Team Whimsy or Team Traditional?

A little traditional, or a little whimsical: which one describes your gardening preference? Do you find yourself drawn to the little gnomes or the more formal topiaries and containers? Would you tip a container on its side in the middle of your garden, or are your evergreens standing in neat rows?

When I think of traditional gardens, I think of a more formal approach, although I don't necessarily think that needs to be the case when defining "traditional". Traditional can also mean that the colors and textures are more expected. Plantings might be done by threes and fives in all the same color, complete with two urns with standards on the porch.

Whimsy is something unexpected found in your garden, and it is almost sure to make you and all who see it smile. A sewing machine tucked behind the shrubs. A turtle peeking out of the tulips. A tea pot as a planter. Perhaps fun birdbaths or other garden art suit your style better. Or maybe you'd just rather play with color and texture in an unconventional manner.

Trish said:I'm going to claim Team Whimsy this week! I used to bat for Team Traditional, but more out of fear than anything else. All gardens are beautiful, but I admit to being drawn in to a whimsical garden. Traditional gardens make me stop and admire their beauty, but from afar. Whimsical gardens invite me in and ask me to take my time, wander around, touch, smell, and enjoy. My plantings show off a more whimsical style, especially those not directly in the landscaping, which still tends more toward traditional. I am breaking out of my comfort zone and adding more whimsical containers, thanks to the inspiration and encouragement in the containers forum.

Dave said:The monocultural approach of a green, weed-free lawn with crisp concrete borders, roaring lawnmowers, buzzing edgers, straight lines, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and gallon after gallon of spraying water looks nice, but is completely unsustainable in terms of resources available to us as gardeners. For those reasons and more, the traditional formal garden is generally unattractive to me. I much prefer a polyculture of plants, weeds, mulch (leaves, straw, etc). To me, a garden that requires minimal work and resource inputs is the most beautiful garden!

Ok- over to you! Do you bat for Team Whimsy, or Team Traditional? Do you switch teams? Do you wish you were more of the other team? Share your thoughts- and pictures are welcome as well!!

Join us every Sunday for a "Which Team" article!

If you have a suggestion for an upcoming "Which Team" article, Tree-Mail me, and it might just come up!

Photo credits: both beautiful photos are by Calif_Sue.