Our lot is situated on a street that is adjacent to a very busy street that has an S-curve where our lot is right in a curve of the S. So people have to slow and people have to look at our side lot. If I didn't have shrubs, trees and, the focus of this post, Helianthus tuberosus or commonly called Jerusalem Artichoke our garden would be fully exposed.
A closer look here.
A glance from the patio toward the corner of the garden.
Every year I get people commenting about these tall beauties. However I wouldn't give them to everyone that asks for a start. This is a wildflower and well, it acts like one. If you put them into a cultivated bed you really have to keep after them as they will try to take over. However they are worth it if you want something tall and blooming their heads off this time of year. The birds, bees and bugs love em too. As their name suggests there is an edible part of this plant. The roots are thick and I have sliced them into salads. They are sort of crunchy and give that texture of water chestnuts but they have more flavor.
While they are the sturdiest 10'tall flowers I am aware of hurricane force winds, that being 60mph, will blow them down. I am thankful that the Martin Houses withstood the winds. So I would say that if you want some natural screening that doesn't take years to develop this is a good way to go. Just remember that it won't be up during winter, hurricane winds will take them down and I am not so sure you can ever eradicate them if you tire of them.
Edit: I had to change the date for posting to today since I started this post several days ago and then got sidetracked. Ha.. sorry about that. 
