|
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.ht...olitan/1834433
= Lisa Wright's website with full details and disclosure - http://www.wrightlandscapefortexas.itgo.com/ = March 28, 2003, 10:35AM = Homeowner avoids jail over yard She'll be fined $100 per day until it's clean = By JO ANN ZUNIGA Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle = A Harris County resident Thursday was ordered to pay $100 a day until she cleans up her front yard of "natural" vegetation that has angered her homeowners association. = Lisa Wright, 55, could have been imprisoned for violating a court order requiring her to clean up her property, but County Court at Law No. 2 Judge Gary Michael Block said he decided against jailing her at this time. "I'm not going to make you a martyr by putting you in jail," Block said. = "But I still believe you are in violation of your order," the judge said. He fined Wright until the case or the yard is cleared up. "If you want to rack up a fine of $100 a day, that's your fault." = Wright agreed to the order last year, but said Thursday that she had previously suffered a stroke and was not in a clear frame of mind before she signed it. = "If it takes me to be a martyr, I'll do what it takes to help any homeowner," Wright said after Thursday's hearing. = Wright, unemployed and living on unemployment assistance, said the fine would place almost as much of a hardship on her as jail. = Wright was ordered to clean up her property in the Sundown Glen subdivision near Katy after members of the homeowners association there said she was violating deed restrictions and filed suit. Over the past 10 years, she has cultivated a collection of red cedars, crepe myrtles and wood sorrel ground cover, along with an overcup oak, a Barbados cherry tree and a Mexican plum. Dozens of other plants, large and small, dot the yard. = Block had ordered Wright to return to court Thursday to start a 24-hour jail sentence for contempt. = "The reason the court is angry is because this was your word to agree. It's your word you broke," Block told Wright. = "Whether you were ill or not, none of that was brought to my attention at the time," the judge said. = Wright was surrounded by her lawyer, Helen Mayfield, and a group of homeowners who say associations sometimes infringe on their rights. = "The judge stayed punishment, but then he added another punishment," Mayfield said. "I thought we did away with debtors' prison." = Sherry Carey of Crest Management, which oversees deed restriction violations for the association, said Wright's house is not visible from the street and a fire hydrant was only recently discovered under the growth. = "The association had no intent for her to go to jail. But we have to watch out for the sanitary and health concerns of all the residents," Carey said. = Sundown Glen, an early 1980s subdivision comprising several square blocks of middle-class homes north of Katy Freeway and west of Barker-Cypress Road, has mostly short grass lawns, a few ornamental shrubs and a shade tree or two. = Wright, Mayfield and Jane Janecek, attorney for the homeowners group, are scheduled to reappear before Block on April 4 to argue over motions for a new trial and constitutional issues that Mayfield is raising. = ***This is Lisa's earlier word about it:*** = My name is Lisa Wright & I need help! I've lived in Sundown Glen Subdivision (north Fry Rd, Katy) for 15yrs. My front yard has been a wildlife habitat for 12 of those 15yrs. When I started my project I read my deed restrictions carefully to be sure I wasn't in violation. I'm not some plant lover who stuck natives in her yard & called it a habitat! I have a degree in Horticulture, have worked as a landscape designer specializing in wildlife habitats using Texas native plants, taught a landscaping class through Leisure Learning for several years, & I am twice-past President of the Houston chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. I've also had a garden featured in the Chronicle & one in Texas Gardener magazine. My yard is certified by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept, #1740! So I know what I'm doing=85I learned from the best in the business=85the late Lynn Lowrey, Sally Wasowski, who has written several books on natives, and a very creative local designer, Will Fleming. = During all those years the HOA never bothered me, except to send an occasional notice to edge the sidewalk & curb. I freely confess=85I had= an aggressive ground cover that would try to cover the sidewalk & take-on the street. I would promptly attend to it. And as for weeds, there is no such thing! The definition of a weed is "a plant growing where you don't want it"=85 I wanted & planted each plant in my yard. Then I got a notice that I was being sued. I hired an attorney, went to mediation on July 12, 2002 & agreed to do certain things, just to items I balked at=85I felt I was being discriminated against, as no one else in this neighborhood is required to do them. But I signed=85reluctantly=85I had had a stroke on June 4th, then lost my job = on July 8th. I was doing good just to be upright with the help of a cane, & wondering when I would have the second stroke, as so often happens, the one that kills. = I told the HOA the items would be done by a certain date & a particular board member could inspect my property. The items were completed but the "inspector" just couldn't find the time to come by, even though he has to pass my street to go home. I heard nothing else from the HOA until