QUOTE (spartacus @ Jul 20 2010, 11:28 PM)
Some of the parks and borders around the town are looking good just now I think we'd all agree. Hanging baskets are in abundance too..
(photos from Newbury.net website)
But it must cost a bomb to achieve this look and maintain it. Can such displays REALLY be justified in current times, where every single penny is fought over? Pretty as they are, when it comes to people losing their jobs because of cut backs then I would much rather that these luxuries were cut rather than jobs even if the town becomes slightly duller.
Can they also be justified when water is such a precious commodity and these beds get a daily drenching? Time these displays were sent to the compost heap and the money spent on a couple of cactii...
(or am I just jealous because I struggle to achieve this look in my cabbage patch garden.... and we're water metered so I'm frugal with the watering can)
It will seem to be a little frivalous if the tax payer is footing the bill but we would all be complaining if the effort was not made.
I believe that companies sponsor those displays on the roundabouts.
Iommi is probably right in that they can be targets for vandalism but wouldn't it be great to have those same vandals doing community service to be planting and clearing litter.