This is a long one........A couple of my neighbors pulled up all my brugs plus all my perennials down in my garden area. I had about 100 different plants half were seedlings. I was in shock. I was going down there to clean it all up today. YES- it did look a wreck because we got a frost last weekend. I was out of town. This week I didn't have a chance to even catch my breath plus we had rain. Today was the only day I had time to do it. My husband even took the girls out so I'd have a gardening day to myself. I was working out back and was just getting ready to go out front to cut it all back. When I went down there and found EVERYTHING ripped out.
I went to take a picture and one of the neighbors came out YELLING wanting to know why and what I was taking pictures of. I tried to explain I was growing those plants for people and would like to explain what happened to them. She didn't get it.
She then went onto say that on Halloween EVERYBODY thought it looked horrible etc. etc... and blamed her. EVERYONE on my small block knows it was my garden. I can't believe they would blame her. I tell you, it had me in tears. I saw her on Halloween she could have said something.
I KNOW IT LOOKED BAD--- I explained it all to her. It's not like I thought plants with fried leaves looked nice. I asked her why she didn't tell me. Her reply. She didn't have time for any of that. GRRRRR. So I'm VERY sad and hurt and ready to move. When I do move again I'm moving out in the middle of a forest. Thanks for listening to me vent. I guess I need to get a grip on myself now and stop the tears...huh???? LOL...
What is wrong with people??? Neighbor issues
Kristi, that is so sad. If she had the time to tear them out, she would have had time to come and talk to you. What a shame. I hope that you will be able to find replacements. Is there anything that I can help you with? Maybe she needs to watch it grow up in weeds next year and would then appreciate the beauty you provided her with all summer and fall.
What a shame! Problem is having to live with those people kind of limits what you might wish to do about it. Makes me mad!
This was on your property? Sounds like wanton vandalism to me, isn't there a law against that?
Oh gosh Kristi!!! I am so sorry! That is a shame! I feel terrible for you!
I have some wonderful brugs that are growing great here from you, I will send them back if you would like! They are all doing great! I wouldnt mind one bit! Please let me know if I can help! Seriously!!
Like Happenstance asked, was this on your property? Do you own or rent? If you own, I'd be tempted to put up a privecy (solid wood fence) between her property & mine & high enough, so that she can't see over it. I think I'd also call the police & lodge a complaint. There is no excuse for that kind of behavior. She's probably jealous of your green thumb.
OMG Kristi....what a 'horror' story! I think I'd do what some of the others said...File a Complaint!! What a nasty neighbor you have. She is probably just as ugly in her heart as she is in her actions.
After you do your clean-up and inventory...Please LMK if there are ANY brugs I can send as replacements-OK?
Renee
I am so sorry to read this. Bad neighbors are like a devil´s weed.
Kristi, so sad. it's very disturbing that people won't really talk to other people. i would be so so so ticked. i used to not be able to tell anyone if something bothered me. know, as you all know, i speak my mind which may offend some who don't know me, but you don't have to worry about me back stabbing anyone, and if people are willing to talk things can be worked out much better.
sorry to put this on my personal level, but that's how it seems to me. Kristi, you are such a sweetie, i am so sorry. i hope you find a nice, big place in the woods someday.
What a shame. So glad after seeing this that I have no neighbors.
Kristi, I would definitely call the police and report the vandalism. You have pictures as proof.
oh hon...........
Kristi,Let me know if there is anything I can get going for you,you know your family here will make sure you have everything back and more,this is so sad!
Kristi, my heart bleeds for you. It's a waste of time to try to figure it out. Its over. It's history. Thank God it wasn't a group of youngsters trying to get material to get high and wound up in the hospital. You have your family, your health and you know you are loved. Flowers can be replaced. They took your flowers. Don't let them take your peace of mind. Say a prayer for those so sick of mind that would do this and for their healing as well as your own. I pray that your wounded heart might heal quickly and that peace and serenity might reside within. Know you are loved. Flowers can be replaced. Be at peace. Padre
Amen
That is so rude,and if it was on your property I would have those pictures developed and press charges.
Ya know,if they were in full bloom they wouldn't have said a word,I mean,jesh,a frost kills everything,what if there was something of hers you didn't like and just went out there and ripped it out!
Are the plants salvagable?Or did they destroy them?
Thank you!! It was common area in our neighorhood. I spent three days cleaning it up of sand burs in the spring. I planted a garden for everyone to enjoy and I planted my brugs plus other perennials.
I tried to talk to the husband and he walked away from me. What I don't understand, I NEVER said anything to them today when I found out they ripped everything out. NOT A WORD. I can't understand why they are being so hatefull. I wonder if they think I was taking pictures for some sort of recourse? It just doesn't make any sense. I know this shouldn't upset me but it REALLY DOES... I don't know how to approach this now. Any ideas?
Oh how I wish I could move...... I bet I know who spayed with foliage killer this season- what do you think?
Thanks everyone for the offers for plants. It's really not about the plants.
((Kristi))
so sad. probably right about the foilage killer. don't blame you for being upset.
