Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Repetition…

No doubt you’ve heard the design adage that by planting multiples of the same plant you avoid chaos, but this is ridiculous...

Since I can’t seem to stay home for very long these days we were off again last week, this time up to Spokane, WA, to visit my family. We took the long route and spent a night in Yakima. On the way to our hotel I noticed these planters, with their buzz cut Arborvitae, and had to stop and snap a few pictures.

Then I noticed it’s not just the planters, there were circles everywhere! The ashtray…

The picnic tables…

Even part of the building was round…circles everywhere! Then I noticed this circle…

…Homeland Security! That would explain the fortress like plantings, and perhaps that’s way a police car kept circling while I was taking pictures…

32 comments:

  1. LOL, you'll get arrested one of these days while snapping photos :-).

    Too much circular action for my taste.

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    1. I've never been arrested (despite my attraction to danger)...and I'd like to keep it that way!

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  2. It's a wonder your camera wasn't confiscated!

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    1. That would have been a disaster, I had a garden visit scheduled for the next morning!

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  3. That is almost eerie. It is a fortress!!! There is certainly some intimidation factor going on there.

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    1. Oh good word, intimidation. Definitely!

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  4. Imagine what you could do with those planters. Such a waster of potential. And when you do get arrested, don't forget: all publicity is good publicity!

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    1. Ah yes...danger garden and plant lust on the police blotter, I wonder if they include hyperlinks?

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  5. oh the irony of the garish planters and the agency they surround!

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    1. Would hate to think of the possibilities of sprucing up those planters...people might get the wrong idea! Well, at least they were planted. It would have been much worse if they were just left to collect trash.

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  6. As it goes for our soldiers, so it goes for our plants. Buzz cuts all around! Yuck.

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    1. I didn't include it but there was one photo where one of the Arborvitae had a cowlick, just a little tuft that was not a uniform flat-top. There is always at least one in every crowd.

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  7. AnonymousJune 12, 2012

    probably the planters exist so no one can drive a vehicle into their building....those planters are functional stoppers would be my guess.

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    1. Yes once I saw the sign I figured that was the case.

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  8. Security bollards...good thing you didn't look like me or have your head scarf on:-) I am surprised you didn't get stopped, actually. I can't tell you how many times I have, even in a less "secure environment", 1X in my own courtyard...

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    1. In your own courtyard? Seriously? Like they thought you were breaking into your own house? Crazy.

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  9. I would like to see someone steal in by night and put smiley faces on all of those circles. Finally: a use for emoticons that I could get behind.

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    1. That would be fabulous! I'll buy the paint and point you in the right direction...

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  10. It's all about conformity and security, but they couldn't even trim all the trees the same height. Sheesh.

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  11. sandy lawrenceJune 12, 2012

    Loree, I can see it now: You inside, sitting at an interviewing room table, recorder on 'play', saying, "I'd like to interrupt this interrogation by giving you some plant guidance ... As an American, I protest your ugly, poorly clipped and boring plant choices. Security can imbue beauty AND function. Liven it up here, people!"

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  12. Snoring. Well, it could have been dots of red white and blue impatiens. I'm surprised they only circled you. How tolerant they're getting.

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    1. Oh yes! If you look closely there is space to plant around the bottom of each shrub. They could tuck them in just be fore the 4th for a patriotic display!

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  13. Petunias, not impatiens, sorry.

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    1. Petunias really would make a bigger impact.

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  14. The imposing landscaping seems apt for the building and the services they offer. The risks some bloggers have to face eh :)

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    1. All in the name of reporting...glad you understand.

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  15. An Agave in each planter instead of arborvitae would have been awesome, but I guess it is too cold there for Agaves?

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    1. Funny you should say that, actually it's not and tomorrow (Thursday) I be posting pictures to prove it! Just think how a few Agave and spiky Cactus would amp up the security factor...

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  16. Don't worry, I'm sure they've got your license number and will be knocking on your door at any moment.

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  17. Places that require security tend to use large rocks here in Austin. This is the same idea, I suppose.

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