Michelle,
Could you share with us the name of the community that you have volunteered your to time to and it's zone. I am going to guess that there is a "sunny side of the slope" situation to the street we are discussing. Please let us know how many hours of sun light each street side planter gets.

I have not been directly involved, but there's a big group of volunteers who work on streetscape plantings in my town, Falmouth. We also have a local designer, Paul Mikovsky, who's well known for his xeriscapes and regionally appropriate "local flora" designs; he's done some large rotaries and public areas, like the front of our town hall. His gardens really do evoke a sense of place, and although not everyone likes them, I think they're exceptional.

Many of the gardens that have been built by volunteers look very nice. On the other hand, we have doughnut rings of annuals around the bases of the trees in what would otherwise be an elegant, expansive lawn in front of the library, or the rectangle of dying azaleas baking on a hot windy corner in poor soil (with a badly-installed and superfluous plastic edging strip completing the picture).

If I were working on a project like this, I'd really analyze each site and treat them differently based on accessibility. For median strips, my primary considerations would be finding truly low maintenance plants that will look good most of the year, without needing watering and weeding, and would not block the view of oncoming traffic from either side. I hate to admit it, but grass may be a really good choice in places like that. We've had planters on some median strips, and they look pretty horrendous after they're hit by a car. Getting people to weed and water in traffic islands is tough, as you can imagine. Grass doesn't block the view around the bend, can take an occasional drive-over, and looks reasonably decent most of the time, without being watered or weeded. I can't think of many other plants that fit the bill as well.

Please keep us posted on this project! Landscaping public spaces has got to be awfully challenging, but when it's done well it can really have a big impact on a community.

Three years ago I was partially involved in a process of design and installation of fairly large island-median divider bed at important and highly visible T-crossing in our town.
Beside some obvious limitations to the choice of plants (salt/pollutions/non-watering/low maintanance etc) we also were required to stay in a certain budget, which wasn't very generous, to say the least.
Therefore we were forced to use HD as a primary source for the planting materials.
Believe it or not, if I would of have a chance (and sun) to create similar size bed in my own yard, I wouldn't hesitate a moment to copy it 1:1 for its beauty in simplicity, very low maintanance and four seasons interest, even without a single evergreen.
I don't have any pictures handy, but will try to make them in a next few days and post here.
Anyway, here is the list of plants used there (from memory):
-Dwarf crabapple x 2,
-Rosa Knockout x 2,
-Spirea Goldflame (or Goldmound) x 10,
-Salvia Caradonna x 12,
-Nepeta Walker Low x 12,
-Daylily Stella d'Oro + Happy Returns x16 (total),
-Perovskia x4 or 6(?),
-Sedum Autumn Joy x 4,
-Daffodils x 100-120.
With the exceptions of dwarf crabapples everything else was bought from HD.

i am on the Winchester Street Tree Advisory Committee and we are, as we speak, immersed in our project of planting 70 street trees throughout town. I have done alot of research and would be happy to share. email me at cottonarboretum@comcast.net

best,
mindy

Thanks for the comments thus far - much appreciated.

As it stands there ARE no planters, medians or anything in place in this Zone 6 town. We're almost starting with a blank slate. There are a few spindly looking trees with no grating around them (poor things) and a few round cement planters (typically planted with boring annuals) at one intersection. Other than that - nothing.

This project is an ENTIRE streetscape upgrade including adding steet furniture, highlighing pedestrian crossings, taking down overhead wires and replacing with old fashioned light poles. The committee is convening for the first time next week. I just like to have a jump start to keep the group focused, delegate tasks and not drag out meetings too long.

This is the FIRST phase of the project. If the grant request is approved for phase II - there will be MUCH MUCH MUCH more involved. And I do mean MUCH.

One of the major considerations WILL be watering: how to accomplish it and by whom. There are discussions about the potential to purchase a water truck because installation of an irrigation system is impossible. That or rely on the generosity and availability of our Garden Club members to manage the watering.

Ego - thanks for that list!
Mindy - I'll pop you a note

Start with the maintenance, and then work backwards. Otherwise, you'll end up with the 'typical' street plantings - overgrown, weedy, and half dead.

I have much experience in northern streetscaping both as a designer and as an elected official overseeing such a project. Hopefully your municipality has retained a designer or garden coach or arborist to work with your committee. Hopefully all three professions are on board.

Keeping plantings watered must be at the top of your list. Volunteers generally lose interest in this project over the years. Much better that your municipality take on the watering job. It is up to them to protect the investment they have made in the downtown.

Place planters in front of those stores where merchants are willing to maintain them. Merchant interest is peaked if there is an annual planter contest with monetary rewards for first, second and third place. Combining this with a 'Night on the Town' held by the Chamber of Commerce is a plus.

The following is overlooked, but very important when planting street trees. Have the gas company check all the gas lines along the street for leaks. It is very common for gas lines in older communities to develop pin hole leaks and the gas slowly seeps through the ground following pipes and even tree roots resulting in tree death. No one, even arborists recognize the problem.

Don't overlook the creative ways that hardscaping, planter placement and seating can be used to enhance the project and minimize the need for plantings. Enjoy the process.