my gardens earlier as she wanted to show a friend. She asked why??
Fall isn't a good time to show off the gardens as we work to put it to bed for
the winter month and have to deal with neighboring issue. We try to strip
the leaves off our plants and trees prior to the neighbors' due to we know
what we will have to deal with on a daily bases. I spend 2 hours or more, yea some
days all day trying to clean up what blows in. I vac my yard at least twice a
week to get the junk out. But why not let it decay and allow it to mulch? NO
way if you saw the disease we deal with and to allow that into the yard, well
sorry......I don't like to use chemicals due to health conditions. But after seeing
what is out there this fall, I know I'll be using chemicals next year!!
Y'll all know how we keep our yard and to have it trashed on a daily bases is
starting to take a tow not only physically but mentally. If you haven't seen the
photos of last year's storm damage and know at that time I was dealing with some
serious health issue and unable to take care of the mess. This year with putting the
health issues to rest I have been really trying to keep our yard in it's prime. I was glad
to have many visitors stop and enjoy the gardens. Our goal is to get folks to garden and
to make the community look better. I really enjoyed the new friendship made and helping
the first time gardens.
came down.
Last week after clean up.
Mind you, my learning is from books and help from other gardens advice. I have no degree
nor am I a master gardener. One of my MG friends told me long ago you are far ahead of
what they teach and you have also gotten me to rethink what I do. My degree is in Art Education
and long ago I was taught to listen to nature by an old time gardener. Mother Nature has blessed
us with her knowledge. Some of my friend classify me as a Environmental nut and all I can do
is smile. Had my neighbor scream at me just last week, that I wasn't a conservationist........I just
laughed and yelled back at him, he sure isn't one!! All the while he stood there with his camera in
hand video taping me cleaning out the street with my blower. Mind you, they do nothing to their
yard and allow the leaves to blow. Yes, we have plenty of neighbor issue here! Which is another
reason to close the gardens early. All one can say is if you have been here and seen the toilet in their
front yard you would know what they are about!! I'm also betting the years of bullying would make
one want to move, but we are working on adding more fence!! More on them later!!
We try to have the gardens open from April 15 to Nov. 1 but when we deal with what we do here
sometimes it's just best to close early. I do have a business license as it's to protect me. What we
do here is test plants for other growers across the globe. Some species need testing before they are
named or registered so this is what we do. Grow them out and give the hybridizer our findings.
We do not release plant material that we grow without their permission and have had to tell folks
they can't have the plant and it can be hard not to share but we respect those that hybridize! We also
do hybridize and look for folks that are willing to test our plants. I also start plants if room is available for folks but running two greenhouses full of tropicals the space is limited.
The reason we closed the gardens early is due to neighbor issues. For over 15 years I have kept a
commitment to two County Staffers on keeping our circle clean after a couple neighbors complained
and knowing the county's budget issue, it also helped keep the leaves from going into our yard. But I have neighbors to the east that have selected to trash the area by not doing anything to their yard for years. They have bullied us this whole time, we have had to deal with the bus issue in the summer
and chalk all over the roadway. The deer hanging from a tree one year and the parents moving out
and allowing the kids to live there trashing the house while they lived elsewhere. Then there was the dog that barked all the time and getting loose. The parties and rodents we had to take care of due to
the trash. Constant being flipped off and the every day bullying, plus the motorcycle revving up the engine to let us all know he is home. Life here for the past 10 years had taught us how to be a good neighbor!! You see this past few years we have had enough, constant religious mailing we have found in our mail, a super long list of real estate folks knocking on our door or mailings and the funny thing a resort that keeps calling saying we stayed at their resort on a certain date
and we signed up for their calls. Haven't been to their resort, we don't belong to any church here and for a good reason!! Nor have we put our name with any real estate person, or are they lying? I know they target the best looking properties but come on when they tell us your neighbor sent us?? At this time I want to thank Comcast for the no more robo and we have started turning in folks as they keep calling....
