A family actively using the front garden rather than allowing it to become yet another space for plants animals and other critters . I asked the owner was there enough space in the back garden for the trampoline and she replied ‘oh yes but we wanted to make use of the back and the front’
Interesting use of the trampoline and granitic sand – not an intended outcome but nonetheless her child was happily under the trampoline for shade whilst using the sand to move his imaginary cars.
To date I have presented three front gardens all designed with a focus on active usage. And guess what? All three houses are within a stones throw of one another. We are in Northcote Melbourne.
Here are the other two posts
http://www.gardenbeet.com/garden_design_blog/2011/06/19/front-garden/
This is so fascinating. We’re in Michigan, and a woman in Oak Park (a Detroit suburb) planted beautiful raised vegetable beds in her front yard this summer and was threatened — get this — with 93 days in jail! She had to fight with a lawyer to keep from going behind bars! So your story fascinates me in that it seems city ordinances are more flexible in Australia, or at least in Melbourne!
omg – that is harsh Emmon!!!
There are some private developments in Australia where strict garden controls apply but there are not many compared to America (from what I understand anyway)
Also I don’t think Australian local governments would impose the controls – its more likely to be a body corporate issue
I am fairly sure in Australia there are a some developments that have restricted planting pallets – but those controls are implemented to prevent weedy species destroying fragile ecosystems – a very different rationale
The Oak Park lady seems to be upsetting an aesthetic sensibility. Oak Park lady may be better off living where her efforts are appreciated
Keep all those tidy town people in one spot – let them live a perfect world and dont let them out.
I was reading your articles on using front gardens and thought I’d let you know a side effect of having river stones/stepping stones instead of lawn (which was never good but gave up completely in the drought) in ours is that the kids play out there with them and make fairy rings etc. It is the cool shady option for us, because we have a big Moreton Bag fig. It is amazing how much people stop to chat if you sit out the front and we have talked to neighbours who never talked just putting out bins etc. So it seems even (mostly) Anglo fairly suburban types are itching to connect with their community, even without high design standards!
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