location:
Plymouth,  Minnesota
 
project characteristics:
Corner lots can be challenging in a
number of different ways from other site types and configurations.  In this project, our clients asked us to help them with the close proximity of two arterial streets, crossing in front of their house.  “The headlights at night, make it seem as though the cars are coming right into our living room”, they told us.  Mostly though, they just wanted to get some pleasant, attractive, separation from the passing traffic.  Fencing was not an option at all.
 
We designed a bermed buffer strip for them that, as top priority, solved the screening issues.  Just as important, it was great to look at - both from the street views and from their own house windows.  We mixed large-scale naturalizing shrubs, perennials, evergreens, birch and flowering crabs in a boomerang-shaped composition.  We designed it to follow the street edge, but also to open up a front lawn space on the owners'  side of the planting berm.  Now, their family can use the front yard without being on display to every car passing by.  The house, the new plantings, and the character of the site, all work together.  The entire neighborhood benefits from this attractive addition.  By using evergreens, birch, and other texture plants, we blended a plant palette that looks appealing all winter long, as well.