The Jury is Out on Yard Art

Christy, oh, I would love to see some of your examples.  I have one of my own that I'm thinking of photographing. Are there rules somewhere that say you can't take a picture of something that's in plain view from the street?  Is that a privacy issue?

OOPs, I should clarify a question I posed.  If your clients had figures like the ones pictured at the top of this post, the Gnome Be Gone and the Flamingo Be Gone, what woud you do?  Would you leave it or would you advise that they be put away?  Would it make a difference if they were in the front or back yards or if they were sort of hidden away in plantings or out in plain sight?  So far most people have thought they were funny but would that matter if you were faced with them in real life?

Hmmmm....?

Now this is different, an animated Gnome.  This one waves and says 11 different things.  According to the description, it says things like, "The key's under the doormat", "Steal me away" and "You can't borrow the mower!"   It says he is cheeky-wonder why?

Do you suppose it could be reprogramed to give a description of the house and its features?  It's availble from Amazon.com if you are interested.

Patty, thanks, I'm beginning to notice it more and more now that I've written this.  Maybe it's because it's summer but there seems to be more out there now in the stores and in homes.  Mark's story was great, wasn't it? 

Michelle, I have seen that too-they're called weather rocks.  There is also a weather rope that you can actually buy.  The rope is glued to a sign with similar writing.  The last one says something like "if the rope is moving, you need to get moving too-TORNADO!"  I saw it a couple of times at roadside vegetable stands when I lived in Texas.  People were buying them for the novelty I guess.  There's a certain kind of humor in that at several levels.  I had forgotten about them until you metioned it.  Thanks for bring it up!

Jennifer, I know that in some neighborhoods there is something of a competition to create themes with yard art and keeping up with the Joneses is alive and well.  You drive down the street and it is a bit like a miniature Disneyland with woodland creatures, elves, and more.  Sometimes it is cute and sweet and other times it is just sad and tacky.   It's a fine line but you know it when you see it if it is good or bad.  You have a good point.  Sometimes a vanilla backyard could benefit from the right accent.  Emphasis on RIGHT. 

A flock of flamingos is the signal that someone has reached a milestone birthday in our neighborhood.  No one remembers how this got started.  They arrive late at night and all face the front door in a kind of semicircle.  Around Christmas they have Santa Hats.

Todd, I'll have to go look for your post.  I was just in Texas and saw some amazing examples of good/bad yard art.  I thought about taking photos but your really need to see these in person to appreciate the amazing displays.

Yes, humor is great but you really can't take the chance, especially in this market.  Thanks for commenting!

Cynthia, this is an interesting piece. From the picture you sent it took me a minute to realize that it was a mushroom and then I read your post.  Photos don't always give you the true context of a piece.  The hanging basket is pretty and the bed is nice and neat.  I think for a showing I would remove the mushroom and either add another flowering annual or leave it plain.  Another splash of color would be eye catching from th street.  Just my take.  Thanks for sharing.

Cynthia, oh, well that's different!  I usually group things in threes or odd numbers so maybe your mushroom needs a friend?  LOL! 

Cynthia, oh yes,  I TOTALLY understand your placment issues.  LOL Was this sold as a set?  Thanks for having a sense of humor!  Your garden must be beautiful considering your background in the florist business.  It must come in handy when advising on curb appeal!  Thanks for the photos-worth 1,000 words each.

Kym, you're right, outdoor lighting can make a huge diffrence when it is done well- it makes a property more attractive and can be great for security. Ponds that don't require much maintenance can be a plus though one Realtor I know told me that they can be a lot like swimming pools-buyers either love them or hate them.

Cindy, do you mean that you wouldn't like creative pieces like this "Tweety Bird: or it's friend, the Flying Pig?   

Just think of the scrap metal that has been saved from the landfill by recycling!!!!!!   LOL!

Top these!

If you're interested, these are actually for sale on eBay where you can see all sides of these rare sculptures.