Doesn't that meter have to be read periodically? In which case, an evergreen shrub (or any shrub) poses a problem. How about an ornamental grass, which could be moved aside easily--though of course there's a period of about three months after you cut the grass and are waiting for regrowth when the meter would be exposed.

A quick phone call to your utility company may be worth while. Many of them have adopted the newer method of meter reading available through technology; the meter reader remains seated within a vehicle scanning each meter while driving by. If this is your situation then evergreens may be planted to hide the meter. If each meter is still being read individually on foot then plant a yew in front of the meter and keep it trimmed to the exact meter height and maintain a width so one can reach over the shrub to read the meter. This will require constant and tight pruning, but it can be done.

Thanks for the good ideas. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the deal fell through. We found serious structural deficiencies upon inspection of the house. Our latest contract is on the house that I linked to this message.

Another blank slate as far as the garden goes. I like the idea of an ornamental grass in the foundation planting. I'm drawing a blank on what other shrubs would look nice at the foundation. A rhododendron maybe? Suggestions? The house faces Northwest.

What style of house would you call this anyway? Cape Cod?

dan

Here is a link that might be useful: house with blank slate

That is a foursquare.

Good luck with your contact on this one.

The American Foursquare is called a variety of things - box house, a cube, a double cube or, simply, a square type American house. It came on the scene around 1890 and was popular into the 1930s.

The foursquare is typically a two-and-a-half-story house on a full basement, with a monitor dormer in the attic. A variation here though in that the typical foursquare has a pyramidal hip roof. Front porches run the full width of the house, with two, three or four simple columns supporting the porch roof. At some point in its history, bet in the 50's or 60's, this porch was enclosed.

The foursquare is a nearly square house with square shaped rooms. The first floor typically has four rooms, including an entry foyer or reception hall, living room, dining room and kitchen. Upstairs, three bedrooms and a bath all in their own corners.

Most of the landscaping I see for the fronts of these houses is knife edge sharp sheared yews. You definitely wouldn't want anything growing up beyond the porch windows. Grasses - or a grass - would be nice as an accent, but it could get lost against the backdrop as could any shrub flowering white. Rhododendrons can sprawl.