The problem is that erecting a big fence (or forest, as you suggest) on your own land to hide it would likely breach regulations such as planning permission (which probably wouldn't be allowed, for something that significantly changes how it looks).
So I think there should be some balance here. If we're saying it's fair game to publish anything you can from a public street, in any way, we should also allow people to take whatever steps they like on their own private land.
But if society is saying that people should be limited in what they can do, even on their private land, because it affects how it looks when viewed from other people's land, then it's also a fair balance to say that you don't necessarily have blanket rights to do absolutely whatever you like with data that's taken of private land.
(With windows, we can close the curtains. If there was a law saying you couldn't close the curtains without permission, I'd also expect laws controlling stalkers who might point a camera through the window all day long.)
FWIW, I think that Google have the right balance (not just legally, but also ethically - Don't Be Evil, remember?), in that they put the images up, but remove them if people object. This photographer may have a legal right to take photos, but others also have a legal right to criticise him for doing so.