Jan 31st when I found a Contempt of Court notice taped to my front door. I have to appear in court Wednesday, Feb 19th to show cause why I should not go to jail! = I have not violated any deed restrictions, I held up my end of the agreement, yet the HOA has charged me in excess of $8,000 in legal fees. And now I have to pay my attorney an additional $750 to defend me. I am a "national statistic"=85female, single, middle-aged (55), & jobless. I'm not on unemployment insurance & have exhausted all my money on medical bills. I'm one month in arrears in my utilities & two months on my mortgage. If I can't bring it current by March 10th Washington Mutual will start foreclosure proceedings. I've even had to swallow my pride to go to a food pantry & a free clinic to get my medication. Needless to say I've got much more important matters to deal with than the HOA! = The HOAs in Texas, and especially Harris County, have too power, as we have seen lately. My attorney advises me to get as much media coverage as possible=85DonnaLee Keith with Channel 26 will aired a story= Weds, Feb19th, @ 12Noon after court. The Katy Times ran a story Sunday, Feb 23rd and the Houston Chronicle will be running a story in the near future, as will be Channel 2. I have gotten great encouragement from various government agencies, plant societies, & wildlife groups. = Please, I need public support, this could happen to any homeowner! It's time to call your Congressmen!! Homeowners have NO RIGHTS! The Homestead Exemption Act no longer protects us! = Check out 2 websites: www.hoadata.org & www.stoptexashoaforeclosures.com ***HOA board members a Pres Mike Hill, VP Paul Orlando, Sec Kerry Crellin (281-579-7759), Tres Pat Valdez & Trish Hendrickson. Four apparently have unlisted #s as they are not listed in the book. The management company is Crest Management, 281-579-0761. Mgr Carolyn Bond, Property Mgr Tami Martin, Asst Property Mgr Lori Bornachella. = LisaGay Wright 2922 High Plains Dr Katy TX 77449 281-398-1900 Since court on the 19th my attorney has asked to withdraw from the case. & the Judge allowed an additional $1,500 in attorney fees for the HOA. = ***With $100 a day fine, it wouldn't be long before she's out in the cold. My feeling is that she could appreciate any donations along with support from us that we can give her.*** ***I sent her $50.00 to help out*** MORE.............................................. ................... ALERT!! ALERT!! ALERT!! = LISA WRIGHT IS GOING BACK TO COURT THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 4th, 9:00am. = My attorney changed her schedule to comply with judge's.... = This will be the day Judge Block collects his $100 a day fine...good luck!!...I surely don't have it. = Ms.Mayfield says "MORE SUPPORT THE BETTER", and of course, = Support is NOT what the Judge or the HOA wants. = Please...anyone who can attend would greatly be appreciated!!! Please call the media and anyone else you think might be interested. = 9AM-Fri, Apr 4 301 Fannin,3rd Flr Harris Cty Civil Crt #2 Judge G Block = For cheap parking if you don't mind walking a bit: from the courthouse on Fannin turn left on Preston, go down about 3 blocks to LaBranch (almost to Enron Field) and turn right on LaBranch. Then about halfway up the block, there is $1.50 per day parking on your left. You will need 6 quarters to put in the slot. There are other inexpensive parking lots in this general area. = THANK YOU! LisaGay Wright 281-398-1900 ps...She was in Austin on Wednesday to support one of the anti-HOA bils and saw Juge Block. He shouted out, "There's the lady who is making my life miserable. The tree lady!" Then he introduced to 5 other judges and they had a big hootenanny broo-haha. Is he making amends? He has had the phone calls. Currently there are 2 bills,HB 645 and SB 779 in the Texas Legislature about water conservation and HOA's/POA's being so restrictive. It's going to take a lot of education for the masses to know there are alternative choices about environmental management and conservation. J. Kolenovsky http://www.celestialhabitats.com -- = J. Kolenovsky, A+, Network +, MCP =F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - commercial =F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
J Kolenovsky expounded:
Homeowner avoids jail over yard While it wouldn't bother me a bit to have her as my next door neighbor, this is a prime example of why I would *never* live on property that is governed by an HOA. No way I'd pay money to have some busy-bodied group tell me how I could use my property. -- Ann, Gardening in zone 6a Just south of Boston, MA ******************************** |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
Amen, Ann and say hello to the folks in South Yarmouth and Wood's Hole
for me. J. Kolenovsky Ann wrote: = J Kolenovsky expounded: = Homeowner avoids jail over yard = While it wouldn't bother me a bit to have her as my next door neighbor, this is a prime example of why I would *never* live on property that is governed by an HOA. No way I'd pay money to have some busy-bodied group tell me how I could use my property. = -- Ann, Gardening in zone 6a Just south of Boston, MA ******************************** -- = J. Kolenovsky, A+, Network +, MCP =F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - commercial =F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On Fri, 04 Apr 2003 07:28:36 -0600, J Kolenovsky
