Those wonderful white picket fences.

[flippinout]

Be it around your vegetable garden, flower gardens, or just in front of your house, the white picket fence has been a staple since the pilgrims arrived on the scene and people began growing their own food.

In the beginning, these white picket fences were called "paling fences" and were made by splitting tree limbs into small stakes called pales that were then put into the ground and a rail was lashed to the top to hold the pales together. Every so many feet, a sturdy post was added to increase the strength of the fence.

During the California Gold Rush, wealth people put their wealth on display by surrounding their homes with very elaborate picket fences. This signaled to others that they had struck it rich and wanted the world to know.

Of course, after time passed, the fences needed pales replaced and to be white washed to maintain the looks of the fences.

As with other fences, you have to be careful of the type of picket fence you use. Too fancy and it will distract from your home and surrounding plants and become overpowering.

The really ornate picket fences only go well with original Victorian houses, but there a type and style for every home.

[badmomma]

I love the old picket fences but sadly you don't see them used anymore. There are vinyl fences that they make now to look like the old ones. I wish I could put one around my yard but I am afraid it is too large for that type of fencing.

I like the garden fencing that they make it is very short but you can get it where it looks like a tiny picket fence. It is quite cute.