Need Help! Space to grow plants along drive-35 yrs Habitat

Part of the Federal Wildliife Habitat Program--finally joined up after 35 years of serious gardening from scratch here in a Metro City. Originally steered toward the English Victorian Herbaceous Ribbon Garden concept and got detoured to Wildlife--feeding, babysitting and orphans of the wild-along with neighbors cats and dogs. Forty years at the place we presently call home (a friend reminded me it is a homestead-perhaps, just perhaps--but I still see visions of land, lotta land with 4 foot wide gardens).
Recently we hired the job of replacing the thirty something fence and at present our great fence company is doing just that rebuilding the fence but due to laws will have to move the poles 6" inside the property line. We will have 6" of space on the otherside of the fence. Mind you this is along the neighbors driveways-faces north-yet gets a great amount of light and heat in summer, and yes remember the snows, salts, etc. in winter (our new neighbors have nearly 4" of space they wish to cover with grass I guess-all dirt and weeds at present.) The garden along the drive where a portion of cyclone fence will be installed is edged in a full field of raspberries yummy! Thought of placing on the other side of the fence Peppermint plants (uncase they mow over or drive over-hence one of the reasons the old fence needed to be replaced-ran over 5 times by the prior occupants), or perhaps Korean Hyssop. Both plants are loved by bees and butterfly. Could use a few more ideas beside grass (as I would need to weedwack over the fence-one portion is going to be cyclone 4 foot tall with those wire things on top. Wish not to go over into the neighboring area! looking for something tidy yet says hey I'm a plant and loved by wildlife-I'm tough go ahead mow me, I don't mind salt, wind, cold (sometimes -30 degrees) -this is a long drive 100 plus deep!

It's ashame but not all human neighbors are wildlife lovers-the wildlife injured and orphans arriving in the gardens-one experience definately changed my plans of gardening a certain way as the sound of gun fire (mind you this is a city) and the chase of a lifetime: Humans versus Gods little creatures-a mother opposum with baby on back. She hide her baby and ran. Oh by the way remember never to go out late at night into the dark to pick just one more stalk of rhubarb for that pie. Roar! I thought it was a lion-it was baby opposum.
-Today we have seen much activity in the garden- opposums, squirrels, racoons, birds (love the hawks who love sitting on those perch poles-right next to you exactly two feet away, and the experience of being winged by a red tail hawk); dancing field mice at harvest time (yes they are actually called "dancing" field mice and they dance roughly 6" into the air), as I gave a first time showing of the garden to a neighbor who stood with his dog-shocked-I don't know who was more shocked-my neighbor and his dog or me!!), stray cats-who found homes yet return to sit the day in the gardens with us, the gardeners.

What is the Federal Wildliife Habitat Program ?

Hi lonediver

Had to try something--heard about this many many many years ago--and they came through. Respected by the DNR, the police, the city tree programs, etc..

We have been through much in the city over our 40 year venture at this address with trees, shrubs, etc..--being told to remove. At one point an owl in a tree-a dead branch-they wanted to remove the tree--instead when I mentioned this program they decided to place a toggle bolt instead-yes eventually the branch did get removed but not the tree.

When a chemical spill along the property line occurred (oil plus substance) again the mention of the program brought the State Of Wisconsin into focus, the police cleaning it up faster then the DNR racing to the area and not once but twice the DNR arrived--and the clean up began immediately--wildlife was saturated with the stuff

When a burning bush was told it was in the way (sitting way back on the front lawn)-because a yield sign needed to be installed on a corner and the city claims the first 20 plus feet of your front yard and tells you the law--again the mention of this program, the DNR, etc..--and we found common ground. See a cardinal family had nested there! They return yearly--

When neighbors began complaining about natural Wildflowers--one being our very own wildflower for the state and trying their best to--again the mention of the this program, the DNR, the wildlife arc (a state program)--and all went quiet.

The cost to join-the money is used to safe guard people just like us trying to enjoy the outdoors in their home state, with a little wildlife, and wildflowers and to allow endangered wildlife to remain on the list and not be destroyed by humans, etc.. (just mention an organization-and watch what happens-amazing! hense: People Power.) Yes the government thing with lobbist constantly going for the few instead of the many (if the few had their way we have all concrete and no dirt let alone grass or trees-and that means good bye birdies.. good bye wildlife-I would not want to live without that nor green-ever wonder why we sing so many songs about the green green grass of home)!

Cost is $15.00 you get to name your garden- ours is called "God's Garden" as God watched over this little garden in the city all by himself as the FBI, ICE, Police, etc.. helped clean the neighborhood--unable to go outdoor much over the last five year period--safety, air quality, and all.
They send you a certificate, etc.. and for an additional $25.00 you can receive a plaque for your fence, house, etc. (just received ours and it will be up on the fence after completion). It reads: National Wildlife Federation(R) Certified Wildlife Habitat(TM). This property provides the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover, and places to raise young. National Wildlife Federation(TM); nwf.org

Further information is availalbe at nwf.org Here you can fill in the questionare right on line (we did) and you are off-providing you qualify of coarse. The DNR up here came by and smiled--at least we made another person happy way up in the land of "City". Not to much green here!

Happy Wildlife Days Remain In A Small Portion Of The One Horse Town which Grew To Become A City!

Here's the direct link, for anyone who's interested in more complete information
http://www.nwf.org/backyard/