wrote: Amen, Ann and say hello to the folks in South Yarmouth and Wood's Hole for me. J. Kolenovsky Ann wrote: J Kolenovsky expounded: Homeowner avoids jail over yard While it wouldn't bother me a bit to have her as my next door neighbor, this is a prime example of why I would *never* live on property that is governed by an HOA. No way I'd pay money to have some busy-bodied group tell me how I could use my property. -- Ann, Gardening in zone 6a Just south of Boston, MA ******************************** ....just my two cents... Just bought a brand new home with LOTS of land and unlimited potential last fall because of this... Before...we lived on a beautiful lake...with a POA...who kept diddling with the covenant rules until you couldn't even have a (nice) potting shed (or grape arbor) on your own property... *sigh* The husband-person and I said "...to heck with that..." and found a beautiful place in a very small town (sneeze and you'll miss it) with the boys able to attend their same school system...but off the lake and away from the POA... Carla (...excited that it is finally Spring and watching my bulbs bloom...here in Zone 5...) |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
dont have to buy into a subdivision like that. my mother bought cow pasture 60 years
ago and the burbs grew up around her and started passing "laws". she put up a fine gauge wire rabbit fence to stop em eating everything and because the neighbors from hell complained and turns out the city passed a law forbidding fences and they ordered her to take it down or she would be fined $1000 per day. doesnt matter the neighbor from hell couldnt see the fence unless she is standing on my mothers road. there is no relief from creeping protection of "property rights", there is no constitutional right to freedom from assinine laws. The only way to fight this is a constitutional amendment limiting the number of laws or rules, so they want a new rule they have to get rid of an old one. Ingrid ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
|
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On Fri, 04 Apr 2003 05:31:03 -0500, Ann wrote:
While it wouldn't bother me a bit to have her as my next door neighbor, this is a prime example of why I would *never* live on property that is governed by an HOA. No way I'd pay money to have some busy-bodied group tell me how I could use my property. Yeah, but she did move into a HOA development, which can and does enforce the deed restrictions. She signed this when she bought the house. Nobody tells me what to plant or not, but out of respect of neighbors who have their tidy boring front yards, I somehow manage to comply. You should know that my compliance IS my defiance. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On Fri, 04 Apr 2003 17:02:11 GMT, animaux
wrote: On Fri, 04 Apr 2003 05:31:03 -0500, Ann wrote: While it wouldn't bother me a bit to have her as my next door neighbor, this is a prime example of why I would *never* live on property that is governed by an HOA. No way I'd pay money to have some busy-bodied group tell me how I could use my property. Yeah, but she did move into a HOA development, which can and does enforce the deed restrictions. She signed this when she bought the house. Nobody tells me what to plant or not, but out of respect of neighbors who have their tidy boring front yards, I somehow manage to comply. You should know that my compliance IS my defiance. Ahh. I was wondering of anyone else would bring this up. There's a lot of "this is *my* property, and I can do anything I like with it" sentiment. With which I sympathize, to a certain extent. However, I hate lawns and have a 'respectable' front lawn. I live in a suburban area where 'property values' and consequent economic interests can be affected by an openly rebellious spirit. I chose to live here, instead of on 10 acres in the country. I have to go along with the rules (city regs) and general feelings about what's appropriate. One note about the original story: similar ones appear regularly in the local media, and I seldom see any hint that neighbors offered to help bring the property into compliance. It's easier to report a violation than to speak to the violator and perhaps work out a mutually agreeable deal. Or even generously offer labor to clear the offensive materials(!) |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
Ann wrote:
J Kolenovsky expounded: Homeowner avoids jail over yard While it wouldn't bother me a bit to have her as my next door neighbor, this is a prime example of why I would *never* live on property that is governed by an HOA. No way I'd pay money to have some busy-bodied group tell me how I could use my property. I'd say a few busy-bodies are begging to have their lawns seeded with dandelions. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
the key is any development with any rules cause if they dont have them now, they will
have em in the future when the control freaks get their nose outta joint. the rules you start with are not the rules you end up with. oddly enough, I now live in the city jowl to jowl and there seems to be less rules than in the burbs. people here are more interested in living and let living than "property values". Ingrid animaux wrote: Yeah, but she did move into a HOA development, which can and does enforce the deed restrictions. She signed this when she bought the house. Nobody tells me what to plant or not, but out of respect of neighbors who have their tidy boring front yards, I somehow manage to comply. You should know that my compliance IS my defiance. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On Fri, 04 Apr 2003 18:39:52 -0500, Ann wrote:
"Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A." expounded: I'd say a few busy-bodies are begging to have their lawns seeded with dandelions. Oooh, I like the way you think!!! ;- Absolutely! The ultimate in biological terrorism...a ticked -off neighbor with a sack of dandelion seeds :) Carla (...who thinks that everyone should be able to experience the golden splendor of dandelions...) |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
The ultimate in biological terrorism...a ticked -off neighbor with a
sack of dandelion seeds :) Or, my favorite a few pounds of fresh catnip. Sigh, land management is probably here to stay. I live in a small town and some of the garden ornamentation is old washing machines. The owner's groups are seeking to avoid the wall to wall old stuff look and go too far in the opposite direction. mike |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On Fri, 04 Apr 2003 17:00:37 -0800, "Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A."
wrote: I'd say a few busy-bodies are begging to have their lawns seeded with dandelions. And FIRE ANTS |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On 05 Apr 2003 04:30:47 GMT, (SideHillFarms)
wrote: Or, my favorite a few pounds of fresh catnip. Or a few lbs of fresh pot seeds!!!!! |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On Sat, 05 Apr 2003 01:11:02 GMT, C. Hurst wrote:
The ultimate in biological terrorism...a ticked -off neighbor with a sack of dandelion seeds :) Carla (...who thinks that everyone should be able to experience the golden splendor of dandelions...) To which that attacked neighbor will apply herbicides and the beat goes on. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
When you live in a quarter million dollar house, property values matter. The
homes in my development range 200 to 400 thousand dollars. Later you say you live an let live. This is a sticky subject and the spectrum of opinion is reflected in the comments on the original article. In NYS a man in Buffalo carried his convictions through around ten years in the courts. He sold the house to move on one day but he he did not remove his natural landscape. His was an innocent begining which went atomic with hardheads on all sides intending to win. (Witness US international situation). The way you keep your gardens (more likely a yard here) is a subject of extraordinary comment and sometimes intervention by your neighbor. Nowhere else on the planet would a homeowner use the time and budget of a court to challenge weeds. My family own a building in a neighboring city which is regularly cited by a code violation office for vegetation reaching three feet or more. The tenant does not do the agreed hacking off, family are not informed and a huge operation goes into action for want of a knock on the door. Travel some out of the US and see how much the need to intervene in your neighbors life is not respected and that would extend to yards/gardens.The organized living communities should be suspect for what they are. A relative visiting my sister in Florida parked a rented motorhome in her driveway. Unfortunately he stayed over the five day alloted period of time and got her a visit to a local court. In time the infirm and the elderly pass through periods when garden care is not possible. In more time the ways of the inform and the elderly take away the problem. Why add to it with such rancor. There are few here that would not agree that the issue is a minor one except to the individual who lives next to the untidy garden. Is it not strange then that the very groups who dislike the untidy gardens also legislate against the fence that would be the solution in the rest of the world? The fences in my sister's area are prescribed as to actual being, size, material used, etc. I live adjoining Mother's Nature's messy acres and in my case it would be called a green area, a nature preserve or a woodland. Leaves blow in, the occasional branch falls over and weed seeds enter freely. It is not a managed fiefdom but you get the idea, if one likes management, one chooses management. If the occasional soul who's brain hatches an idea wanders in, try a knock on the door, open the ears,and try to end the American way of lving life by the $$$$ instead of civility. We have in this land of celebrated freedom a nasy core of intolerance for the minority who do not toe the line. Mike |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
I keep hearing this again and again, but frankly I dont see the supporting evidence
that property values slide if somebody got plants out front rather than grass. Real estate agents say the 3 most important items are location, location, location. I think the whole "property values degraded by x,y,z" is a myth promulgated by control freaks. the fact is having an asshole crazy neighbor is more likely the reason for people to dump their house and take a loss to move, which is not something one would know as they look over the house and give a bid. In fact, the main reason people sell their house is their job has moved, divorce, want smaller or larger house or they died. And anybody thinks buying a great big new house is a great investment better think again. It is a great investment for the developer, but I classify great big expensive new homes along with great big expensive new SUVs and high flying Enron stock. When the oil hits the fan none of em are going to hold their value. Good ol' conservative Milwaukee must be leading the nation .. the great big new homes out in the burbs are standing empty, a drag on the market and people are moving back into town where there is a building boom going on. Ingrid When you live in a quarter million dollar house, property values matter. The homes in my development range 200 to 400 thousand dollars. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
