Friday, November 25, 2011

When Good Yards Go Bad

I'm loving this "bad" theme here lately, so I think I'm going to start a sporadic series focusing on something I think a good deal about while shaking my head.   Bad yard taste.   And let me stop the hate mail here... I'm all for personal expression: garden gnome check, flamingo or two, check, wild garden for lawn check.  But there are some things, I believe, that happen out there to yards, that we can all agree is just.. well, there's no nice way to say this: an abomination.

So here is my first entry to the "When Good Yards Go Bad" series, its worth clicking on to get the full effect:

Replacing all grass in front yard with Yaupon...hell yeah, all of it!

I give you not two, not three, but 4 rows of yaupon holly (and a short 5th if you look close), with rows three and four having no space between each other or between row 2.   And even the two rows originally meant to flank the front walk are close to growing together.  And lets not forget there was money changing hands for someone to turn this entire front yard into meatballs.   I kid you not folks, these people, in a highly affluent neighborhood, have decided to fill their entire front yard with meatballs.   I couldn't even get the other half of them in the same picture.  They have another double row leading down the path to the back yard.   I only wish I could get the whole effect on camera like you can if you happen to come across this place in town.

I love hedge, yes I do.





Posted by at 6:46 AM
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17 comments:

  1. AnnelieNovember 25, 2011 at 7:26 AM

    Hysterical!
    Agree on the poor taste.
    So many times I have been tempted to share bad taste.
    Perhaps I will join you.


    annelie

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  2. compost in my shoeNovember 25, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Meatballs rule!

    At the very least they might consider growing some interesting vines like the big, fat flowering clematis, adding a textural juxtaposition unlike any seen in those formal menageries.

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  3. Antique ART GardenNovember 25, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    I have seen this house many times. You know why they do it. Too many tourists in Charleston, walking around taking pictures( like me), and they want privacy, even privacy afforded by giant round living balls. Someone grew some hollies, and they just let them get to be the giant meatballs that they are.Kids love these. take care, Gina

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  4. Casa MariposaNovember 25, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    They look like alien life pods. I used to live in SC and homes landscaped this way always made me suspicious. I was always waiting for some slime covered mutant to come bursitng out. Thankfully, I'd watched a lot of X Files and knew an ice pick to the neck would save me. I just had to carry a purse large enough to hide the ice pick.

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  5. HolleyGardenNovember 25, 2011 at 4:09 PM

    Perhaps they are allergic to grass?

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  6. AnonymousNovember 25, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    I am proud of my state. Meatballs are good, but I would have sprinkled in Italian Cypresses for a real dramatic effect.

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  7. JessNovember 26, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    I totally think that could be a legit reason!.. sometimes the tourist here make me feel like I'm in a zoo. i.e. "see native inhabitant take out trash." And heaven forbid, during garden tour season, they get used to going onto private property, and you can see them contemplating coming up my driveway and seeing what's in the back garden.. with me standing right THERE!

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  8. AnonymousNovember 27, 2011 at 4:36 PM

    I hate to say this but it has gone so far over the line that it has almost come out on the other side. I kind of like it--surreal.

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  9. TheGardeningBlogNovember 27, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    What were they thinking??

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  10. JessNovember 27, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    Carolyn - I wish the pictures did it more justice... it is actually unbelievable, and without a doubt the only time I've ever seen anything like it. And they are clipped to minute perfection.

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  11. GRACE PETERSONNovember 28, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Hmm... WWTT or "What were they thinking?" I love posts like these, Jess. We have to keep a sense of humor about it all. Maybe that's what's happening with these homeowners. They're just really funny, delightful, eccentric, people. Or maybe they lost a bet. :) Keep 'em coming!

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  12. Curbstone Valley FarmNovember 28, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    It is a look...but certainly not one I'd go after. I can't help but wonder what might be living under those orbs...

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  13. AnonymousNovember 28, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    I'm...baffled. And I say this as the owner of a giant metal lawn-chicken.

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  14. JessNovember 28, 2011 at 11:35 PM

    Carolyn - I double dog dare you to suggest this to one of your clients... if they seem to be warming to the idea I'll drag my step ladder down there to get the best shot so you can really show them how to pull off the design. :) hhehe.

    Ursula - lol. giant metal chicken indeed. You might be next :)

    All - thanks for the comments! I think I'm going to have trouble topping my first exhibit but I'm sure I'll be able to dig up something around here...

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  15. Chloe mNovember 30, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    I am sure Freud would have a heyday trying to analyze why someone would fill their yard with those. Yikes!

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  16. DariciaDecember 1, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    i don't know about freuid, but now that rosey brought it up, i'm having a field day thinking about it! hahaha! seems like topiary gone wild...maybe they went overboard, but it can be pulled off sometimes, don't you think?

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  17. AnonymousDecember 11, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    As my mother always says ....it takes all kinds......

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