Are they arborvitea? Box shrubs?

I want to grow a dense shrub wall, just about 2-3 ft high, between my lot and my neighbor's. Maybe 12 ft long, 2 ft wide.

How long will it take to do this? Can I buy some and plant them close together, or do they need to just take the natural course?

I'm in SE Michigan, BTW. Probably not a good season, and if not, when?

Arbovita is correct but would get expensive to do with this. I would use "privit hedge" For this purpose. Usually come packaged 25 per cont. The grow fast and dense. Also you can trim easily if you don't want too tall. Plant 8-12" apart. 2-3 years and you have blocked out any unsightly veiws.

You could try a birch hedge if your going for more of the tree-like hedge, perhaps putting in a few lavendar or rosemary shrubs and letting them grow amongst it therefore creating an aromatic effect.

you could try a birch hedge if your going for more of the tree-like hedge, perhaps putting in a few lavendar or rosemary shrubs and letting them grow amongst it therefore creating an aromatic effect.
Not what they are looking for here, they only want to go about two to three feet high.

Lining our property on both sides are bridal veil bushes, about 3' tall. They bloom in mid-May and form a dense barrier between us and the neighbors' properties but yet can be seen over.

Bridal Veil Bush photo - Hubert Steed photos at pbase.com (http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/29074365)

There are also "dwarf rose of sharon shrubs", which can be quite colorful, and make a nice short hedge.

Come on MOWERMAN, Tuffen up, don't be a whimp. Allergies? Admit it you just don't like having to trim the hedge. LOL Rose of Sharon is nice as well