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Liriope-laden tree box
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One of the questions I am often asked by desparte homeowners is how to dog proof the tree boxes in front of our houses, without surrounding them with high fences (actually illegal since the street side must be kept open according to regulations). And the little “do not poop” signs that people stick in the ground are so tacky, and not very effective (how many dogss do you know who can read?). So what’s the answer?
My landscape-very-knowledgeable pals say, in a word, liriope.
If you look at how many tree boxes are planted in liriope, you can also see how good they look, in spite of four-footed friends. Actually, my primary source first recommended little surrounding fences, although not the wimpy wire ones, mentioning that, like our front garden fences, they seem to establish for both dogs and humans that you shouldn't be walking on the base of the tree compacting the soil. After I queried cost she fell back to liriope commenting “there's always the cactus school of thought but I find that mean-spirited…”
Having trained in landscape architecture, my source considered other aspects of tree box planting: “Although people do put in elaborate tree box gardens, which I admire passing with my dog, given the scarcity of rain, nutrients, etc. it is probably better for the tree not to have competition from other plants. The fence and some light mulch or Liriope or perhaps Vinca (depending on sun) is probably enough. Definitely not annuals requiring constant digging of soil and disturbing of roots. I think the Trees for Capitol Hill (546-8681) folks had a hand-out at some point about this.”
If you do opt for a little steel/iron enclosure remember to leave the curbside open.
The Verizon Black Hole
I haven’t complained about the Eastern Market Metro vicinity Verizon black hole for a while but it’s still there. I know because I listen to my husband/business partner five feet away at the office telling cell-phone callers he’ll call them back on a landline since his cell reception is so bad.
Here’s some correspondence from three and a half years ago when I last complained publicly about the black hole:
A neighbor who lost patience wrote Verizon:
“Verizon wireless service at home is practically non-existent. Sometimes I get 1 or 2 bars; often Analog. After a call is dropped, a message tells me I've left the service area even though I haven’t moved. I have powered down the cell phone, used *228, etc. No improvement. I expect service in my home. Can you hear me now! Fix it! No apologies!”
He got shuck and jive from “Customer Service WashBalt:"
“I apologize for the difficulties you have experienced with the service in your home and am happy to assist you.
“Wireless phones are primarily intended for use while mobile or in open areas. Wireless signals travel through the air to the nearest transmitter or wireless tower for a connection. A wireless tower can cover a specific radius, measured in miles.
“A wireless tower can only receive a specific number of signals for processing calls. You may not receive a full signal inside of a building because the wireless signal is limited when traveling through brick, steel, or other material. This applies to all wireless carriers. If you move near a window, you have a good chance of increasing your signal depending on how many miles your phone is located from the nearest wireless tower. You can usually make a call with a minimal signal strength but receiving a call requires approximately full signal strength.
“I hope I have provided you with a better understanding of the matter.
“If this does not alleviate your concerns, we will be happy to submit a Trouble Ticket for you. Contact our Customer Service Department at 800-922-0204 from a landline phone with the following information:
- “Brief description of the problem
- “Most recent date the problem occurred
- “Approximate time the problem occurred
- “Nearest cross street/intersection of where the problem occurred”
The rep continued to detail options under Verizon’s America’s Choice plan for peak minutes, no roaming, and possibly limited 911 access not to mention no service in areas where Verizon doesn’t offer service. She then thanked the irate Capitol Hill user for using Verizon Wireless.
Our neighbor wasn’t buying. He replied:
“You submit the ticket. I did just that last year with no results or follow up by Verizon. My neighbor uses Cingular and has no trouble with signal strength in his brick house. My house is a 110-year-old wood frame building. Verizon reps have told me countless times that I am within a short distance of three towers.
“Your reply is ludicrous. Tell everyone who talks endlessly, and successfully, at home about limited reception inside buildings. And you are the provider of really good service underground in our Metro. Shame on you and shame on Verizon!”
I contacted our neighbor to see how his relationship with Verizon was doing and he told me that, in disgust, he switched to Cingular and his service is substantially improved. He went on to laud a Capitol Hill place: “I have discovered Marion Park has the most perfect cell phone service anywhere on Capitol Hill. My phone battery will go dead before a call is dropped from that location. I make many personal long distance calls from this park during three of the four seasons. It's comfortable, plenty of folks walking their dogs, and the tulip trees are glorious in the spring.”
My advice to everyone still using Verizon with spotty service is: keep complaining. Get them to come see you. Be a squeaky wheel. Sigh.
Contractors?
Q. I read your article in the March Hill Rag on iron stair preservation. Thanks for the info, I enjoyed it!
I’m a new homeowner on the Hill in NE buying a 1925 row house last summer. I want to remodel the basement bathroom. Do you have recommendations for contractors or plumbers? I am at a loss and have just been calling the ads in the Hill Rag.
Desperately Seeking…
A. Glad you liked the article and the Rag advertisers who are basically paying my salary are surely pleased you’re looking at their ads.
Finding people to do your work is ALWAYS a challenge. People I used in the past and who did good work have disappeared. (Years ago, two cases of disintegrating marriages distracted craftspersons horribly. One guy even moved to Florida in despair. Career changes take away other people: the most radical one carpenter to social worker.) The best of the small general contractors tend to get bigger and become unavailable for little projects.
I find specialized workers for projects by asking Jill! Jill is our neighbor at the office with a seemingly endless store of good people to paint, to do this and that. If you don’t live on the same street as Jill, the advice still holds. Ask your neighbors. Or Hill friends who have been here long enough to develop their own stable of workers.
Asking Jill or your neighbors for recommendations can lead you to the individuals who have been painting or carpentering or doing electrical work on their own for years. But you may prefer larger companies whose signs you see around the Hill and who are probably the ones advertising in the Rag.
Once you find even one worker you like (painter, plumber, handyperson) you can ask him/her for people whose work THEY like: mason, tile installer, etc.
Welcome to the Hill and welcome to the roller coaster of homeownership. |
