On "Let's see your arbors and trellises" we began writing about neighboring properties that are a disgrace so let's continue the discussion here and give Jasper Dale his thread back.
Our former neighbors were the town doctors for many years. He died in '93 and she moved in '95. The deer arrived a few years ago and stopped next door...until last year. Now this is what the former beautiful vegetable garden next door looks like:
Yes, we did get a bit carried away off topic. LOL
You know it isn't always messy properties, sometimes it is out of place landscape. I have thought about the topic of "My Neighbors Garden". There was a beautiful wood home near a small stream in a wooded area. Pretty much naturally landscaped. Just a lovely spot. Then one day I drove by and noticed that the wood exterior had been replaced by vinyl siding and artificial stone, not any stone you would see in this area. The garden, also started to change digging up the old natural garden to plant rows of flowers in a regimented look. Not that there is anything wrong with vinyl siding (have it on my house), artificial stone or orderly beds. Just that I don't understand that you would buy something so different than what you like and then change it all. Every time I drive past that house I almost mourn the old one.
Oh I guess I will have to go sneak pictures from the neighbors houses! Thanks pirl for starting this!
BTW...it wasn't bothering me in the least about where that thread was "going", so not to worry, everyone ! Just because I started the thread doesn't mean I hold title rights to it ! LOL
I could post a thousand photo's of "bad properties" right now.
We'd better be judicious on what we take photo's of and what we post, I suppose.
But then again, if they're that bad, this is no doubt the last website the owners would ever visit !
There is a brand new house by our office which is on a corner lot in a very nice neighborhood. Beautiful stonework, plastering, arches and raised planters. You don't even want to see what they planted: All overgrown, potbound, half dead plants that no doubt came from where they used to live. None of it goes together and the place would look better with nothing. It's almost criminal.
Scraggily old ficus trees, fried house plants, poinsettias from 3 Xmas' ago and a host of other nearly dead plants. People just walk by in shock. 2 big cracked plastic pots by the front door with sunburned Dracaena's in them...I'm at a loss for words to describe it accurately.
But then again, if they're that bad, this is no doubt the last website the owners would ever visit !
OK, Mike, then you'll just have to get that camera out and go for a walk!
Meatballs!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, I'm bad, I've seen that one before and like it. As I said in the last thread, "I like unusual and quirky houses, goes for landscape, too. LOL
No, I will stick with my more common landscape and house, but I do like, the odd duck.
Gosh, Sue, I just don't know what to say about the meatballs. In a way I like it. In a way I hate it. it certainly makes a statement. I'm just not sure what the statement says.
Wait till pirl see's those meatballs !!!
That's what I feel about it. It's in a really nice clean neighborhood, the bushes are well tended and neat, so really, not technically a bad yard. It's just, well, they are meatballs!
I keep expecting those meatballs to start moving around to music !
I am also concerned that my property might be one of those posted here! I love my houseplants, but have become discouraged with my gardens and landscaping since the deer eat absolutely everything. It is no fun to have to hide things behind fencing, or continuously spraying just to see a few blooms. My next door neighbors are obsessive-compulsive, and trim their shrubs into those dreaded green meatballs and never let anything look like it would naturally. They even "trim" the woods. I could never live up to those rules! I don't think they have a single plant indoors. This type of ultra manicured landscape looks pristine, but where in nature do you see this?
Too many of my neighbors use fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides to create their ideal lawn. We have wells in my area, and with each application comes contamination to our drinking water, and to those who live downstream. I'm sure those who apply these things would be the first to complain if they found contaminants in their own well. But then, they are more concerned about how things "look" than what is right.
Sorry about the rant, but I have spent a good deal of time volunteering to educate people about what is happening within any particular watershed area. And when I feel as though I am doing what is right, and looks natural, only to have a neighbor criticize me because I don't fit their "ideal", makes me just a bit defensive. This is no attack on anyone here - I agree with you. But I am never going to have the type of yard or garden which would be considered for Better Homes and Gardens!