|
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
yes, it definitely gives people something to look at while walking with or w/o their
dog. lots of people stop by my front garden in spring when the big show is on. I know I walk over to look at my main competition on the next block. She been at it longer and our elderly neighbor told me her daddy was head gardener for Schlitz Brewery, who had some of the nicest gardens. Seems lots of people on the block got some of the extra plants he was allowed to take home from work. actually I get tickled walking down thru the alleys and looking at what people are doing in their back yards too. My gardening has started a trend on the block. some of the people who were here and especially some of the newer people are planting out front. Milwaukee is known for being "lawn proud", so it does buck the usual trend. I have almost no lawn left out front .. only the tree lawn is really left. I love sitting out on our front porch and seeing the life on our block. I get really warm fuzzies on warm Saturdays when several neighbors are out working in their gardens, the hum of electric mowers, edgers, etc. going, hammering as people are fixing stuff on their houses, roofing, like that. there is such a sense of community. Ingrid "Warren" wrote: Now if you go further into the city, especially in the neighborhoods with small lots, you'll even find vegetable gardens in the front yard. Some of the newer in-fill developments are being designed with front porches, and areas intended for personalized gardening in an attempt to bring more life to the street, and foster a community atmosphere. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
animaux wrote:
On Sat, 05 Apr 2003 01:11:02 GMT, C. Hurst wrote: The ultimate in biological terrorism...a ticked -off neighbor with a sack of dandelion seeds :) Carla (...who thinks that everyone should be able to experience the golden splendor of dandelions...) To which that attacked neighbor will apply herbicides and the beat goes on. Killing their lawn, while you keep sneaking up on the upwind side with more seedheads. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
|
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On Sun, 06 Apr 2003 01:42:23 GMT, "Warren" wrote:
In the last year, three houses along my way out to the main road went up for sale. They all used to have just grass and some small shrubs. The mailbox was the most outstanding part of their landscaping. It's much like that here, too. As soon as they went on the market, they were out there planting all kinds of color spots, and replacing some of the shaggier shrubs with perennials. Along the same vein, I'm not sure I would have been excited enough about putting in an offer on my house if it wasn't for the landscaping, including what's in the front. The only reason we bought this house was out of desperation. This was the only new house in all of the Austin area which was almost ready to move into. We bought at the tail end of the sellers market. Occasionally I'll take a side trip off the beaten path to look at the interesting landscaping in the front yards. Of course this is a waste of time in the newer subdivisions, but any of the areas around here that were built before 1980 have lots of interesting front yard landscaping. And yes, wildflowers are not uncommon. We love to do this, too. My husband and I call it "getting lost on a Sunday." We also go on day long leaf bag collections in older neighborhoods where there are pockets of pines. But this is the Portland, OR metro area, where landscaping is darn near a competitive sport. Slowly, but surely, the newer subdivisions get more and more interesting landscaping in the front yard. Yes, sport is a good word! My neighbors get the benefits of my gardening. Every year I give away more and more divisions of ornamental grasses and perennials. This year I gave away 10 vitex trees which came up from seed and pots and pots of grasses. I am working on a proposition for the city of Round Rock, TX to make it code to use only native shrubs and trees for residential new construction. There is already a code in place for commercial landscapes. Some of the nicest landscaping around are in the larger shopping centers. We have outdoor malls, and lots of them. Now if you go further into the city, especially in the neighborhoods with small lots, you'll even find vegetable gardens in the front yard. Some of the newer in-fill developments are being designed with front porches, and areas intended for personalized gardening in an attempt to bring more life to the street, and foster a community atmosphere. Nice. Around here, property values would probably go down if the front yard gardens went away. You can only out-do your neighbor's Christmas lights for one month a year. You can out-do your neighbor's landscaping all year if you plan it right. And it doesn't have to look like a big shit pile if it is considered a native landscape/wildlife habitat. Victoria |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On Sun, 06 Apr 2003 00:04:27 -0800, "Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A."
