If you live where white picket fences are traditional, you might be forgiven for thinking they are much of a muchness, but to my English eyes, they seem sweetly evocative and almost quirky. For years, a shot of roses tumbling over and around a white picket fence topped my Photography Wants List: the American version of a cottage garden with roses around the door.
While my sweetheart was trying to decide what style of fence he wanted last year, we paid extra attention. During a couple of days spent in Florida, a gardener suggested we visit a neighbourhood for inspiration, between Seagrove Beach and Seaside, where different styles of white picket fence sit companionably alongside each other. While I didn’t fully satisfy my rose cravings there, I saw just about every style of picket fence I could imagine. I hope you’ll forgive me for sharing some of them here.
Anyone planning to install a white picket fence around their garden will find some ideas to consider. Those of us whose climate is more temperate rainforest than sunny beach (and where winter is still upon us) can just enjoy the virtual stroll.
While combining basic elements, a picket fence permits many ornamental styles. As well as the materials, homeowners choose the design of the posts and finials; the shape, spacing and patterning of the uprights (or pickets); and the outline or profile of the fence.
Most gardens had the pickets on the outside of the rails. Neighbouring homes demonstrate the effect of having the pickets inwards or outwards… or you could choose to have both:
Various shades of white helped unify the community, but there was plenty of scope for self-expression. Contemporary, minimalist, toothpick-style fences abutted fancier French Gothic ones. I might have expected a home to stick with a single style, but often the railings on fences, balconies, stair rails, and on garden features such as gates, arches, pillars and pergolas were in different styles. I dare say they had been added or repaired at different times, as budgets allowed.
I imagine you’ll have seen enough white picket fences to last the rest of the week (if not a lifetime), so as a contrast, I’m signing off with a rustic, weathered picket fence, jazzed up with a painted gate. We saw this some miles away in Grayton Beach.
This is a garden-related outlier in my series of posts on plants that are easily confused, since it fit the ‘Variations on a Theme’ title. The others in the series are:
Primrose, Cowslip or Oxlip
Forget-me-not, Heartleaf or Green Alkanet
Rose, Peony Or Camellia
Susan Rushton 
I had no idea there were so many variations of white picket fences! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure. I was surprised too.
Goodness, you’ve proved your point. A picket fence isn’t just a picket fence. I wonder why white is the default position there, while ours is stained natural wood?
It could be our damp, muddy climate makes white impractical, or perhaps the effect of matching natural stone or brick buildings rather than white-painted wooden ones.
Yes, you’re right I think.
White isn’t the best choice for northern light. It just looks a dirty grey most of the year. Same applies indoors if there isn’t sufficient light in a room.
Fair point.
A picket fence is not a barrier, and a white picket fence is very appealing for its simplicity and, some may say, also for its purity.
Great points. A good, bright fence is a sign of good order.
Charming variety. Thanks for “posting” the fences. Get it? 🙂
I did – thanks to the punctuation!
I think this is fascinating. How cool they were all together in one community,.(except the last one of course.) I saw several styles of white picket fence that I liked, and hadn’t thought of. Certainly a fun post!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s been in my drafts file for some time as I wondered if so many would be going a touch too far!
it was a wonderful post.
The American dream is to live behind the white picket fence. Where I live in Texas, we have six foot natural wood fences around every backyard. Have you seen all the wrought iron fences around homes in New Orleans. Lots of variations.
We have wooden fences, but painting them white…? That’s for the local cricket club.
A great subject for a blog post. I love white picket fences and there’s a good selection here – my favourite photo is the first one 😉
I liked that one too. The house paintwork is so cheery.
I think you have to have one of those beautiful clapboard houses with the balconies and verandas to go with a white picket fence. And the pyramid tops are an excellent idea. I have a sort of picket fence, but not white. With our climate and the northern light white is not the best colour. Natural wood, or grey or black even sets the plants off nicely.
And what did your sweetheart decide upon?
He went with something quirky and has promised a photo I can share.
I think they are charming. Believe it or not, in central Maine, we don’t have that many white picket fences. In fact, fences are not that common unless you have a dog. I But here’s what I wonder: Did you go to Bag End?
I searched for Bag End but was not sure where you might mean… other than the book!
In one of your photos, I thought I saw a sign pointing to Bag End, but perhaps I was mistaken.
I can imagine deliberating for hours! I’d have to bring my house along to see if it was a good match. Sadly I don’t have anywhere to put one 😕💖
Or deliberating for days if I had to decide. They must have plenty of local craftspeople, installers and painters & decorators.
So many examples Susan. I like the arched gate 🙂
I like moon gates. I suppose this one counts?
I guess so. I have photos of some Moon gates from around here somewhere
Even though we have picket fences in early 20thC homes here in Australia, most of the ones you have included in this post were new to me and very interesting.
Thanks for sharing, Susan. 🙂
It was certainly a community of people who expressed themselves through their fences.