I think you'd need a certain sort of garden for a nude statue to look right. Something fairly formal and classical, perhaps? I've nothing against them in principle, but my garden is far too untamed and agricultural for a nude to look anything other than ridiculous. I like the idea of the vigilante buying them up, though - kind of like guerrilla gardening in reverse!

Yes, I would, but not like these. I'd like something more artistic, metaphorical, alluding to huma nudity but not really--Brancusi comes to mind, then, more reality, Rodin. Nothing wrong with the human body, only how we let some things get in the way to think about it in ways we shouldn't to be whole, connected, et cetera.

No nudes in our garden--yet. Curmudgeon prefers only plants in her garden. Wing Nut is a bit more open-minded and wants to dabble in sculpture or art works. Curmdugeon would probably do it IF it bugged the neighbors. The Wenches are all for nudity in the garden! But we still wear our gloves to protect our hands.

I'm not opposed to nudes in a garden. I'm not sure what the neighbors would think, but since one of them has no problem relieving himself behind his bushes (it's not quite as private back there as he apparently thinks,) I'm not too concerned about what they'd think.

Yes I would but not one of the naff ones they have in garden centres. I have no issue with nudity and having recently done some life drawing classes I am more appreciative of the human form. As for the neighbours -= well they can be pretty annoying with their screaming children so who cares!!

Ha! Classic post, Stuart (so to speak). I, too, loved the idea of the Victorian censor buying up the statues (and perhaps melting them down for their copper and nickel content). And of course I agree with Curmudgeon and Wing Nut--we're all supposed to be getting more vitamin D, right?! But the only naked statuary that's getting a foothold at Hawk's Haven are the blatantly bare stainless-steel gazing balls disporting themselves hither and yon around the property. As for those little-boy fountains, what "Animal House" escapee thought they were funny? Whenever I see one, all I can think about is that ghastly movie, "Prospero's Books"...

Stuart, no nudes in my garden. They are scared off by to many creepy crawlies! I know one private garden where a nude beauty of antiquity peeks from behind a veil of subtle green.

I have a nude in my garden but it's a little cherub. I would gladly take more!

I wouldn't want one in my garden. It would be more offensive to me than any of my neighbors. I really miss the days when people showed less skin and less of their private body parts. I guess not everybody wants to see everything, but I think we are the minority these days.

This reminds me of a trip to a local garden store, which has beautiful display gardens which they integrate the fountains and statues they sell into. They had a copy of Michelangelo's David surrounded by plants. Now all of the adults walked by, not really noticing, but 2 little children stopped and could not let this go. They started pointing, laughing and talking loudly, as children do. Look, look, a (insert childish term for private parts here). It was like a modern gardening version of The Emperor's New Clothes. Their poor embarrassed mother was trying to hush them up and pull them away. It was a hilarious incident.
I'm pretty sure none of the customers bought the statue that day.

I have a neighbour called Mrs Rustbridger. She's a wonderful old prude - and very grumpy.

I'd like to take several statues of the terrible metal lady with the fat legs and emaciated body (that you have in your picture) - (maybe a few other versions too) - then I'd creep out in the night and decorate Mrs Rustbridger's garden with them.

In fact, I'd quite like to work my way through the neighbourhood.

(More fun than 'planting' gnomes after dark. That's old hat now.)

Esther Montgomery
ESTHER IN THE GARDEN

P.S. I've had an even better idea. Perhaps I shall commission someone to make nude models of Mrs Rustbridger herself and distribute them under cover of dark. I think the Vicar might like a couple - and the lady who works in the post-office. E.

I have a cherub in my garden, but no other nudes. I don't mind a classic statue in a museum or something, but they're a little out of place in my garden.

I could maybe see a sculpture of an earth goddess in the nude, but i'd be more inclined towards Buddha. Or a cat. Definitely no gnomes, nude or otherwise.

If my garden was of a size and style suitable for a statue like you've shown, I'd certainly consider it. Though I'm not terribly fond of the one in the photo, I have seen a few large nude garden statues that I like (certainly some based on classics).

I do have a small statue of a nude...a young boy holding a bird.

Though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I'd like to think that if I did choose a nude for my front yard, it would be tasteful enough not to offend anyone. (I could be totally wrong about that, of course!)

I'd love to have a statue of Gaia (Earth goddess) or something similar, but I don't think she'd have to be nude. While I have nothing against nudes myself, I'd like whatever I have in my garden to be non-controversial and enjoyable by all. :)

What Benjamin said. And I wouldn't much give a flying fig what the neighbors thought about it.

(LOL at Esther--she's a new-to-me garden blogger and I like her already!)

Nope, no nude statues here. Not that I care much either way, it just doesn't suit the style of Old Country Gardens. I do have a cherub or two out there somewhere but don't think they are nude...hmmm... they probably don't suit my garden either but I love them still.

I have a feeling businesses buy them and maybe individuals buy the smaller ones for inside the home.

If I had a walking garden and could afford to by good-sized sculpture, I'd love to have a tasteful nude statue displayed. I think naked human bodies are a wonderful image for a garden, considering the most famous creation story in western culture centered around the blissful innocence and purity of (nude!) Adam and Eve. To me, it would reflect our spiritual connection to nature.

I have a nude tree in my front yard...I'm very worried about it. And what about those bald cypress? Should we do something about them?

I'm not opposed to nudes after all the human body is as much a part of nature as anything I plant but I being a very modest person probably would not put one in my garden and if one somehow appeared I would grow some sort of vine around it to cover her/him up.

Perhaps all of the replies to Stuart's post explain the garden centers' motivation for displaying those naughty nudes. Even people who detest nudity remember it and like to talk about it. Like Robin, I think Western society has become a bit too explicit recently, but I am not opposed to nude statues in my garden. Still, I would like to know when the "less-than-ideal" body will be idealized. I might even consider signing up as a model if it would mean ridding the world of prejudice!

I LOVE this post. I've had so much fun reading it, and all the comments it has provoked. For what it's worth, I'm not a fan of sculpture in the garden. Not because I've got anything against nudity, but why have sculpture when you can have yet more plants?

I LOVE this post. I had a lot of fun reading it and all the comments it provoked. For what it's worth, here's my view: why have sculpture taking up space where you could have more plants?

The parents in Northern Shade's anecdote missed a wonderful teaching opportunity! If I had the money, the room & the right kind of garden, I'd buy that David in a heartbeat & put him in the middle of my front lawn. There just aren't enough male nudes around. (In artwork, I mean.) The female form has been done to death. Yawn. And no nudie kids - that's just too creepy for me.

I'm torn on this one Stuart,
I think it depends on the piece itself. I'm definately not a fan of the peeing little boy fountians but a well done nude in a secluded corner of a secret garden can add alot.
Rees

Nudes? Yes, the more the better. Statuary? Not so much.

We have Myrtle gracing our garden - a rather inelegant nude, who currently has Sempervivums sprouting out of her head.

I'm thinking she needs a change of hairstyle though, but am not sure what.

Nudes in the garden - yes, as long as they're not tasteful!

My neighbor just added a larger than life Canada goose to his formal front yard planting. I think I need to retaliate with a large copy of Canova's Graces, but the sculpture costs $6,000. Oh, well, I could always get a life size plastic moose.