[sandim]

Hi all, have a potential client with a place we'd really love to get into. She wants some creative year-round screening for her pool filter which is right in her pool patio area. No flowers, she's allergic to bees. Must have easy access. I was thinking of a nice wrought-iron trellis with vines, but it's only 1 dimensional and the filter is at an angle. I thought shrubs might be too obvious.
Any suggestions?

Also need a nice ornamental that's small, but Japanese Maples are so commong, any thoughts? I seem to be brain-dead today.

[jshilan]

If there is room why not do a trellis with some ornamental grasses (miscanthus, calamagrosits, pennisetum etc) flanking it. They will provide screening most of the year, provide some texture and even some fall color and winter interest if you don't cut them down until spring. Best of all no bees.

As far as deciduous ornamentals there are some great coral bark maples that are a little less common. How about a Harry Lauder Walking Stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta') if you want to get a little funky.

[papercutter]

I have a client with a standard azalea, which I thought was kind of cool. It's small- she must Miyagi the heck out of it.

[sandim]

I thought about a trellis and grasses and I do like the idea.

Harry, I'm totally in love with Harry, especially the red ones, but he's too tall. This ornamental can't be any more than 3' -4'

[trees]

How about get a nice planter and put some Equisetum in it? underplant the thing with some golden creeping Jenny and you've got a winner... possibly even put it in an aquatic pot and plant the whole thing (this can help prevent it from spreading -- it is, after all, the gift that keeps on giving -- one shining example of a native plant that's as invasive as any exotic).

[Natural]

Why not stonework????

[sandim]

Offered up the idea of a trellis, flanked by some grasses and some small perennials in front (coral bells, jap. painted fern, etc) for some interest and to make it look like it's not a screen, complimented by another island of plantings paralell to it, but she wants year-round screening. Any other thoughts?

[jshilan]

Hey Sandi - When I had clients like this, that kept asking for more, I would ask them to provide a deposit towards the project based on a budget number. This way I know they are not spinning my wheels (or are spinning my wheels).

Never discount the value of a good idea (and what you proposed is a great idea) and the opportunistic desires of people to endlessly waste your time, especially when it doesn't cost them a dime.

1. Give her a proposal for (5) 5-6' Arborvitae 3' o.c.
2. Tell her to stop staring at the damn thing in the off season
3. Move the equipment to the side of the house (mucho dinero)
4. Move on to the next client.