[justgardens]

Stonehenge- Does the replacement have to be deciduous or can it be evergreen? I really like the idea of grasses as mentioned here already but it does take a while for them to come out. They are worth the wait. 'Morning Light' would also be a good choice for a grass as it is one of the first to flush out in the summer.

[VoodooChile]

Agla,
When I hear "Form follows function" I usually think "who cares what it looks like as long as it works." That principle certainly applies to landscaping when faced with tough sites, in which anything green is better than nothing at all.

In Stone's situation, the form and function of the chosen plant are interrelated, because space constraints entail that the plants not only grow (function) in the site, but also fit (form) in the site.

In the picture I posted, columnar buckthorn were used as a screen (form), but failed because they are a crap plant (function). This, I think, illustrates your argument well, that function followed form, and failure was the result.

So I think you are saying that sometimes a designer gets pigeonholed or stuck in a rut, sees a situation that calls for a screen, and makes the rote move, which isn't necessarily the best move...

Screen? Columnar Buckthorn.
Berm? Arborvitae.
Corner of house? River birch.
Pain garden? Barberry.
Garbage collector? Cotoneaster.
and so on.

Finally, allow me to distance myself utterly from the photo posted. I have never had anything to do with this site!!!

The owners of this prominent business called me in to make all four sides of the building look better; I generated some ideas that came in around a couple large, but the owners decided that was too much and opted to have someone else sharpens things up with a load of cherry-red mulch...

Lookin' good, Baby!!!

[agla]

Yes, the function is to act as a narrow screen in one scenario. The form for that function is a columnar plant. I think that we mean the same thing.

One thing that might be confusing is the term "form". As plant people we might automatically think of plant form, or growth habit (columnar, spreading,...). In this case I am using it in the classic"form follows function" way. Form is the physical result in this case, not merely the growth habit.

I think of the function as existing, the form being developed by that function, and the plant is selected to meet that form. Others might look at the plant as creating the form or defining the form - I'm not sure. The function is multi-faceted. It could include being a screening plant, low maintenance, economical, evergreen, winter hardy, shade tolerant, vigorous, ... all at the same time. When we look at the function in a more complete way, it directs us to clearer choices in plant selection. In that regard the pigeon hole comment was exactly what I was saying.

So, the original question of what to replace a Buckthorn with is really a vague question to me. It does not clearly define the function of the Buckthorn in question. Without knowing the function, I do not know what form is to follow.

Function = criteria to be met
Form = physical item(s) that attempt to fit the criteria

I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone else besides myself. It is just a different way of looking at it.

[jwholden]

I bet people can't miss that building now!

[VoodooChile]

You bet, John! Right on the East side of Hwy. 50, a few thousand cars driving by a day. One of those instances where drawing the eye from the landscape to the neon mulch is a good thing...

Wait til they figure out a way to dye ground-up pallets red-white-and-blue!!!