I just put in my order at Raintree Nursery for a mini-dwarf Jonagold
apple for the "punctuation point" at the front end of the row of lilacs.
(It will also block at least part of the view of my aesthetically
displeasing garbage cans.) These mini dwarfs can reported be maintained
at 6 feet or so, which is perfect.

I also ordered a 4-in-1 dwarf (not mini) apple for the back yard to be
established beyond the pear tree in anticipation of its needing to take
over the role of central visual element when the pear meets its demise
in a year or two. The four apples are Liberty, Chihalis, Williams
Pride, and Fiesta, none of which I'm familiar with, but whose
descriptions look good.

Priscilla

In article ,
Priscilla Ballou wrote:

One side of my house needs to be redone this year. It's a narrow strip
down along between my house and the fence that separates my property
from the neighbor's on that side. The next house is pretty close (15
feet?), and if she didn't have her shades down, we could look into each
other's houses. Anyone on the street can look slantwise into my kitchen
in the current bare condition of that strip.

I'm planning to put a row of lilac bushes along most of the length,
since I just love lilacs and they should grow up into a nice shield.
I'd like to put something pretty on the front of the row, though, on the
end facing the street. Between that spot and the street there's a short
length of river rock, then a raised bed with a rose bush in the end,
then a chain link fence, then the sidewalk, then the street. I'd want
this "something pretty" to not grow as high as the lilacs will. I'm
thinking in terms of a punctuation point, and I'd like something
flowering.

Can one get *little* ornamental cherry trees? Or magnolia? Or dogwood
or the like? I wouldn't mind at all if the tree/bush/shrub produced
something that birds or squirrels would like to eat. I'm very wildlife
friendly. I definitely want it to bloom!

Any suggestions?

Priscilla, urban gardener in Boston, MA, Zone 6
--
"You can't welcome someone into a body of Christ and then say only
certain rooms are open." -- dancertm in alt.religion.christian.episcopal