Is it rude to look at people's front gardens

[Varnas]

I live in UK for many years but still sometimes I wonder if I'm doing something wrong without realising.
I often glance at people's front gardens - what plants they have etc. I don't stop and look, literally a glance and I never meant to be offending.
But today an elderly woman open her front door when I was passing and started to shout at me "Why are you always looking at my garden?". /I use this street maybe 2-3 times per month/.
Now I'm thinking - is there some unspoken rule about that? Where I come from, looking at someone's garden is perfectly normal but maybe is different in UK 🤔
AIBU - I was rude.
AINBU - nothing wrong with looking at front gardens

No, she’s barmy

YANBU. I love looking at people’s front gardens at this time of year with all the spring bulbs.

I don’t know OP

I live in a flat and love to look at people’s front gardens. I don’t stop and stare for ages.

I often glance over a garden if something catches my eye (not literally!) as I'm always looking for new or different ideas as to what to plant. It's not a crime!

Well if it's rude, then I'm rude.

In fact, I love taking the dog for a walk when it's getting dark and people have their lights on so I can have a good nose in their houses.

No I think it’s natural to admire someone’s garden. She’s just being narky. I would cheerfully tell her she has a lovely garden with a big smile and leave her to stew

I’m guilty of glancing inside peoples living rooms when they have curtains or blinds wide open and admiring their decor

Nope it’s normal to look at peoples gardens

Such a shame. I love looking in gardens too especially as you can get an idea of what grows well locally.

Did you answer her when she asked why were you looking? There’s a lady in an adjacent road I got to know by me staring and then complimenting her garden. It’s amazing, she does it all herself and is in her 80s.

Maybe she's confusing you with someone else who is a real 'hang over the hedge and have a good gawp' type?

I often stop and admire if they're lovely - that's what front gardens are for.

She's either barmy or she's got you confused with someone else.

Absolutely nothing wrong with looking at people's front gardens as you walk past.

It she says anything again, I'd just say something complimentary about her garden. Hopefully it would disarm her. (Though no guarantee if she's actually barmy)

There’s no point spending time on your front garden if people aren’t going to admire it

Without being weird, I like it when it’s starting to get dark and people have their lights on but haven’t shut the curtains yet. Love being able to have a little look at people’s home interior whilst walking the dog.

Obviously it’s a quick glance as I walk past, I don’t stand outside in the dark with my nose against the window like some weirdo

She sounds a bit pedantic! I'd be delighted if someone liked my front garden : I often look at people's gardens as our one is dull ( just a drive) and some people have lovely shrubs etc! It's hard work keeping gardens pretty.
No harm in looking: some people are strange!

You're welcome to look in my front garden.

I look as well, and I glance inside if I can. I love looking at how other people style their gardens and houses.

Agree, I often do this especially when running. I'll often tell people their fronts look nice, I like to think it's taken as a compliment.

I'm also guilty of (discreetly) glancing in people's front rooms as I walk down a street if it's that almost dark time and their curtains are open/lights are on. Because of this I only put our lounge lights on once blinds are closed

No it isn’t

KitKat

I'm with you OP! I love it when you're on the train and you can see in peoples back gardens, but then I'm nosey!

One of the best bits about riding around the village is the ability to have a nosey into gardens and windows

It’s not rude to have a quick look, going uninvited is rude as is staring in windows.

YANBU, the opposite, in fact. I'm a keen gardener and like to fill our front garden with colour, not just for me but because I hope others enjoy the display, in the same way that I enjoy admiring other people's well tended front gardens. I was chuffed last year, when I was pottering about at the front and several people commented on it as they walked by. I just wish my neighbours would make more of an effort, some nearby gardens are complete eyesores, and although I understand they may not have the time to fuss over it, there's no excuse for having rubbish piled up in the front garden, for months/years on end. (These people are not elderly/disabled.)

I hope not. I am always looking at peoples gardens, and pointing out flowers to DC

Without being weird, I like it when it’s starting to get dark and people have their lights on but haven’t shut the curtains yet. Love being able to have a little look at people’s home interior whilst walking the dog.

That's the reason I keep the blinds shut downstairs. I know it is an instinct to look but I really don't want people to see in. Even people that are not burglars but nice, decent folk. I like my privacy.

Not bothered about the garden though, as long as people don't start letting their children pick my flowers.

She's off her rocker.

There's a lady a few doors down from us who has a beautiful garden. There are two ways out of her road and going past hers is the slightly longer way but I often go that way in summer to admire it.

I have told her too how lovely it is when she's been in it while I've gone past and she seemed to take the compliment for what it was. I've even asked her for the name of a particular plant or two so I could keep an eye out for them for my own garden and she was quite happy to oblige

Why would you put effort into making a lovely garden and no one, other than you, can look at it. She’s crazy