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Built ca. late 1990's, the neighborhood ran into 2008. Little to nothing done with homes/neighborhood landscaping into 2018.
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Penny wise, dollar foolish.
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Why?
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With minimal thought, proper Garden Design thought, property values can be increased with each homeowner, fewer even, maybe 50% of homeowners, no, lower, 30% of homeowners, increasing property value for all the homes in the neighborhood. People believe what they see.
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How?
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Ask homeowners to plant 3 bushes. Away from the home preferably for little to no pruning, ever. For our zone, tall holly, tall juniper, magnolia.
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Pic, above, here.
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As those plants grow, they create beauty, natural habitat, and, most importantly, breaking of site lines between homes. Instead of a panorama of garages/drives, airconditioners, back patios/decks, etc. Now, the neighborhood is a Norman Rockwell painting in its setting. Properly matted & framed.
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But wait, there is more money, $$$, on the table, than mere property value.
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Already know where that money is?
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Real money. Monthly, into homeowner pockets. More, this money-into-pockets increases Earthly sustainability. Eco.
Pic, above, here.
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Siting those minimum 3 evergreen tall plants properly to block summer's sun, and winter's winds, decreases HVAC expense. 10% and higher. Do the math.
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Baking sun on a side of your home from 10am to sunset? You're saving real money.
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Take my Garden Design proposal a step further, and closer to your home, if you have sun issues, choose a deciduous tree to block summer sun, and let winter sun stream in.
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What's on the other side of those conifers, above? Perhaps the neighbor's deck with a John boat underneath.
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What is privacy worth to you? More, while creating the privacy, gaining beauty.
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Basic. Basic Garden Design.
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Greater, stewardship. No matter where you start, your own Garden Design or helping your neighborhood Garden Design, stewardship arrives in macro. What does that mean? Living amongst a proper Garden Design is about far more than money. Grace. Living a life in grace. Rich in resources. Resources as E.M. Forster spoke of resources in, Where Angels Fear to Tread. Joseph Campbell said, If you don't get it here, you won't get it anywhere. Pity anyone would accept that.
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Garden & Be Well, XOT
3 comments:
Tara, you probably know this quote, may even have used it here at one time, but we received a lovely card from a dear friend yesterday who has recently lost her husband. The quote at the bottom read:
"A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit."
I looked it up and found it attributed to an old Greek proverb.
I almost shouted with joy when I read the quote, not only because it was so typical of the friend we've lost but because my 75 year old husband had just made a list of trees he wants to plant this spring. I'll read him your post tonight, something I do often.
Penny wise and dollar foolish is always in vogue here, regardless of economy. Lawns requiring much water and fertilizer became rocks and a few desert plants.
Yet people can see examples of what several inexpensive plants can add to that rock expanse, then of course much more value when the grades are re-contoured to infiltrate runoff and work with different plant types.
Your lesson on how to transform the value of a new, starter home community is so true. Now, to get developers to do it in the first place.
Oh, I can't tell you how lovely it is to hear someone say this! We live in a newly built home and immediately planted beautiful trees, both evergreen and deciduous to block the sun and the neighbors' eyes from our backyard. Interestingly, the neighbors were unhappy - they liked being able to see into everyone else's backyards! They told us we destroyed their view. I just couldn't stand living in such a fishbowl. Not to mention I needed relief from the VA summer sun. Thanks for making me not feel crazy. :)
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