If insurers get accused of taking the colour out of life, it would seem they have only themselves to blame.
Take Norwich Union for example. The latest grey initiative from the UK's biggest composite is to have us take down our window boxes.
The insurer is looking to get residents of the Bow Quarter in East London to remove plant pots from their windows, unless 'tightly secured'.
But the building is grade two listed, making this kind of action illegal.
So just in case a passing pedestrian receives a nasturtium on the nut, they've all got to come down.
Compensation culture, 1, horticulture, 0. Poor result that.