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What are front gardens for

(106 Posts)
Biscuitmuncher Sun 30-May-21 19:14:51

My front garden is nice and cool, the back garden gets all the sun. So in the evening we sit in the front with a drink. The amount of times we've been tutted at by people walking by! So is a front just for show?

midgey Sun 30-May-21 19:16:59

Gosh, I would ask what their problem was!

threexnanny Sun 30-May-21 19:20:29

Some houses are built with all the garden at the front and none at the back. It's the people passing by at the front that makes most of us choose to sit in our back gardens if we have them!

Teacheranne Sun 30-May-21 19:21:44

My garden is the same, my front gets the evening sun and I often sit outside with a class of wine after my meal. Round here, most people smile give a cheery greeting or stop for a brief chat - living on my own I welcome the company.

The people opposite me get most of the sun on their front so tend to sit out in the front garden with a cup of tea in the afternoon, again they get a very friendly reaction.

Mattsmum2 Sun 30-May-21 19:36:27

Your house, your rules!

Kali2 Sun 30-May-21 19:37:41

brilliant, enjoy smile

JaneJudge Sun 30-May-21 19:38:42

you get tutted at for sitting in your own front garden? grin what the?

Niobe Sun 30-May-21 20:10:44

I would have a bench at the front of my house if the orientation was such that I needed it there. As it is my back garden faces south-west so I get the sun at the back all day but a few neighbours have a bench at the front.

ginny Sun 30-May-21 20:17:18

Your house , so it’s up to you. where you sit. We were actually saying earlier today that it might be nice to have a bench in the front garden which is south facing.

Marydoll Sun 30-May-21 20:22:15

I enjoy sitting in my front garden, where it's cooler later on in the day. Often people stop to chat or my neighbours tend to come out for a catch up.

BlueBelle Sun 30-May-21 20:36:05

My front garden isn’t big but at the moment full of bluebells and lily of the valley with the strongest perfume ever

Skydancer Sun 30-May-21 20:40:34

BlueBelle your garden is gorgeous. Lily of the Valley takes me back to my childhood and haven't Bluebells been marvellous this year.

Marydoll Sun 30-May-21 20:48:17

I fancied buying some Lily of the Valley plants a few weeks ago. However, the price was extortionate and as I had already spent way over my budget, I resisted! Now I am regretting it! sad
I also have one random bluebell plant growing beside my bins! No idea how it got there! ?‍♀️

Kim19 Sun 30-May-21 20:52:32

I regard my front garden as a bit of light relief from the austerity of the solid grey road and pavement immediately outside. If I fancied sitting out there, I would certainly do so but, happily, I have sunshine and shade in various parts of the back garden at all times of day. That is, of course, when sunshine exists. Today has been my first sight of it for many weeks. Hallelujah!

BlueBelle Sun 30-May-21 21:06:35

If you were nearer I’d give you some plants Marydoll
I don’t have a manicured garden it’s a bit come up where you may kind of garden front and back a lot has self seeded

nadateturbe Sun 30-May-21 22:11:02

Where I live no one really uses their front garden at all, even those who don't get any sun in the back garden. It's a shame because it would be very sociable but its like an unwritten rule.

Marydoll Sun 30-May-21 22:25:47

I live in a cul de sac of 12 houses. At any one time, there can be half a dozen people sitting or pottering about at the front. Most of us have been here since the houses were built 27 years ago. I love living here!

MawBe Sun 30-May-21 22:37:08

One of the saving graces of the first lockdown when the weather was so much better than this year, was sitting outside the front of our houses, having a chat and enjoying a drink with our neighbours. What D in London called “gin by the bins”

MerylStreep Sun 30-May-21 22:46:28

Same here. Very small cul de sac. We had some wonderful front garden meetings. Played music as well, sometimes.

cornergran Sun 30-May-21 22:56:29

We had a bench in the front garden at our last home, in 27 years no one made an adverse comment, on the corner in a cul de sac well back from the road we had lots of waves and smiles. Here we have two wooden chairs and a table under our kitchen window overlooking a landscaped area. What happens? Neighbours come for a chat, we often share a cuppa. Fine by us. Why not use a front garden to sit and watch the world go by?

Maggiemaybe Sun 30-May-21 23:05:37

What on earth are they tutting at?

All our gardens are at the front here - we just have yards at the back. We all sit out front, chat with neighbours and with walkers passing by. Two neighbours have had little parties in theirs this evening, one’s still going on. It’s great to hear laughter and chat and think that life’s getting back to normal.

welbeck Sun 30-May-21 23:15:55

i think the tutters are jealous.

Biscuitmuncher Sun 30-May-21 23:16:52

Maggiemaybe we were sat chatting and a couple went past and said * tut, they should sit out the back!"

Maggiemaybe Sun 30-May-21 23:21:34

I’d have been telling them where to get off, Biscuitmuncher!

NotSpaghetti Mon 31-May-21 02:00:00

I wouldn't sit at the front of my house - I think the garden and parking area at the front are to separate the house from the road and to give me something nice to look at from inside.

I'd feel differently maybe if it was a cul-de-sac.