Healing Gardens: Privacy

Four neighbors at crossroads.
My unit is straight ahead behind the fences.

We are four neighbors in proximity who have privacy issues. Two side by side can see into one another’s patios despite a partial fence between them. Most dramatically, two diagonally across from each other can see directly into each other’s patios and living rooms. My issue was neighbors behind me seeing directly into my patio from their second floor windows. 

Solution for Side by Side

A top-of-fence planter was installed to give visual height to the partial fence and distract people’s vision. Unseen are two heat pumps surrounded by plants.

Note planter on top of fence
 between two side by side neighbors.

Solutions for Diagonal Views 

Tp protect her from diagonal neighbor's view, the person behind me built a paver tower in the corner of her patio for a tall plant and surrounded it with other tall plants also on pedestals.

Tall plants on pedestals.

 

The other diagonal neighbor who is next door to me got a tall planter box for the edge of her patio and put plants beneath, inside, and surrounding the box.

Note dark wood planter on stilts to the left
and behind large pink blossoms.

Solution for Seen from Above 

My solution was to plant small trees: one beside my patio, one in a large pot on the patio and one by the fence separating me from the neighbor directly behind me. The trees screen my seating areas from immediate view and provide shade from the direct morning sun. 

Small Dogwood beside my patio
screens view from one neighbor behind me.

Potted Crape Myrtle on patio and second Dogwood to the right
(see branches) screen views from neighbor behind me.

My trees provide 'borrowed scenery' for all my neighbors and a Buddha statue sets an appropriate tone for resolving issues.

Buddha on my patio table establishes peace
 for the neighborhood.