, consume more CO2 (whcih means, grow more robustly)...? THat's a guess, I never looked into it but it's something to research.
When I'm in an optimistic mood, I say, They're prob. trying to compensate for the general lack of common sense. But I'm sure there is also an element of just plain ol' lust for control/power.
Possibility of good intentions and terrible methodology for carrying through on them.
THe problem is that most people know very little about botany/horticulture/landscaping/gardening or however one wants to categorize the selection, proper planting, and care of plants that are well-suited to a site.
Not that I know a whole heck of a lot either, but that's why I read so many books about it =;-) The thing is that few people are interested in spending hours pouring over a bunch of books, esp. if they don't have any background/education in biology/botany.
((Yeah, I know I use the "word1/word2" format a great deall, but it's because I think in concepts and can't always fish up the best word for what I'm trying to say :( ))
THen there is al the associated stuff - sitting down and trying to figure out what colors, textures, and shapes of suitable plants are good for all the little areas around the yard.
It's just so much easier to go to Target or Home Depot, etc., and pick up anything that looks OK, and stick it in the ground somewhere.
The problem being that this is how we ended up with infestations of purple loosestrife, indian pepper tree, Arundo donax, eucalyptus, and so on, and on, and on... THe other thing is that, being a hurricane zone, as you already noted, one would have to pay attention to the stability of the plant, if it's of any size. If someone just throws in any ol' tree and it dies, or can't establish deep roots, it ends up becoming a missile when the next storm hits.
That is the advantage, also, of native plants (and cultivars thereof). THey're pre-adapted to the local weather and climate. They also tend to be less "thirsty" than a lot of non-natives.
It never ceases to amaze and disgust me that people yap about wanting to move to a different climate and region - and then bring the exact same architectural styles and the exact same plants that they had in the first region/climate, *regardless* of how unsuitable they may be. Which si why the Western aquifers are being sucked dry...
OTOH, they exist mainly because people are stupid and lazy. Just like the laws and jails don't exist for the people who wouldn't steal etc., they exist for the people who don't give a crap about anyone else and think they have the right to do anything they want with and to anyone else and their property. It's rather like closing the proverbial barn door after the horse has already run away, but it's at least a *little* bit of a deterrent.
Personally, I'd rather be allowed to put up electrified razor wire around my place, as opposed to depending on the law to catch soem robber (or worse) after the fact. But I digress, and that's another tirade =8-o
In essence, I don't care one bit if some numbnut destroys his own house, but I'd be exceedingly peeved if his stupidity, laziness, and carelessness caused *my* place to be turned into splinters. I think rules and regulations ahve gone waaaaay overboard, and many end up being self- defeating, but OTOH, when one is not permitted to protect oneself from other poeple's stupidity (and/or other negative traits), what's the solution...... =:-p
That's the problem. Trying to avoid having them turn into missiles when a high wind comes along.
In an ideal world, people would at least read the instructions, and even better, at least *consult* a professional - btu we live in a world ruled by The Almighty Sacred Belly of the Bell Curve, the Untouchable Average, the Moronic Mean. So we're stuck with rules'n'regs....
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