My old subdivision had very strict rules about what residents could put in their yards. Not only did it detail what kind of grass, flowers, bushes and trees were allowed, it absolutely forbid what the documents referred to as “garden kitsch.” Woe be to the resident who stuck so much as a gnome out front. Stern warnings were sent from the property manager, then the attorney. If that didn’t get results, the homeowner was summoned before the Covenants Committee to explain his or her blithe disregard for THE RULES. The Covenants Committee had the ability to levy fines – as much as $100 per day – in order to convince the resident to comply. If the scofflaw still didn’t toe the line and remove the offending object(s), the homeowner’s association actually had the ability to place a lien against the property to collect the fines plus all associated legal costs, and to eventually foreclose on the property.
No such rules exist near the beach. Here, one man’s yard art is definitely another man’s eyesore – or at least eye-irritation. Almost daily, Allie and I walk by this bear. He stands at least 15 feet tall, apparently carved from some ancient tree.
I can’t even imagine the story behind this big guy. But every time I pass it, I want to yell at the house, “What were you thinking?”.
Then there’s this:
There are no words. Seriously. People who think a statue of a chimpanzee belongs in the garden are obviously disturbed. Note the giant snail next to the chimp. We walk as fast as we can past this house.
But then there’s this pirate. I can’t figure out why he is leaning up against a garage door and not displayed prominently mid-yard. He’s so… what’s the word?.. piratey!
I just love his face.
If he was in my yard, I’d dare the Covenants Committee to make me take him down.
