Unusual Front Gardens #16: Derelict


Whilst on holiday in Ireland, it took me a while to realise these 'houses' were derelict. The brightly painted windows and doors plus the flowers in front with the lush vegetation behind had disguised them. This was right in the middle of the village close to where we were staying, so it was a very prominent spot just a few yards from the entrance to Mount Usher gardens.

Quite a few derelict buildings in County Wicklow sported the painted treatment, but I saw no others with flowers.

Comments

  1. Rose13 November 2013 at 13:35

    Seeing these flowers and the paintings made me wonder who the caring gardener and artist(s) is. Certainly more appealing than a crumbling stone wall! It made me smile:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP13 November 2013 at 13:42

      Hi Rose - it looked like the village street flowers were looked after by the local council. It's likely that these flowers were included in their remit. It made me smile too - especially after I'd realised we'd driven past them several times and not noticed they were unoccupied!

      Delete
  2. Lea13 November 2013 at 15:14

    What a wonderful way to beautify an otherwise drab place.
    Hope you are having a beautiful day!
    Lea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP13 November 2013 at 16:35

      It's been beautiful today, thanks Lea - how's things on your side of the pond?

      Delete
  3. Dobby13 November 2013 at 18:06

    I know of a few 'lived in' houses that could do with the same treatment!

    ReplyDelete
  4. CJ13 November 2013 at 21:12

    I love to see caring little details like this. :A great way of disguising a derelict house, the kind of thing that lifts people's spirits.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pauline14 November 2013 at 07:38

    A novel idea, we could do with more of that to cheer us up on a dull day!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous18 November 2013 at 12:25

    Do you think this has been a thing in Ireland for a long time, or do you think Obama's visit in January got things going? There was a whole lot of fuss about their painting empty shop fronts to look as if they were open when he drove by. Clever.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP22 November 2013 at 12:14

      Hi Helen, I've no idea! Some of the other examples we saw were out of the way, so they wouldn't have been where Obama was going. However, they could have been inspired by the clean-up operation happening elsewhere.

      There's a company based here in Chippenham which specialises in providing 'covers' which are put into empty shop windows to make it look like there's still a shop open there. So the concept isn't restricted to Ireland!

      Delete

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