I have seen so many pretty gardens in magazines, gardenstew, and in many different communities. I never fails that I will see the cutest garden idea that I want to run home and re-create. Then I begin to feel as though I may be stealing. Each garden reflects a person's personality and I feel like an identity theif. I would be flattered if someone recreated something from my garden, but a complete recreation would not be so pleasant for me to see. What is the best borrowed inspirational idea that you have or have had in your garden? I want to do a penny-globe or even white x-mas lights in a red globe that someone (you know who you are) did for their x-mas decoration that was sooo creative. Or, have you seen some of your masterful garden designs creep up in a neighboring garden/yard and were you flattered? Gardeners are friendly and share so much with others and I have seen some wonderfully creative gardens. Masterpieces worth imitating
I find that even when ideas are copied, they still get the owner's personal touch, and looks just a little bit different. I've never been copied myself, but I'm sure I wouldn't mind at all. If somebody made a full recreation of my work, a duplicate, and introduced it as their own idea,then I'd think about feeling insulted.
I have a neighbor that does that to me, copies whatever i do, and then announces to all who will listen, that I copied her , she has infact been down right rude to me, and all of the things that i have done, and she has copied, i did first . I have lived on our street for 15 years, and her, only 7, my gardens are established and hers are coming along , i always have people walk by and tell me how cute my house is, and then they look across the street to her's and comment that her's is loud and busy and she doesnt know when enough is enough, i keep my comments to myself :-D . So while i agree that flattery is nice, there is a flip side to it, and i am living it, and it doesnt matter if its summer, it can be the Fall, and if i have 4 pumpkins outside, she needs 5, just to outdo me, same as every year for Christmas
Penny, people like that almost suck the fun right out of gardening! I can get easily inspired by looking at nice gardens, but in the end my new creation is as unique as I am.
You are so right there Netty, i have just learned to ignore her, and when she sayd her nasty comments, lets just say that she's been told :-D :-D :-D :-D
ahhh Penny it sounds like your neighbor has a nasty case of the "keeping up with the Jones" syndrome. Just remember everytime she puts out 5 pumpkins to your 4, or more lights at christmas or over spills her garden an its looking choked,, remember your house is the one that is called cute. I've never had anyone copy me that i know of, but i have drawn inspiration from homes around here an when i lived in the states. but i do have my own ideas too. if someone copied my ideas then more power to them for their lack of imagination. I figure it this way i know what i have done an thats good enough for me. I see no reason not to copy someones idea when it comes to maybe one thing. like D2D says about the penny globes or any other craft or garden section. As long as you add your own touch to it to make it your creation then it becomes yours an not a copy of someone elses. I want to make one of those penny globes,, problem is 1) we only have crowns here not pennies, an 2) i haven't even found a bowling ball in Norway,,, so now the idea is there but it becomes mine because i have to use something else to make it round an heavy an ofcourse i have to use crowns.. but the idea was someone elses who inspired me is all.
Well said Biita, i do what i think looks good for me, and as long as I like it, i really dont care what others think, its when i get accused, and have the nasty comments thrown my way, that starts to tick me off. You said it best though....their lack of imagination, and thats exactly what it is. Happy gardening everyone.
Sorry that I was gone for a minute due to the holiday madness. Happy New Year. I go to some garden centers and look at planting arrangements for inspiration. I think that is what other gardens do, inspire another true gardener. The lady that copies you Penny, is missing all of the joy of gardening and must actually have a jealousy issue with you. I true gardener does concentrate on what makes them feel good and others. SHE is not a true gardener! She is a weed. Well do not loose your joy in your own lovely garden. And remember who the true artist is..YOU.
I know there are not any plant theifs on the stew, but in case anyone gets confused.... stealing plants from a fellow gardeners garden is not the best conpliment.
I have never had anyone copy my ideas on my flower gardens that I know of. I have had people stop or leave me messages about our bird pergola that we built last spring. I know a lot of people wanted one but I am not sure if they ever did it..it was a little expensive using cedar but we wanted natural and something that would stand up to our Wisconsin weather...I guess I would not want people close to copy our idea but I would not care otherwise.. Like the people 2 doors down....that I would not like...of course you know they would build it bigger...LOL. I have never lived by someone else that loved to garden...I would of loved a gardening neighbor to share with. I used to be known as the flower lady out in the country with my huge flower beds...Here we have people come by and snap pictures too.