wrote: animaux wrote: On Sat, 05 Apr 2003 01:11:02 GMT, C. Hurst wrote: The ultimate in biological terrorism...a ticked -off neighbor with a sack of dandelion seeds :) Carla (...who thinks that everyone should be able to experience the golden splendor of dandelions...) To which that attacked neighbor will apply herbicides and the beat goes on. Killing their lawn, while you keep sneaking up on the upwind side with more seedheads. Nah. I don't play those games. Who has time to do such nonsense. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
animaux wrote:
On Sun, 06 Apr 2003 00:04:27 -0800, "Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A." wrote: animaux wrote: On Sat, 05 Apr 2003 01:11:02 GMT, C. Hurst wrote: The ultimate in biological terrorism...a ticked -off neighbor with a sack of dandelion seeds :) Carla (...who thinks that everyone should be able to experience the golden splendor of dandelions...) To which that attacked neighbor will apply herbicides and the beat goes on. Killing their lawn, while you keep sneaking up on the upwind side with more seedheads. Nah. I don't play those games. Who has time to do such nonsense. Local kids. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
On Sat, 05 Apr 2003 15:28:16 GMT, animaux
wrote: On Sat, 05 Apr 2003 01:11:02 GMT, C. Hurst wrote: The ultimate in biological terrorism...a ticked -off neighbor with a sack of dandelion seeds :) To which that attacked neighbor will apply herbicides and the beat goes on. One would think that devoted, or even interested gardeners would be a gentlefolk. Yet so many of the posts here are of revenge, attack, lawsuit, "getting back at." Of course there are always Noxious Neighbors who blight one's gardens and neighborhoods, but I hopefully think most aren't driven by malicious intent. A few errant dandelions can escalate into a shotgun attack in today's climate. Why make someone else's life miserable because you feel you are wronged? Why escalate confrontation? ['though I'm all in favor of eschewing obfuscation.] *Why* does someone have a washing machine in their yard? Is it because they can't afford to have it hauled away? Surely not, or at least seldom, that they regard it as an ornament to their landscape. *Talk* to people. *Tell* them what your objections are, and listen to their response. Offer to help. Explain exactly why their habits annoy you or are contrary to local regs, and that you'd rather speak personally than call the Weed Police. Or torch their trees and poison their animals. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
|
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
*Talk* to people. *Tell* them what your objections are, and listen to their response. Offer to help. Explain exactly why their habits annoy you or are contrary to local regs, and that you'd rather speak personally than call the Weed Police. Or torch their trees and poison their animals. I haven't the slightest idea of who or what you are referring to. Nobody suggested we poison animals or torch trees. It comes up all the time here, and you know it. It just hasn't been mentioned in this particular message thread. Yet. Best regards, Bob |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
You have been gardening a long time. Your gardens are going to look good and no
matter how much pain you are in you will drag yourself outside to weed and keep it under control. Not everyone has the talent, the time, the taste. But up here the big houses on 1/4 acre in the new burbs have nearly the identical industrial/cookie cutter design plantings and that is ALL they have. I think we are talking about different kinds of agreements cause I think they all have the same company come to spray with poisons and plant the same pathetic plants and trees and the same COLOR mulch. there is NO individuality at all. there are no cottage gardens out front. so that is what I am describing and decrying. I am quite sure that you didnt buy your present house for the landscaping... LOL, if I remember your pictures correctly there wasnt any soil either???? So you did buy this house because of the location, or was it something else? Ingrid animaux wrote: I never said that. Each week I remove more and more turf and put in plants. Most are native, all are adapted. These are in beds. I don't have a jungle of vines and messy looking weeds...IN THE FRONT. Control freaks? People who live in my development all signed an agreement. They could have moved elsewhere. Fortunately, I don't have problems here. We have a small sub-division of 35 homes, all at least half acre zoned. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
OK.. that is what I thought, but didnt want to say it. Somehow I remembered you were
