On Wed, 5 May 2010 11:38:25 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson
wrote:

OK, I finally got those big bushes removed from front of house. (Had
posted earlier for ways to remove stumps.) Turns out, after I
thoroughly wetted the base, gardener was able to dig it out, except
ran into little problem -- water line! Other stump coming out Friday,
not on water line, one hopes!

Here's current view:

http://tinypic.com/r/1zn8lli/5

(Hope link works!!!)

NOW: What to put in their place? I have been kicking around ideas,
getting more and more confused.
Need your recommendations. This is So. Calif coastal, North facing.
Plenty of sun all year.

1. Expen$ive decorative planter with tall-ish shrub (what kind????)
Gardener cautions it might be stolen.

2. Ordinary terra cotta planter with (tall) (short) shrub, but not
too spreading, or it will get in the way of the front walk like
the old shrubs did.

3. Home Depot has blueberry bushes that don't spread too much (it
said). Have been waiting decades for blueberries that will work w/o
winter chill. (I don't care if people pick a few as they pass)

4. Forget pots, shrubs, trees, etc. Create a low-lying semi-
circular area with pebbles/rocks/succulents/cacti.

5. Your suggestions?

WOULD REALLY VALUE YOUR INPUT ON THESE FIRST THOUGHTS.

TIA

Persephone
T

Planting annuals will give you more time to think about it, plus give
you some color. For perennials crassula and sedums are good choices
requiring little water and little care. I recall seeing beautiful ice
plants in So CA--they seem to take the salty air just fine and have a
brilliant metallic appearance.

I got blueberry bushes that are growing well in east TN. I have the
climate and soil condiitons for them. They may need special care to
grow well in So CA--is your soil alkaline? Without bird netting you
wont get many berries, plus from a landscaping view it won't win a
prize (there are much better looking plants for your front yard).
Blueberry bushes, at least the wild ones, like dappled sunlight on the
edge of a wooded area.