I'm relatively young so I consider the fact that I actually own a home in the San Francisco Bay to be a very fortunate situation. As comes with owning a home also comes of course all the worries. What's really bugging me, and the reason for me writing this post, is that my neighbor planted a few ears of corn in our shared planter! I could understand if farming was our livelihood and we lived in such a community, but we're smack down in the middle of a metropolis. My yard is well landscaped and this hodge-podge next to me is really annoying and I worry it could bring down my house value. Thoughts?
I think it's kind of cool! I would love to see some corn growing in the rather boring suburban landscaping selection that is so often repeated along the streets. I have a neighbor who plants corn and squash in among her roses and ornamentals every year and it is has a cheery and homelike effect. She cuts and uses the stalks to make a harvest decoration for her doorway in the fall once the corn is gone. I can't imagine it being anything that would affect value - if anything, it might even make it seem like a friendly place. Only drawback is if you are in an area with foot-traffic, the ears may go missing as soon as they ripen. ;-)
That would make me feel at home.I have a little bit of everything growing in my yard .Peppers and tomatos and there would be corn if I'd had time to plant it.The neighbor just needed Scarlet Runner Beans next to the corn stalks for the beauty of the blooms would really stand out and the beans are soooooo good to eat along with the corn.I have Watermelon (Sugar Babies)growing around my zennias and eggplants mixed in too.Hycinth Vines running around with the scarlet beans. Knowone cares.Every now and then live and let live.
If it truly bothers you, there are many communities that have very restrictive C,C&R's that are designed to prevent just such things. Not my cup of tea, but many folks like them.
Traditional British cottage gardens often included edibles. Corn can make a lovely screening plant, provide food for people or animals, and in autumn become a decoration. At any rate, it does die eventually and then it's gone, can't see it affecting your house value in any way.
At least it isn't the kind of plant that will seed your yard and try to take over. Just smile and you might get some fresh corn this fall.
It is great to see ears of corn don't get me wrong, i love farms, farmland and everything to do with them, it's just seems "out of place." I guess I'll just think of it as being cool As for writing the city, thats an option i suppose. I'm more or less just venting...
I sympathize with your feelings. But I think the corn should be okay there as long as it doesn't look dirty and attract nuisances such as bugs and ants.
Who is to say just what should be planted in front or behind your house. I think the restrictive covenants that prohibit produce are invasive to the homeowner. I have friends who cannot even plant any produce in their back yard unless it is totally unseen from the front of their house. Vegetables can and are just as interesting and beautiful as many other plants. I also feel that people who plant editable plants in visible spots are usually more likely to maintain the planting better then those who just throw in some flowers and then let them weed over. I was the president of our homeowners association for 7 years and have learned a lot about the realities of the cries of "you will hurt my property value", that is most usually the battle cry of the uninformed or the troublemaker. There is not much really that a normal homeowner can do to "hurt my property value". You really have to have a mess of a house to hurt your neighbor's value. Also I have spoken to a few realtors who vary in opinion but for the most part they say that unless your neighbor has cars up on blocks and piles of trash all over there is very little that can affect your property value. I am also of the opinion that I am going to be here for a long time. This is my first house and most likely my last house (10 years next Feb.), so do what ever you want next door and I will do the same. I think that homeowners associations are something created by lawyers and insurance companies to create revenue rather to protect the neighborhoods. What ever happened to normal city streets where the town code and ordinances were enough and there was no need for your neighbors to feel the need to dictate in addition to the town what you can do on/with your property? I have had a vegetable garden in my front yard for over 4 years now and have only heard positive comments. I even live at the front entrance to my neighborhood. No one come or goes without viewing my veggies. Check out my blog http://www.gardenstew.com/blog/index1287.html . Dan please don't feel that any of this is an attack on you as I reread it is seems harsh but I have just been grumpy for the last...few years . I now decend from my Grumpy soap box and go out to weed my beans . Sincerely, Uncle Jabba