really sick and had to make the move and were desperate about taking as many plants with you as possible and desperate about getting them heeled in if not planted. but then my memory is going too, so wasnt sure I remembered right. in the "covenants" near my mothers it sure doesnt look like individuality in planting is allowed at all. In the city built up around my mother fences are discouraged or mostly banned now. So a 6' high x 8' long privacy fence is allowed when it comes off the corner of the house on one side of a patio. fences on lot lines can only be wood 3' high and must be 50% open. 6' high fences around swimming pools are only allowed to be 3' from the side of the pool. Cannot put up any kind of fence that would keep either rabbits or deer out of plantings ... and that includes veggie gardens! which is why there are such limited plants used .. the place is overrun with rabbits and deer. Now these are the new rules and apply to EVERYONE in the city, doesnt matter if they were here 100 or 50 or 25 or 1 year ago. Ingrid animaux wrote: The only reason we bought this house was out of desperation. This was the only new house in all of the Austin area which was almost ready to move into. Every year I give away more and more divisions of ornamental grasses and perennials. This year I gave away 10 vitex trees which came up from seed and pots and pots of grasses. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
I know it does sound incredulous, but we bought this house because of the large
property and the old growth live oaks. These trees all have 100 foot canopies and I wanted to put a lap pool in so needed large property, so to speak. We must have looked at 75 houses before we saw this one. It was higher than we wanted to spend at the time, but it did all fall together. The property was virgin with all the soil left in tact with huge trees. A rare thing in Texas where they mow down native trees and replace them with idiotic choices which have short lifespan. As an aside, it was only six miles to Mark's job at Dell. That was nice since he can come home for lunch every day. It all worked. You are correct about dragging myself out! I sometimes have to lay down to weed or dig a new bed! Neighbors pass in their speedy cars and smile because they all know me. They've all gotten plants from me and the next door neighbor will let me garden on her property too! More grass to remove. I think we are basically on the same page. I did have really good, deep soil in this garden when I got here, but I tilled in 12 yards of compost when they built the pool. Added measure and all :) However, there was not one plant anywhere. The first year I waited to see what came up. I discovered I had a backyard full of horsemint, Mexican hats, coreopsis, Engleman's daisies, lyre leaf sage, native ferns, etc...but I was willing to wait a few years and slowly relocate these plants to be somewhat more uniform in a prairie setting. I'm certified Wildlife Habitat, but as far as the front garden goes; I keep it neat as I can to conform. I am fortunate we do have other gardeners in the neighborhood so the same 7 shrubs and two trees are not that bad. The two trees they give out in this sub-division were crepe myrtles! Nice 10 foot tall plants. We got lucky I guess. V On Sun, 06 Apr 2003 18:17:58 GMT, wrote: You have been gardening a long time. Your gardens are going to look good and no matter how much pain you are in you will drag yourself outside to weed and keep it under control. Not everyone has the talent, the time, the taste. But up here the big houses on 1/4 acre in the new burbs have nearly the identical industrial/cookie cutter design plantings and that is ALL they have. I think we are talking about different kinds of agreements cause I think they all have the same company come to spray with poisons and plant the same pathetic plants and trees and the same COLOR mulch. there is NO individuality at all. there are no cottage gardens out front. so that is what I am describing and decrying. I am quite sure that you didnt buy your present house for the landscaping... LOL, if I remember your pictures correctly there wasnt any soil either???? So you did buy this house because of the location, or was it something else? Ingrid animaux wrote: I never said that. Each week I remove more and more turf and put in plants. Most are native, all are adapted. These are in beds. I don't have a jungle of vines and messy looking weeds...IN THE FRONT. Control freaks? People who live in my development all signed an agreement. They could have moved elsewhere. Fortunately, I don't have problems here. We have a small sub-division of 35 homes, all at least half acre zoned. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
Those rules are wholly unfair to your mother. Her property should have been
