Renovating the Hell Strip (Again).

  I don't even remember all of the so-called designs I implemented for the hell strip in the 30 or so years I've lived in this house. I know the original street trees in the neighborhood (mostly installed around 1983)  were all the dreadful Hackberry most of which were removed either by the homeowner (in my case) or more recently by the city. The trees technically belong to the city , and as I recall they took care of the removal and planting a replacement tree but only chipped in a modest amount per square foot for sidewalk repair. By that time sidewalks all over the city were lifting so they developed a list of approved trees that worked much better in the narrow strip between the sidewalk and the street.  I chose Crape Myrtle which took quite a few years to get going so between the sidewalk repair and when the new tree went in I replanted for sun with the thought I could just move/ replace them if and when the area got too shady. It took several years but shade happened and I started digging it all up. My regret is that I have little to no before photos-I think my feeling was it looked so crappy I had no desire to document it. 

 My first change was planting Hellebores around the base of the tree. All of these were purchased at the UC Davis Arboretum plant sales over a year or two. I find that Davis usually has a really nice selection of Hellebores -I always like to get one or two with every sale and because I am a member I get a discount and early shopping opportunities.  

The low plant on the left and at the immediate base of the Crape Myrtle is a spreading Teucrium. I bought this several years ago from Annies and the tag has vanished. Annies has redone their website and they no longer maintain a list of discontinued plants so I don't know what the variety is-I do have to keep it in check as it spreads by underground rhizomes. 

 Another UC Davis acquisition is Heucherella 'Pink Fizz'. Naturally I planted it too close to Mahonia 'Soft Caress'. 

 I planted 3 Carex 'Everillo' . I have been adding Carex in many of the shady spots in my garden. This is one of my favorites. I tried to pair it with Heucherella 'Solar Eclipse' which you can see both lower center and upper right of the second photo down. 

 

View from the street. There is barely visible Pulmonaria and Ajuga on the lower right .

Renga Lily is bottom center and in this photo from early spring the Cerinthe (which I heavily edited) was flowering .My next step is to add plants for mid to late summer. My plan is to divide the Renga Lily -which is also planted too close to Mahonia 'Soft Caress' .  I continue to ponder.