Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Back Yard....gardening........and hiding stuff

Our house is on a corner lot. If I could I'd move the garage closer to the street and have a more private garden right behind the house. But I don't see that happening anytime soon, so I'm trying to solve some of the problems other ways. We have an electric meter and hot water vent that I need to hide somehow...on the back wall of the house. Of course the meter men have to still be able to read the meter. Any ideas? Above you see my kitchen window.
When I look out the window, I see the driveway and whatever vehicles are sitting in it instead of the flowers. Does that make me a negative person? I hope not. Anyway, we planted arborvitae bushes along the drive and someday I hope they will be a nice green wall hiding the drive. We planted lilacs right behind that swing and the are big enough now that they are starting to do their job. I'm also thinking of planting some kind of vine on the basketball post. One that would kind of hide it from the back, yet we could keep it trimmed so the basket is still usable. I'm thinking something tough like trumpet vine or silver lace vine.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would do the same thing with hiding the driveway. I think the arborvitae's are a great idea for along the drive. That's a good idea with the basketball pole.
We live on a corner too. Our neighborhood used to be a farmers cornfield. Everybody who drove by would look in our house because our windows were big when we first moved into our house. You could wave to them when you were sitting in the livingroom. But where we built our house we are really close to the road. On almost and acre why didn't we move the house over some? Ask Mr Wonderful that question. :) Anyhow here I'm rambling on. We planted Nine Bark and Cardinal Autumn Olive Trees. They are like a big shrub tree. The Cardinal Autumn Olive trees can grow up to 30 feet tall. We do trim those every other year. Our yard right now is so private in the backyard you can't even see who is driving by. :) and I love it. I don't think that makes me negative.

Peggy said...

I don't think that's negative thinking. But I like to see my driveway...that could be because we share a drive and I like to keep an eye on my vehicles. I think your yard is beautiful. My back yard can't be seen from the street, but my neighbors on the south are up higher than we are so they can see right into our yard...and that makes me feel like I have someone staring at me all the time. I would love to have a more private deck.

pedalpower said...

Judy, it sounds like your yard is a wonderful private retreat. That's what I'd like here...a little more privacy and a little less of looking at cars.

Dot, I love your deck, but I can see how you'd feel like you need more privacy. I wonder if an arbor over the top would do the trick...block the view of anyone looking down.

Cami said...

We live way out in the country and we cover much of our unsightly, but necessary items w/ little houses. Think slightly larger than a birdhouse and then I put a garden gnome nearby to guard it. It's whimsical and makes me laugh and totally does the job. It may be a bit much in a smaller space.

theshopkeeper said...

Actually cami, I like that idea...I'll have to check into doing that with my electric meter.

Jennifer said...

No suggestions... but your garden looks LOVELY!

A Lovely Thing said...

Beautiful yard! I envy the space you have lady!

As for the car issue, you could always get a hot sportscar to park there ;)

Be careful covering utility boxes. I covered the old cable box so well at our old house that the new owners couldn't find it. I had to go over and show them.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, I love your blog. And you have a yellow house just like me. Your house is GORGEOUS!! I can't wait until I have time today to go back and read everything. Thanks so much for visiting me and if you don't mind I have added you to my favs. Have a wonderful day.

Hugs,
LeAnn:)

Anonymous said...

I had to come back and tell you I have been reading your blog, not finished yet and I am loving it. I am originally from Bloomington, Illinois, born and raised there. So as I am reading I am thinking, where or where does she live??? Such a small world isn't it.

Hugs,
LeAnn:)

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