Look! Sidewalk/Front Door Garden

Potted plants aren't just for inside the home. We love seeing people use them for outside spaces too, especially in non-suburban areas, where green leafy things are more of a rarity. This particular home in Hayes Valley is one of our favorite examples of expanding your potted garden out from your private space into public space. We like to think of it as city beautification.

The one thing we fear is that some people may take the plants, since they're so easy to carry away. Fortunately, it doesn't seem like theft is a problem here, but we have seen angry notes in other people's front yards condemning potted plant theft.

Comments (14)

I love seeing potted plants around homes, but the OCD side of me hates looking at mismatched pots! Plastic hanging pots from the nursery mixed with terracotta mixed with several different glazed pots mixed with wooden planters make an eyesore to me. If you just stick to inexpensive terracotta or all wood wine barrels as one of the pics above, it creates so much more visual harmony.

The thrifty/waste conscious side of me disagrees with the OCD side if that makes anyone feel better...

I go back and forth about potted plants both on the inside and the outside of my house. I used to have allot of them on the outside due to the fact that I never had an entire yard to plant all to myself and inside because I liked a full and vibrant space. Over the years my collection has diminished because my design taste has become more pared down and minimal and because sometimes they seem, well, dirty. I currently have two plants on either side of my front door and that is enough for me. However, I enjoy a visit to a home like the one pictured above.

Love the way the chair is close to the steps which are close to the sidewalk which might mean that neighbours actually interact.

Really love the pots on the sidewalk but the ones near the door are just a little too messy and mismatched for me. It still says warm and inviting, though!

These are a bit hippy for me, but green plants are better than bare concrete.

What a wonderful translation of the warmth of these people. Even if it's messy, it says something about the importance of being open to strangers and neighbors.

What a lovely place to come home to after a day of work. I don't see plants as being messy or dirty...ever!!! We barricade ourselves from nature too much as it is.

I love the mismatched pots look. I find it romantic.

I think it looks great! Mismatched planters might bother me indoors, but I think it's fine outside.

I'm pretty sure people who steal plants don't go very far in life. :)

these plants look miserable. some look like they are trying to break free from their ugly containers while others look like they have given up the fight altogether.

visitors - especially tall ones - would have to always duck on upon entering or leaving

A pox on potted plant thieves!!! It's akin to stealing a person's pet in my book.