Granted we looked into selling some years back but after looking at a dozen houses, we decided that
putting up more fencing is a better option. Yes, the houses weren't the standards of what we have currently and to walk away from what we have....no way!! This house we bought from the folks
and let me tell you we paid full market value! It has taken us 30 years of hard work to get out home
to look as it does! So to all you real estate folks out there looking for a quick sale, do not bother us!!
We will add more fence and leave it at that. Plus we don't like trespassers! We dealt with the drug house and the yard full of junk!
Back to being a good neighbor! For years we offered to help out our neighbors and welcomed folks
as they came into our area. I even did the neighborhood leader for a few years and learned all that
those commissioners taught me, what I could ask for and always looked out for the whole neighborhood as this is the area where my folks moved to in the early 1960s. Today it's gone to heck in a handbasket, so much development and now we deal with failing roadways.....hence the living at the end of a dead end lane. But recent years, it's become more of a pain with C-Tran coming down here to turn around. It appears they want to see the gardens and don't care about the peace and quite.
I have complained loudly.....given then another route to take but their subcontractor drivers are what they are. Our circle isn't big enough for them to turn around without backing up and you know the drill. I'll give you a good laugh, I contacted the head of the service there and asked why they need to come down here? I told them about the unsafe sight distance intersection and asked if it wasn't wise
if they needed to turn around here, why they can't just pull into the driveway at the house they
service since they won't go around the loop on Lake Ridge which would put them in the right direction to pick up the client. Look it's a handicap bus and to come down the quite lane upsets our dogs in the area. Now the drivers do what their supervisor calls a pit maneuver and pulls into the top
of the circle to back out and turn around or they will go up further into the road and make a circle where the roadway is larger. Did ya know they have cameras in the buses now and can watch them....no more stopping at garage sales and touring??
Some of you saw the damage we have had on our back fence.....that story goes on also. Trying to get our west neighbor to be the 'good neighbor.' he saids he is, has been priceless!! No joke!! These folks moved in after the mother die and the damage last Jan was the third time our fence was damaged. We have paid dearly due to their trees. The first time we had a chainlink fence, the owner's grandson, so she said was the owner of the dog. It would charge at our fence to get at our dog, so we didn't dare let out dog out alone. One day I over heard her praise the dog for jumping at the fence at me while I was planting new flowers. Her words were I don't like the new flowers, plant something else.
We had a storm and it took out a section of the chainlink, so we contacted the insurance company. They would only replace the chainlink but we wanted to match the north fence. The north fence is PVC and put in after my husband caught one neighbor taking down his boards to watch me garden.
Long story short after that was, we took them to court to put their fence back to where it was after they moved it onto our property. When it was moved back I noticed he would do anything to watch me garden, act like he was working on something to have a ladder out. I noticed the boards being removed and it took my husband watching one day to believe what I said. When the PVC fence went up we still had an open chainlink to the west and the guy cut a spot in his fence so he could watch.
So we opted to put in at our expense the PVC and soon after that the folks moved and they rent out the house now. We know the PVC fence pissed off the neighbor to the west, as she too couldn't sit and watch the gardens. Matter of fact when I had husband remove a section of the fence so I could
get the other side of the fence cleaned, she came out and started screaming....."How did you get on my property??" I told her that the retaining wall was our property and we didn't want her to put stuff
on the wall or she would have to pay the cost of the wall if and when that would need it. Soon after that stuff was off the wall and move away from it. To this day I will not go over and clean the PVC. Now we deal with the son whom now owns the house and that is another trip. Two years ago a couple limbs came down and again it damaged the new PVC fence. I was watching it blow and watched the limb come down on their side of the fence. I watch someone remove the limb and put the damaged PVC piece back like nothing happened. No one came to our door to let us know either.
I called the insurance company and they sent out an adjustor. I was shocked when I was told, if we get strong winds, I should grab the dog and leave as these trees would come down in a heartbeat.
For years we were told to trim and the Father of the now owner showed us how. Trim the under growth to spring the limb upward and that was all. We were told to toss the stuff from the tree back
across the fence as he felt it was their responsibility to removal. But once he die and the mom was there we removed up until we saw what was going on and it was time to stop paying for their neglect.
