I love walking or bicycling through neighborhoods, observing front yards. The curb appeal, or lack thereof, speaks volumes about the people living beyond the front door. There are yards that have only a monoculture of grass with neatly trimmed edges, but not a single tree or shrub to add interest. These yards have about as much appeal as a prison yard without the fencing. Occasionally, you see a yard that looks like a flea market in progress, so overdone with yard art and paraphernalia, that you take a second look to determine if they might be having a garage sale. Many yards portray only a sad appearance of neglect. The remaining yards fall in between professionally landscaped, which often look unnaturally perfect – and those which obviously have a gardener in residence, whose love spills out into the numerous plantings and is evidenced by the presence of wildlife.
In my way of thinking, a home begins at the property line. From the moment a visitor steps out of his car and sets a foot on your property, the tone is set for what will be seen inside the front door. In times past, the front porch served as a kind of neutral space – a place where you could exchange words with a stranger before deciding if it was safe to invite him in. A front porch was essential then for many reasons. Prior to air conditioning, it was a place where the family could relax and cool down in the evening, and wave hello to neighbors passing by. It was a place where a portion of the dirt from outside could be left, before entering the home itself, and it provided protection from downpours whilst you opened your umbrella.
Between the 1880’s and the 1920’s, porches became an important feature, especially in the south. Many homes were built with porches wrapping around them, or with two story porches. Homemakers of the time realized the importance of this kind of pre-room that visitors would pass through before entering the front door. Porches were decked out in seating, from straight-backed chairs, rocking chairs, wicker chairs, love seats, and swings – with or without cushions. These were made more alluring by the addition of potted plants and flowers, and large ferns that hung from the roof, their long fronds dancing in the breeze. Sadly, with the dawn of industrialization, fewer homes were built with front porches. People were drawn inside, to their televisions; and as more people could afford automobiles, spending more time away from home, garages surpassed porches in desirability. Homeowners gravitated to the back yard secluding themselves from their neighbors.
I cannot imagine having a home without a front porch. More homes are now being built with a renewed appreciation for the front porch. Our lives are changing yet again, due to COVD19. The ability, if not the necessity, for people working from home, is becoming our new reality. Is it possible that the resurgence of porches will reunite us with our neighbors, giving us a new sense of connectedness in a world where we have been so disconnected?
