Sidewalk Garden on SW Juneau Street

Berberis thunbergii, Grevillea victoriae & Nassella tenuissima on SW Juneau Street in August 2013

Callistemon (Bottlebrush) & Berberis (Barberry) on SW Juneau Street in August 2013

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) on SW Juneau Street in August 2013

This is one of the most interesting sidewalk gardens I have seen in Seattle.  It is remarkable for its use of uncommon plants such as Grevillea victoriae, Callistemon (Bottlebrush) & an unusual species of Berberis (Barberry) that I can't identify.  It is tied together with Festuca ovina var. glauca 'Elijah Blue' (Blue Fescue) Nassella tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) & a number of groundcovers including Hebe glaucophylla.  This is not exactly what the Seattle Department of Transportation would like to see done in a sidewalk garden.  They insist that plants be kept to no more than 3 feet in height for visibility & traffic safety.  (Trees are the exception to this rule, but require permits.)  The shrubs here have grown higher than 3 feet & will grow much higher still, if they are not cut back, which would be rather unattractive.  In my opinion, it is better to plant shrubs that don't grow much more than 3 feet tall, especially on a corner, where they will certainly block views of traffic.