Would you be offended...

[raisedbedted]

Yesterday our village had an Open Gardens event in aid of the local church roof.  I am known to many as I do voluntary work in the wildlife resever park and am a member of the horticultural society etc.  I guess I and my partner are comparatively young at the 40 mark (read 42!) compared to most other attendees.

Anyway..the open gardens were 7 different gardens and at one of them I saw a plant that I wanted to make a note of and so asked the owner what the plant was, and whilst he was there I took a picture of it for later recollection.  The owner then said 'look I don't mind you taking pictures of plants but I don't want you taking any of my house'.  I felt fairly affronted by this, maybe it was partly my fault for not changing from my garden grubby clothes but it did give me some idea of what it must be like for proper youngsters these days with such prejudice and distrust.

[raisedbedted]

[Jeannine]

No, I wouln't have been offended and I don't think it would have mattered how you were dressed. Pictures of houses have turned up in magazines and owners have then had lookie lous coming and  peering at them and even coming on to the property to ask if they can look around. Had you been dressed  in mink I still think he would say it, as he would not know what  pictures  you wanted after the plant . I think he has probably experienced this in the past. News photographers often do this and it does cause aggrevation to the owner.That is what he probably thought you were.

Looking at it from that pount of view, he was probably nervous.

XX Jeannine

[:(]

No I wouldnt be offended. He has every right to make it clear to people on his property what is acceptable and not acceptable. People taking pictures of others houses is a security risk.

[raisedbedted]

Though probably not as much as a security risk as opening your garden to the public where anyone can see exactly what you have and what security you have?  If I was 'casing the joint' I think I'd be a little more surreptitious!

[sunloving]

I would have just thought he had a problem with his delusions of grandure.

facts are he opened his garden asking people to pay to come and see it.

If he was so sensitive about his house then he should not be opening to the public and charging for it.

I have to say that whilst i love the yellow book scheme you do get some quite haughty and hostile people as hosts. maybe they have had people be rude to them about thier gardens and it makes them grumpy but the bottom line is that if you arent a people person then dont open your garden!
I took my dad whose a dahliaholic to a open garden in denton ful of dahlias and he tried tot alk to the man about how he grew his plants and the man was so patronising and haughty that i felt really sorry for my dad who was just showing a bit of enthusiasm for the plants.

i hope that the other gardens made up for the grumpy gardener. I dont think its a security risk or that prospective burglers come round posing as garden enthusiasts to get a look at your house its just allowing paranoia to ruin how you treat people
x sunloving

Never met a grump at an open allotment day!

[raisedbedted]

Thanks sunloving, thats my take on it too.

Yes the other 6 were lovely people more interested in sharing than showing off.  Now have loads of pics of plants (not houses or bags of swag) that I want to buy.....

[PurpleHeather]

Just be thankful, like me. You have nothing worth stealing.

They obviously have.........Rather a silly admission since you were not interested until they mentioned it.

Just PM with all the photos and the address and I will sus it out and cut you in with the profit from the proceeds.......lol

[timnsal]

We're running an open gardens this weekend (for the church tower, though, not the roof) and as it's a first time venture, we asked the next village how they did it.

It was recommended that we advise garden owners to lock doors, close curtains and don't allow anyone in the house, as it has been known for people to use it as an opportunity to see what's available. Nothing about photos though. They said their info was based on the yellow book guidelines.

I don't think I'd be too bothered about them taking pictures of the house - just surprised if they wanted to! On the other hand, when I took pics of the gardens for the website, I did try as much as possible not to include the houses.

Sally