Please, Fence Me in
By Andrea Peck
I restore myself when I am alone…
~Marilyn Monroe
They say a fence makes for a better neighbor.
Of course. We all know this. What if we were all fenceless, our homes adjoining with a useless strip of dried grass to separate us? Those of the hippy generation regarded walls as hostile barriers. But, the 2014 mode of operation is as distinct from commune-style living as a brownie is from 100% organic beef. Our lives, so open to others via social media and so accessible through cellphones, make us jumpy as a generation. We need our privacy.
The weird part is that when confronted with a lack of privacy, most of us lack the vital social skills required to respond appropriately.
Let's just say (for example) you walk into your backyard and you see your neighbor. You discover that he is having a festive conversation that involves firing an incalcitrant employee. Without a fence, you eyeball each other. This is not a straight on look – it's more of an ‘oops' sideways glance.
Now what?
Pretend you are a slip of laundry hanging on the line?
Stymied, you continue wandering, coffee in hand, dressed to the nines in bleach stained pajamas and oversized holey socks. You survey the landscape and protest under your breath as the phone call ends and you are faced with the other. Your garden peace suddenly goes out of focus.
Without a barrier, you are defenseless. Social mores dictate that you are now required, though you may be lacking undergarments, to have a conversation.
Why? Why did you not put up a fence?
We need boundaries. We need doors. Walls. Marks in the sand. Some of us need this quiet more than others. I would jump to the conclusion that many gardeners love the solitude of nature. The silent sound of leaves exhaling.
And what do you do when there is a hole, large and gaping, in this Nirvana that you have created? What if your leaves are simply providing the oxygen that fuels a conversation that you are neither prepared nor dressed appropriately for?
A fence divides, but shrubbery is horticulturally versed in sound and sight prevention. Tow the line, says a fence. But a nice plant that grows large and lush fills a space – covers that line until you forgot it was there. A fitting plant has been trained in that which you have not – blind assertiveness. It does not apologize for taking up that space, nor will it. It is simply there, existing, and if you are lucky, it will contain you in its cover.
There are many privacy plants that serve a variety of purposes. Cactus (such as buckthorn cholla (Opuntia acanthocarpa) is the pit bull of all borders. It sends a loud message and it can be physical if provoked. There are other thorny bushes (such as the Wintergreen barberry (Berberis julianae) that will take you outside if you try to disturb the peace. Other, less jolting plants run the gamut from pretty to drought tolerant or fast growing. Below is a small list of largish plants that may make your home more hospitable. Once you've had your peace, you may just get lonely enough to invite someone over.
Ceanothus: Julia Phelps, Mountain Haze and Sierra Blue are good varieties.
Austin Griffin Manzanita
Island Mountain Mahogany
Mallow