I would start with a temporary screen. I've used window shade-like bamboo and willow roll-up screens which cover a large area cheaply and quickly.

Next, I would go with a vine which is suited to the exposure (sun, wind, moisture), is scaled to the location, and won't become a pest. Wisteria is too large for this site. Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a native vine which is semi-evergreen, won't take over, and is of the right scale. Don't confuse this with Trumpet VINE, another native vine which needs even more room and sun than Wisteria, or non-native honeysuckles (with fragrant flowers), which are invasive.

I would stay away from large woody plants, at least for the first few years, especially anything promoted as "provides quick cover." These are going to quickly become a problem in the typical brownstone backyard.

Posted by: Xris at August 31, 2007 1:22 PM in response to exposed back garden advice

It closed last week at $51K over asking. It was on the market for only a week.

Posted by: Xris at September 14, 2007 10:06 AM in response to House of the Day: 135 Westminster Road

There will be some community meetings later this year, the dates and details of which are yet to be worked out. As things develop, I'll have updates on my blog.

I'm also hoping that many/most of the trees can be kept. The tornado "assisted" by removing some of the trees. There are many possible uses for the site, in addition to growing vegetables.

Posted by: Xris at November 9, 2007 9:24 PM in response to Prospect Park South Community Garden Taking Shape

Cortelyou could still use some more bike racks, too.

Posted by: Xris at November 9, 2007 10:26 PM in response to Friday Blogwrap

I said they could use MORE bike racks. Not every block has them.

Posted by: Xris at November 11, 2007 1:05 PM in response to Friday Blogwrap

Wow. Back to the Million Trees initiative for a moment.

Only 600,000 of the 1,000,000 trees can be planted on public property such as parks and street trees. The other 400,000 will have to be planted on private property. So some of us will have to get over our dendrophobia and get planting.

Most street trees only live 7 to 12 years. Many of the million trees being planted now will be dead in ten years. Unless people care for them. With care, street trees can live for decades.

Posted by: Xris at November 11, 2007 1:30 PM in response to Should the City’s Million-Tree Plan Get Pruned?

Also check with community gardens in your area. OASIS has a garden locator at http://www.oasisnyc.net/gardens/cenycmapsearch.asp

Posted by: Xris at November 13, 2007 5:32 PM in response to Disposing of Soil

FSBO = Craig's List

When we were house-hunting three+ years ago, we looked at several FSBOs. We found all of them through Craig's List.

Posted by: Xris at November 13, 2007 5:42 PM in response to Roslyn Huebener Strikes Again

"How do they get 3040SF in a 19x35 building?"

Probably from a one or two-story extension off the back of the building.

19x35 = 665 square feet
x 4 floors (from photo) = 2,660 square feet

That's less than 400 square feet off the 3,40 published. This could easily be accommodated in a rear extension.

Posted by: Xris at November 13, 2007 5:49 PM in response to House of the Day: 6 Third Street

Poetry, Breanda.

Posted by: Xris at November 15, 2007 10:13 PM in response to Caton Avenue Condo Coming to Market

Generally speaking, houses in landmarked areas do sell for more than those in non-landmarked areas. In the case of Victorian Flatbush, there are homes in the non-landmarked areas that have sold for more than those in the landmarked areas. The condition of the home was key.

BSW is probably the nicest of the non-landmarked areas and is close to Cortelyou but centrally located so that walking to Newkirk or Church is convenient. Also as a previous poster stated, they have a very active neighnorhood association who among other things sponsors holiday parties, the security patrol and other community events. Many of the BSW homes were originally built as legal two families which gives owners more space than a Brownstone unit and a nice sized rental.

The house on Marlborough adjacent to the train tracks is the worst on that block and it needs a lot of work but even then a more appropriate price would only be about 175K less than listed.

Posted by: Chaka at July 28, 2008 7:30 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?

I just can't deal with the train, it would annoy me too much. Many of the one families have a "hospitality suite" that the owners rent out to a student. There is usually no issue with this. People take issue when they turn it into a rooming house.

Posted by: bqe1970 at July 28, 2008 8:38 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?

Thanks for your input, Chaka. You make some good points.

Posted by: icrwly at July 28, 2008 9:02 PM in response to Beverly Square West - Landmark Status?

thanks newsouthsloper. It's good to be aware of that. f that's the case I'll just keep taking them to my own vet who has given me incredibly reasonable prices. He's a great guy- been taking care of my cats for years.

renomom- did I understand correctly? The holes are the size of a quarter? Are moles that tiny? Maybe Xris is right- insects.If its insects you can forget all the new age fauna can't we all get along stuff I said earlier- invest in cases of Raid. No quarter to exoskeletons! :-)

donatella- I know it's awful of me but I laughed so hard at your story. Sometime ask Montrose about the attack of the frankensquirrel. It was posted once ages ago but I can't find it.

Posted by: bxgrl at August 4, 2008 9:33 AM in response to MOLE PROBLEM IN BACKYARD HELP!

XCHRS. Thank you so much your the best! Yesterday I saw this massive cicada crawling into one of the holes. I had no idea they existed underground.The noise they make at night is loud. So you are 100% correct. Are they harmful to gardens?

Posted by: renomom at August 4, 2008 10:24 AM in response to MOLE PROBLEM IN BACKYARD HELP!

It's just a mole, nothing more than a rodent. Squirrels are the worst. No squirrel is worth $ 2,000. When they get indoors, we use a pellet gun. Just trap it and be done with it. Or if you are lucky, some cat will get it.

Posted by: Iknow at August 4, 2008 10:45 AM in response to MOLE PROBLEM IN BACKYARD HELP!

Actually it was funny after it was all over. Everyone laughed. The first day I was stunned. I thought someone broke in but the second day I cried. Hey, but then my whole brownstone experience is tragicomic. Cicada holes sound reasonable. I wasn't aware that there were a lot of them now, (they live on 17 year cycles I thought) but I remember them from my childhood -- one year there was a kind of plague in NYC, they were everywhere and that is what they did. They bore small holes everywhere. I haven't seen any myself though.

Posted by: donatella at August 4, 2008 2:34 PM in response to MOLE PROBLEM IN BACKYARD HELP!

I have been seeing small circular holes in my yard too this week. There are long claw marks around them. I think the squirrels that live in the trees in the yard might be buying acorns. Do they really do that?

The yard is home to squirrels, pidgeons and cats that were TNR by a neighbor. Someone in the apt building next to us throws shelled peanuts at the same time twice a day into the alley and they all line up in the yard waiting for them. My yard is full of the empty shells. I wonder if the squirrels are burying the peanuts??

Posted by: premadas at August 6, 2008 12:10 AM in response to MOLE PROBLEM IN BACKYARD HELP!