grand fathered in. That would get my hackles up for sure. The only major restrictions we have in here are that we cannot park trailers "forever" on the property (my neighbor has one in his driveway all the time) and we have to keep our lawns mown (still not too harsh) and pets need to be kept leashed (which is a law in the town, anyway), things like that. There is no way I would even consider living in a place you described. Eff that. I'm totally with you on that one. Oh, I just thought of another one, no above ground pools. Nothing I cannot live with. The restrictions you speak of are almost Nazi concentration camp! Geesh. Isn't there anything your mother can do, legally? That sucks. V On Sun, 06 Apr 2003 18:30:12 GMT, wrote: OK.. that is what I thought, but didnt want to say it. Somehow I remembered you were really sick and had to make the move and were desperate about taking as many plants with you as possible and desperate about getting them heeled in if not planted. but then my memory is going too, so wasnt sure I remembered right. in the "covenants" near my mothers it sure doesnt look like individuality in planting is allowed at all. In the city built up around my mother fences are discouraged or mostly banned now. So a 6' high x 8' long privacy fence is allowed when it comes off the corner of the house on one side of a patio. fences on lot lines can only be wood 3' high and must be 50% open. 6' high fences around swimming pools are only allowed to be 3' from the side of the pool. Cannot put up any kind of fence that would keep either rabbits or deer out of plantings ... and that includes veggie gardens! which is why there are such limited plants used .. the place is overrun with rabbits and deer. Now these are the new rules and apply to EVERYONE in the city, doesnt matter if they were here 100 or 50 or 25 or 1 year ago. Ingrid animaux wrote: The only reason we bought this house was out of desperation. This was the only new house in all of the Austin area which was almost ready to move into. Every year I give away more and more divisions of ornamental grasses and perennials. This year I gave away 10 vitex trees which came up from seed and pots and pots of grasses. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
Frogleg wrote:
On Sat, 05 Apr 2003 15:28:16 GMT, animaux wrote: On Sat, 05 Apr 2003 01:11:02 GMT, C. Hurst wrote: The ultimate in biological terrorism...a ticked -off neighbor with a sack of dandelion seeds :) To which that attacked neighbor will apply herbicides and the beat goes on. One would think that devoted, or even interested gardeners would be a gentlefolk. Did *I* ever claim to be "gentlefolk?" Yet so many of the posts here are of revenge, attack, lawsuit, "getting back at." Of course there are always Noxious Neighbors who blight one's gardens and neighborhoods, but I hopefully think most aren't driven by malicious intent. A few errant dandelions can escalate into a shotgun attack in today's climate. Only if you're caught establishing a field upwind from your target. Why make someone else's life miserable because you feel you are wronged? It feels good. Why escalate confrontation? ['though I'm all in favor of eschewing obfuscation.] Why get caught? *Why* does someone have a washing machine in their yard? Because I threw it there? Is it because they can't afford to have it hauled away? Because they suck by neighborhood consensus, and they deserve it? Surely not, or at least seldom, that they regard it as an ornament to their landscape. *Talk* to people. *Tell* them what your objections are, and listen to their response. Offer to help. Explain exactly why their habits annoy you or are contrary to local regs, and that you'd rather speak personally than call the Weed Police. I could tell you horror stories about the local absentee landlord that would make you vomit. Or torch their trees and poison their animals. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
zxcvbob wrote:
*Talk* to people. *Tell* them what your objections are, and listen to their response. Offer to help. Explain exactly why their habits annoy you or are contrary to local regs, and that you'd rather speak personally than call the Weed Police. Or torch their trees and poison their animals. I haven't the slightest idea of who or what you are referring to. Nobody suggested we poison animals or torch trees. It comes up all the time here, and you know it. It just hasn't been mentioned in this particular message thread. Yet. Animals and trees, I like. Animals and trees don't play rap bullshit at 160 db through other people's neighborhoods. |
Court/HOA pounds lady over Wildscape
AMEN to that!
wrote in message ... dont have to buy into a subdivision like that. my mother bought cow pasture 60 years ago and the burbs grew up around her and started passing "laws". she put up a fine gauge wire rabbit fence to stop em eating everything and because the neighbors from hell complained and turns out the city passed a law forbidding fences and they ordered her to take it down or she would be fined $1000 per day. doesnt matter the neighbor from hell couldnt see the fence unless she is standing on my mothers road. there is no relief from creeping protection of "property rights", there is no constitutional right to freedom from assinine laws. The only way to fight this is a constitutional amendment limiting the number of laws or rules, so they want a new rule they have to get rid of an old one. Ingrid ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:07 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter