So here's the second chance for you to praise, slag off or pontificate about someone else's garden. In case you're new to this fandango, it's simple: I show you a picture of a garden, and you judge it "hot or not". This particular garden's around the corner from where I live, and for some reason it always catches my attention, so I thought I'd see what you make of it.
Just add your thoughts below: please start with a "hot" or a "not" so I can tally the votes with ease. You can be a Simon Cowell or a Cheryl Cole-style judge, but please don't sit on the fence. You rated the first Hot plot or not?, a scene from Butchart gardens on Vancouver Island, a resounding "not", with just two "hot" votes disagreeing. Let's see if this front garden fares any better.
Oh, and if you dare, you can submit a picture of your own garden for judging by the masses by emailing me with details of who you are and where you are, and a pic of the plot to be judged.
Not: The white paint is doing the hard work and the green stuff just looks strangled by the naff herringbone. Very tidy though!
Posted by: Bartango007 | September 02, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Not. I wanted to like this as often the key to these Victorian house small front gardens is a smart simplicity, particularly if low maintenance is a requirement. Even with just three plants it isn't simple enough as the wisteria and the box(?) don't work together - one or the other would have been better. The box(?) balls look a bit scruffy and would have looked more pleasing planted further apart. I hope they've got the window pots and trough tied on well!
Posted by: Arabella Sock | September 02, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Arabella, I think from memory that the balls are actually bay, which is probably why they look a bit scruffy ...
Posted by: Jane Perrone | September 02, 2009 at 02:33 PM
NOT - there's minimal and then there's just a bit dull. Still, it beats having a wheel-less Cortina in the front garden any day. But can anyone do enough cooking to justify that number of bay leaves?
Posted by: Dawn | September 02, 2009 at 02:38 PM
True Dawn, that's a lot of casseroles.
There's something about the scale of the balls that just makes me chuckle, too - they're just too big!
Posted by: Jane Perrone | September 02, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Not. Those bay trees look like a pair of enormous boobs in the garden!
I think you've found another contender for my Unusual Front Gardens strand ;)
Posted by: VP | September 02, 2009 at 03:02 PM
Hot. I lived in what could be a clone of this house for many years, most are lumps of concrete or worse. I personally love Wisteria and Bay, allthough I would let the Bay 'loose' a bit.
Posted by: David | September 02, 2009 at 03:06 PM
VP, I am glad you said that because it's exactly what I think every time I walk past...
Posted by: Jane Perrone | September 02, 2009 at 03:35 PM
Not. Too sterile and dull (although better than no planting at all, I guess). Would be better with the lollipop trees removed and some big pots with more interesting/less formal plantings added.
Posted by: Jane in Edmonton | September 02, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Not.
Dull in spite of its boob motif.
Although, and this may be a gender thing, I think they look a bit too testicular to be boob related.
That is, after all, undoubtedly a bloke's garden.
Posted by: JamesA-S | September 02, 2009 at 06:50 PM
Hot Hot Hot
I love it. I really like it. It may be a tad buxom but I really really like it.
Posted by: Woody Wilbury | September 02, 2009 at 09:12 PM
Hot. obviously it would be good to see a bit more greenery but it looks easy to look after, which is always good in the easily-neglected front garden. Also, there is alot to be said for having a front garden that makes people giggle, whatever the reason!
Posted by: Lia Leendertz | September 03, 2009 at 09:51 AM
In fairness, it is miles better than most front gardens. Most of the ones on our street have two large green bins as the focal point, although there is something slightly boob-like about those two trees. I'd give them ten out of ten for trying. Most front gardens just make me grumpy.
Posted by: Isabel@fennelandfern | September 03, 2009 at 11:27 AM
I agree - it's hot compared to many, but overall sort of....hmmmmm.
I propose another category for those somewhere in between hot and not - the Lukewarm ones - and furthermore I propose we call that category "Biggins".
This garden is definitley Biggins.
Posted by: The Garden Monkey | September 03, 2009 at 07:04 PM
Sorry, no sitting on the fence around here Garden Monkey ...
Interesting how this garden is splitting opinion down the middle.
Posted by: Jane Perrone | September 05, 2009 at 07:35 PM
NOT! Where's the grass?
Posted by: Susan | September 06, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Not. Exactly, Susan. Where's the grass or groundcover? Obelisks or cone things might look better than the breasts.
Posted by: Vivienne | September 08, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Not!
I agree with VP, my first thoughts were that they resembled breasts. Or oversized lollipops. They're not exactly the same size and the lack of symmetry throws it all off.
I think the idea is minimalist and it definitely suits a certain type of person.
Posted by: alan | September 10, 2009 at 08:45 PM