They are pom-pom Junipers. I have a few posts around this time: http://www.midcenturystyle.net/wordpress/?p=58

We paid a very nice man $100 to do a really thorough trimming of ours and they’ve stayed nice, just requiring some basic touch ups. The nice lady across the street manicures hers to perfection, I’m not quite as good, but they do take some work.

However, I think they are totally worth it!

But I also found a Q&A from the Carroll Gardens website (Carroll Gardens is a huge nursery in Maryland), where the expert says in reply to someone asking about growing these in other areas:
“I am not very fond of Boulevard Cypress. I admit they look good in the nursery when they just come in from the West Coast, where they are usually grown, and they are tempting indeed. Even without trimming, with age they get brown in the center. The Pom Pom is nothing more than a trimmed Boulevard. You will have to trim it twice a year to keep it in shape. With the trimming, the browning gets worse and after a few years you will throw it away because it had gotten so ugly. Without trimming Boulevard Cypress is a tree — 20 feet or more. Not a good choice; I wouldn’t plant one in my yard even if someone gave me one for free. I suggest you consider Hinoki Cypress or dwarf blue spruce grafted on a standard.”

Wow, pretty strong anti-cypress feelings, eh? I already have a Hinoki Cypress that I love, so I guess I’ll just be happy with her.

That said…I was just thinking about dropping you a line regarding landscaping. We love our little ‘51 Cape Cod bungalow, but its curb appeal could use some major intervention (former owner was a bachelor who spent, thankfully for us, his time and money inside the house). I’d love to see some posts addressing front yards, patios, entryways, general landscaping here!