California Gardening: Parking strip planting: what is this?, 0 by Twincol

Twincol wrote:
imapigeon, the look is to be formal. Actually, I started a thread a month or so ago looking at an "urban" British pocket garden-like look . . . not be be confused with cottage garden. WeelNel's history of British gardening in that thread describes a time during WWII which included edibles in most gardens, which some of us inexperienced US landscapers might confuse as cottage.

That said, I'm looking for, perhaps, a more formal, symmetrical-style garden. I may simply be splitting hairs here. WeelNel has provided wonderful detail and plant suggestions for this effort / effect and I must still sink into the information and digest it. She's been a wonderful resource. Nevertheless, I am thinking that this parking strip running East/West and in full summer sun much of the afternoon, can be handled with our "local" hot/dry planting without distracting from the planned overall effect closer to the house, if I keep it simple and low. I also hope to distract from the absence of a completed yard by displaying the ongoing steps toward completion of the landscape work. Have I thoroughly confused you?

The attached pic of my grandfather's home in The Cotswolds probably illustrates the desired look best, although I am really trying to duplicate the experience, rather than the entire look. Keep in mind as you look at this photo, that the stone fence you see is right on the sidewalk, which is right on the street/curb. There is no "parking strip," as it were. Do I continue to confuse? If so, it is probably because this is still fresh to me.