However, my 17 year old daughter was playing basketball in the driveway (yes, I paid 12k for pavers) and some woman stopped her and told her to tell her mother to cut back the flowers from the walkway. She was on her cell phone and yapping away.

Irony, I took pictures this week of that bed and others to post. It's beautiful. There was another couple coming down the street and the complainer spoke with them. They then walked by and said they loved my gardens. I think I know who it is and I will speak with her, but the sidewalks are not blocked (knautia) and she is just a crank.

This is just stupid. The gardens are an alternative to weeds and unmowed grass. ARGH.

Hope you feel better soon.

Mary

Does your city encourage homeowners to plant on the parkway like the City of Chicago? I took over the parkway long before I learned that the city actually had campaigned for homeowners to plant on the curbside. Nobody has ever told me to remove my plants from the parkway or my property. If so, I would say phooey anyway.

Mary

Debby

Mary

Paula Deen once said "Well, if everybody sang the same note in the choir, there would be no harmony."

On the other hand... maybe she has allergies, along with her inability to play well with other? In that case I wish her many, many pollen filled days ahead! Ah Ahh AHCHOO!

-StLGirl

That woman is a GROUCH! What nerve - I've seen pictures of your gorgeous flowers by the sidewalk - they are beautiful - she's jealous, that's all!

Carrie

Maybe she was having a low blood sugar reaction :)

Lisa

I'll be sure to send Bakemom some seeds from my Hardy Orange this fall. Poncirus trifoliata.

some people are born with this disorder that they have to complain about something all the time. i am with columbusgardener. plant as much and as bright as you can.

i have neighbour who i call "complaint master". he always has some problem with what i do in my garden. first he complained about bottles. i arranged those neatly in corner and hide a bit. then he complained that your seedlings cause problem with the lawn mowing. ok. i trimmed the grass around seedlings. now when everything is coming to bloom he says, you have too many plants for such a small place. it looks like a nursery. it does not go well with other apartments in community. then one day he said you can't put hanging basket. it may cause poles to fall down. it is looking out of place blah blah. i am sure next month he will come and say your house looks like florist shop.

I am dumbfounded.

I just told her I like my bushes more natural and I think they are pretty that way. Last time she said something to me.

I would speak with the person if you know who it was. she should not have said that to your daughter. if she has a problem she should get her lazy butt out of the car and knock on the door and speak with you not your child. Very rude!

Karen

With todays economy no telling what people are batteling through, I notice the worse the economy gets the more people are just totally rude. No telling what is going on in that womans life you just happend to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It would be funny though to have sprinklers to come on as she was going by though, lol. I couldnt do it I would be tempted but no telling what she would do to your garden afterwards.

Anywho have a great day! The worse thing you could do is just act like she said nothing at all and just be merrily happy in your garden as she passes while ignoring her.

Happy Regards, Carolyn

So thinking rationally (as I sometimes manage), I would:

-go take digital pictures of the sidewalk from all angles right now (so that they're dated within 1-2 days after her comments were made)

-get out the measuring tape and measure the distance from curb to your property line (and/or where any flowers might hang over). Take pictures of the measurements too.

-get out my permit - review it and make an extra copy.

-keep it all in a file so if Ms. Panties in a Bunch makes more comments, you have all the ammo you need to shut her down.

Were it me - I'd probably also double check bylaws, etc to make sure she doesn't have a leg to stand on - even on tiptoe!

And when all is said and done, I'd plant something thorny (as already mentioned) or big, tall and busy (like fountain grass) to REALLY tick her off!

Debby

-StLGirl

Talk about majoring on the minor. Bakemom, let it go in one ear and out the other. Just let it slide off like water off a duck's back.

Deanna

Folks, this is where your sea holly, gaillardia, knautia, bachelor buttons and amsonia seeds come from that have gone all over the country. Oh yes, this is where the mexican hats live as well.

Thank you and many blessings to you.

Mary

Linda

Mary, that warms my heart. Thank you for that.

I went to Fresh Market today to pick up stuff for bruchetta (my 23 year old makes it) and my daughter was shooting hoops - I rolled down my window and told her to trim the g&*(da*() plants. She laughed.

What's funny is this is about 15% of my gardens, but it has been controversial.

Tell her to go take a nice walk in a parking lot or on a tennis court if that's what she likes.

Maybe your pretty posies distract her from her important cell phone yacking. Can't have that!

Lynda

See the green strip in the first two photos? I have a plan. Remember when the Germans were bombing Pearl Harbor? Forget it, she's on a roll.

I'm thinking about taking 5-6 feet out to match my front beds. Then we will see what happens. Remember, others in my hood have planted up their strips. What are we going to do with them? Bowl? Play football? Put lawn furniture on them?

Some people just don't get it. But you know what? It's your yard, and as long as you're not breaking any laws, then you should do whatever you want in your yard...and if the neighbors don't like it, they can MOVE! LOL*

Seriously, just "pity the fool", she probably never WALKS by there anyway. Your garden is gorgeous and something to strive for. GO BAKEMOM!

Sample conversation:

You: Hello my name is ......... I understand you came by the other day and spoke with my daughter.

Neighbor: Well yes I did. So she told you?

You: Yes, she was quite concerned about you. She was concerned about how stressed you sounded! I used to get stressed easily. But once I started gardening, I don't know it just helped so much. I learned to be patient with Mother Nature and combined with the excercise, it has just really helped my outlook on life and my stress level. Plus it's fun. You really should try it some time.

Neighbor: I'm sorry, I do garden.

You: Well, I know a lot of people raise a few flowers, but to get the full benefit, you really need to throw yourself into it.

Neighbor: Well! I do have a very large garden, and I am a member of XXXX Garden Club. I am a GARDNER!!!

You: Well, evidently the club may be giving you some bad advice. Gardening shouldn't stress you out like that! Gardening should help you to relieve stress and relax. Really if you relax and just enjoy it you will find it so beneficial. And with a reduced stress level, you will find that you are in a better mood more often! Come by sometime and I will try to show you how gardening should be done.

Good thing I have in-house counsel - lol.

Don't do anything to change that beautiful garden!

Seed bombs.

bakemom - you already know what I think about your gardens! Gorgeous! We need to see some pics of the backyard, now ......

In the meantime, can I have the cat?

PV

I have cut back my spent Knautia and Persian Cornflower. Maybe that pleased her. I am totally puzzled.

token I like your style....I got Yucca...and I can get allllllll the jewel weed ya could want...

Carrie

Helen