Neither am I ever going to have that BH&G look, not my style and this thread was started because we were all rambling about the actual eyesores some of us have as neighbors on the Trellis thread, not that they have flaws in their gardens. It was mostly about the collection of non gardening 'stuff' and junk, dead plants, flapping plastic landscape cloth and hideous house colors, like my rant here.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6414021
I gave up on perfect designs the first year I lived here, Mamasita, because the gophers invariably killed about one-third of all the things I planted. It really wreaks havoc on designs.
Mamasita, I have been to several seminars that discuss lawns. How bad the manicured single grass lawn is for the environment. I've seen pics of some very nice green spaces, meadow grass lawns and common areas. Many of these homeowners have had to fight their local home assoc, township or local governing bodies. As these were considered weeds. A friend that lives on a main street in a very small town had an ongoing battle with the town. Her husband is a professional garden designer, specializing in natural plants, butterfly gardens. Works for one of the largest local companies in the area as head designer. Even with his credentials he had repeated issues with the towns ordnance officer over their butterfly garden. I've seen his garden, it is not a lot full of weeds. There are paths, benches and a water feature. Just because he doesn't grow roses or clipped hedge doesn't mean it's not a well tended garden.
Those green meatballs had my stomach feeling uneasy. After a drink I'm sure I'd see them moving and they'd be giving me nightmares.
Here are some giant green meatballs!
Then there's always the view from the window...
Before anyone gets alarmed thinking how I could have taken such a photo let me tell you it simply isn't easy being the next door neighbor to a martyr, a professional martyr at that. I'd never have taken this photo of a friend but she made it far too easy and much too tempting for me!
I have to laugh at that one pirl--just too funny.
Can we assume you're not too crazy about this neighbor, Pirl?
I dislike those sculpted shrubs, too, but I suppose the alternatives could be even worse. Some people see the beauty, and others see disaster. My mantra has changed over the years to, "Someday....someday....". I need acreage with no one else within a good 1/4 mile in all directions so I can grow things as I please, without offending anyone else. In my feeble mind, there is much to be said for simplicity.
This is just a little off topic, but actually hits right to the heart of what I'm trying to say. Conformity, and others' expectations sometimes overshadow hidden beauty. Some of you may already have seen this on the news, but it bears being viewed once again! Please see it all the way to the end, as I think that's the message.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related
My dear Godmother, always said: In simplicity there is beauty.
I truly think most people view shrubs just to fill space and think it's required but never consider the watering needs (like Sue's neighbor), or eventual size, or whether they or other plantings are even hardy in their area. They fill the vacancies with store specials and view themselves as fortunate if the plants grow up to be giant meatballs. There is such beauty in a pine, a forsythia that isn't a yellow meatball, an azalea or a rhododendron that grows naturally but many people just won't allow the natural beauty to shine through.
The video was spectacular, emotional and very heart warming. Thank you, Lynn.
I get choked up every time I view it, but it's the message behind the performance that comes through loud and clear.
It was beautiful and made me cry! It reminded me of Paul Potts in 2007 who went on to win. His singing still gives me chills. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA&NR=1
And I absolutely loved this little surprise! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn5L5U92_54&feature=related
This message was edited Apr 16, 2009 7:52 AM
Holly I understand about wondering that:
There was a beautiful wood home near a small stream in a wooded area. Pretty much naturally landscaped. Just a lovely spot. Then one day I drove by and noticed that the wood exterior had been replaced by vinyl siding and artificial stone, not any stone you would see in this area. The garden, also started to change digging up the old natural garden to plant rows of flowers in a regimented look. Not that there is anything wrong with vinyl siding (have it on my house), artificial stone or orderly beds. Just that I don't understand that you would buy something so different than what you like and then change it all. Every time I drive past that house I almost mourn the old one.
Now that's the type of situation that makes me wonder, "what were they thinking, then?". Must have had something to do with location. Or price.
Oh my, now look what I've done, I got so sidetracked and this is so off topic again but this Britians Got Talent clip was absolutely hysterical I couldn't resist posting it here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gHvATmUsSg&feature=related
I love the father and son relationship in that one, Sue.
Continuing on with this hijack, look at this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GrOMLylvhQ&feature=related
They're so flawless that they look computerized.
There was a story about Susan Boyle on CBS News last night. They compared her to Cinderella. She was bullied at school because she had learning difficulties.
Yeah, I watched that Flawless group too, they were fabulous!