So this Jan when I was unable to get the mess cleaned up it was time to do what I do best....ACTION!! I started calling licensed tree trimmers and one beautiful gentleman whom I felt
comfortable with informed me, he couldn't help. Those are not your trees.....you have a serious problem!! He recommended I hire an arborist.....licensed one and get an assessment of what we were
dealing with. I remember when we first moved in and after the father died there was a license arborist come to the door. He stated he thought I should know the trees on our property needed thinning? I looked at him and said they weren't ours and to go to the neighbors. He also asked about the ones over our property line, again not ours. He was going to talk to both the neighbors, I told him the ones to the east, the lady was at work. Funny thing, a few weeks later we noticed the house
went up for sale......ya putting two and two together??
We hired an arborist and from what we were told we had a long list to do next. We met with our insurance company and the list just got longer. So I started with a letter to all our neighbors that had
trees adjacent to our property and they all hung over the property lines! I took a serious look at the County's website on their take of trimming trees and quickly found that they put us into a 'Catch 22'
and if we trimmed we could be liable for damage. Hey they hand over our property line and we weren't the stupid folks that planted them on the property line. What is a property owner to do is they neighbor plants on the property line due to they want space for a yard?? I don't get any enjoyment form their trees and come certain times of the year they are a total pain when I have to clean up the mess they drop into our yard. No it's just not the fall, these fir trees drop needles and limbs all the time. We are talking 80 footers to the west and 40 footers to the east. Then the 20 footers to the
north, ya got the picture? To the north there is also maples that have mite damage in the leaves that have dropped for well over a month and half now and to the east other maples planted over their septic tank and drainfield. The East Fir trees were scalped up one side to allow them to use the yard and not cared for on our side. We were shocked when the tree guy came back to us and told us if we
would pay for the tree trimming both neighbors would allow it? Say what, we pay for their tree service?? It gets better yet, the neighbor to the north of the east neighbors was told she had to pay to have the limb over her property removed. Yep, she paid for it and still has issues with the trees stuff.
Back to the good neighbor to the west, after some conversation with the tree guy and finding out they wouldn't be hired to do the job. He told me they would remove the limbs for us as he knew I couldn't do it. What a blessing this guy was and I highly recommend him to do tree service!! I told the guys to do their best to stay on the path and I would clean up the mess. They were worried about the plant material under the soil and I told them the damage was done already. They stayed on the path and really were careful. One guy pointed out damage so I knew they didn't do it. If you need tree service I highly recommend them, let me know.
Back to the good neighbor as he keeps saying. They hired the same company they hired when they moved in and the other damage. Didn't do what we asked in our letter and we had to deal with more damage in the pouring rain. Does this not tell you about the company they hired? All the tree folks asked whom they hired and a couple guys walked away saying they wouldn't touch what they did with a 10 foot pole, wished me luck and left. I asked why and they said they were damaged beyond
repair. So this is what we dealt with, I turned to mediation and was told they wanted us to pay for their tree removal......their damaged trees? We have talked to an attorney and weighing out options at this point. They have our bill for damages to the fence and clean up, but we have yet to see this money. Time for court?
We asked for advance notice of cutting so we could protect the gardens, we had less than 8 hours notice and here is the mess. We also stated in the letter we would cleanup the mess and charge them to do do as I know how these folks clean up after the last mess. No you do not clean up in the pouring rain!! The last time when they trimmed I watch them kick plants and only picked up a few
branches and called it good. I was pissed and went out and started to toss stuff over the fence that they missed. They are tree trimmers not gardeners!
Then let's talk about the Drug house across the circle, another priceless story!! Drug busts, travel trailers, junk all over, cars coming all hours of the night, we watch as this house was sold over and over to new owners but the same folks stayed? One neighbor complained their gas was taken from their tank. Soon after that we got security cameras, not the cheap ones as we researched and talked to folks whom had them. We had seen damage to the yard and foot prints so we knew what was going on. Then our garbage can went missing.....yes the two east neighbors were friends. Again are you adding two and two? I kept telling my husband about the cars coming and going. So it was time to call in code enforcement. We noticed a black truck one day and thought it was odd, there was a blatter in the back and I had watch them take liquid out of it. Mind you these folks were always at home and always had plenty of gas for their toys. I turned to the fire marshal on what was going on and they tried to make contact, we noticed they all would disappear. Just like when things would go on here and they would scatter. So the fire marshall couldn't do anything if he couldn't make contact. We also would smell strange metals coming from their fireplace, so add two and two. NO garbage service and the place was alway a pit, an eye sore. They weren't better then the last two folks that lived there so what can one say? I talked to the Sheriff Commander Lucas one evening about what I was seeing and soon after that there was an arrest! All I was told was they arrested a couple folks from this house for stealing gas across Clark County. He was interested in what else was going on there and I told him I would post some videos for them to check out, don't take my word for it.
That whole house was a trip and they too started to bully us. When they realized we were turning in stuff we saw the house being cleaned up. I dealt with a Sheriff's warning to us to be careful and how they would play the victim, just be careful as this is what they do. Same thing we see with the east neighbor now that their friends are gone. We were home on the last drug bust when the vancouver officer stop down as he noticed we were watching. We just kind of laughed, he knew my husband and my husband was asked what he saw. He told the officer that he needed to talk to me! I told him I saw the guy hop the fence and take off running north before they got there. Yes another drug bust.
Ya know, slap on some fresh paint and sell the house happened. I watch as they took the dog waste and spread it all over the yard. The house was painted with cheap paint and only three sides. Needless to say before the new buyers moved in a huge limb came down into the neighbor's yard to the south. Yes, the new owners had to take the trees out but what can one say. My bet is they didn't do research on the house before they bought it?? Plus they believe the stories they are being told.
It's just like the neighbor to the south whom lost the gas was friends of the druggies. More stories can be told but this is our neighborhood and what can one say. Good to visit and see our lovely gardens but not a place you want to stay?
Yes, we have had real estate folks here when they have acted up and they know how bad it can
get. One was here when the drunks had a party in the middle of the afternoon. She just looked at
me and said she couldn't sell our house. Just like the agent that was helping us a few years back, you
have a great house, but sorry I have seen what you live with when I'm here and I can't sell your house as folks don't want the drama!!
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| Northwest |
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| North yard |
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| Deck area |
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| West side |
West side
So with all the constant yard clean up from what is dumped here we have decided to start treating our neighbors like they treat us!! What comes from their trees go back to where it comes from.....we had a Sheriff deputy called out (Mind you we have had many called out on us, their words have been priceless from your neighbors sure play the victim to what is their problems? Why aren't they cleaning up their yard?) when the kids for the upteen time toss the ball into the yard and stood at the fence screaming for their ball. I don't have time for the games so I grabbed the ball and brought it into the house. We usually toss it back across the back fence for the dogs to tear up. But the Officer said, "If it's not yours, you can't keep and must return!" After telling the officer this is gone on for weeks, he said, "They must want your attention? What are their problems?" I looked at him and said, they called you and let me tell you they call alot. Don't you guys track these type of calls? Does it look like I have time for their games??
So it comes to now, I have been cleaning up our yard daily for the past two months, it's not our stuff but neighboring stuff. Ya know they trash our yard so it's time to treat them like we are treated. I have been tossing it back into their yards. We noticed the neighbors to the east have now gotten security cameras, why are they tired of shoving their phone cameras in my face? I will just toss and wave to the camera, like the good neighbor they have taught us to be!! Come on out Officier!! They are not the victim they say they are! All one has to do is take a serious look at the back yard or come out prior to whenever they decide to clean up.
I have even this past year filed to get our taxes lowered due to what we live with daily!!
More on that story later......or should I start the book that folks keep telling me I should write? Life at the end of the deadend circle isn't what they say it is.
6/12/2023
The new neighbors are a trip also! Excuse me......you want to scream at me??
You tossed the rocks into the street and that is where they will stay. They are your
rocks and glad you admitted that. By the way, the deed is in Dad's name not yours
so your yard??? Take a serious look at your yard!