Kristi, that is beyond belief. How did these people think they had the right to do this? I can't believe you didn't say something to them. I would have given them a piece of my mind and told them how rude and mean it was of them to pull them out and not even have the common courtesy to talk to you about it first. Wonder if they gave the kids poison candy on Halloween? They sound like the type. I can't imagine having neighbors like that. They should be the ones to move, as they seem to be ones with the problem. I'm so sorry to hear this, as you seem like such a sweetie.
I just cant imagine them NOT thinking of how hard you worked, to make that area (that sounds like a mess) beautiful for everyone! Shame Shame SHAME on them!
The more I think about the more I want to cry. Such a loss for you and the others who enjoyed the beautiful flowers. I can't even comprehend what these people were thinking.
Oh Kristi... this is a terrible thing, There are some terrible mean people in this world!! I can't begin to tell you what i would have done over my Brug babies , all I can say is I might be making a collect call about now from that place where you only get one call... If ya know what i mean...... I would not have been apologizing to them for my burnt plants how bad can they look? Not any worse than the rest of the plants around there. Where they gonna go around pulling up all the neighbor-hood plants? NO Anyway..this really burns me up (no Pun intended) cause this is not a laughing matter. I would make someone pay for my plants they threw the forst stone ..I'd call my local paper and have them write up a story " Vandelism on The Garden FRont" Who Killed my Angels? My mother had a simular incedent, well not that similar but it was neighborhood related... She had raised 200 baby chickens from an incubator and the people down the street let their dogs loose and they came and slaughtered them she cried for days ..and took pictures she went to the people and asked what they where gonna do about this ? they said nothing you can't prove they are our dogs, so she says fine, she took them to small claims court, they laughed you will never win this.. she got 150.00 awarded to her you might think about making them pay you have money and your time invested.
hope everything works out for you
spring
Once again thank you everyone you guys are a great help and source of comfort!! It really isn't all about the plants. It's how they acted and are acting towards me. It really is heart breaking.
I also feel bad that I didn't clean up everything right away. Both men (and their wives)who cleaned it up are neat freaks. I should have taken that into consideration. The garden was across the street from one of their houses. I should have looked at it fron a non-gardeners view I suppose. After all these people both have lawn service and NEVER step foot outside. Their homes are so clean you can eat off the floors.....
I just don't understand what happened to the term neighbors!! It's really sad if you think about it. Much sadder then the loss of plants.
I just had to say one more thing....They thought everything pulled out laying on the ground looked better than just normal burnt leaves from a frost? The nerve of some people!! I have to go take me a nerve pill now, I have just got too worked up over this...And it isn't even my garden, I really hope some kind of good comes out of this for you Kristi, I will be thinking about you
amanda
That is terrible, I hate that for you. I know it is not about the plants, but what your neighbor would do to you. Hopefully you will get a chance to move and won't have this problem again.
Kristi, You are beating yourself up too much over this. You don't have any thing to be sorry for they had the option of coming to you and saying Hey Kristi do you need some help with you garden clean up, Is something wrong? what are you gonna do about this ? But no they just went out there and started pulling up your property, and being mean, And they are probably ignoring you because they know that they are wrong and are a shamed, or atleast that is how they should feel....
I still say if it bothered them that much, they should have talked to you about it before they pulled everything up. What would they say or do if someone came into their yard and dug something up because they didn't like the looks of it?
Kristi, I'm so sorry! I can't believe somebody would do that. They must be jealous, there's no other way to explain it.
I'm so lucky, the only neighbor I can see from my place lets me drive on his property when I can't get home because my road is too muddy.
I hope you can move to the country where you can garden in peace.
Kris
**Hugs** Kristi. I hope you didn't loose plants that meant a lot to you. If the neighbors had a problem with you gardening on that spot they should have said something before this.
I know my gardening irks my neighbor too... he's a neat freak also. He doesn't say anything and has never been mean about it but I can tell he is not always happy with my projects. I can understand you wanting move away.
Sorry to hear about this. I'd be glad also to share plants for replacement if' you need them.
I just wish one of my neighbors had the audacity to come on my property and pull something they didn't like up. I can assure you that I would be going to jail. I own my property and am a private person,I bother no one on my street. In fact I don't even know 98% of my neighbors .
I have not had any plant damage but have had 3 vehicles broken into right in my back yard and as I told the police whe they came to do the report ,if I catch someone,anyone in my personal property there will be
I keep a length of steel pipe about 3 ft long with a rubber gripped handle within reach of my back door and will do my best to break every bone in some ones body if I should catch them destroying or breaking into my personal property.
I know violence doesn't settle anything but I work way too hard for what I have and and trust me when I say, no one is walking away with it and me know about it.
I don't think Tracey has any recourse like that because the garden was not in her yard...
I'm pretty steamed right now too!Just found out Sammy next door had his stereo in his car ripped,and my garage was busted in,they got my year old chainsaw,we think it was the crackheads next block down....
Oh Kristi how horrible for you. I can understand the hurt. Maybe you should just let them take care of the garden plot with the lawn service at their expense or look at a empty plot. Just worry about having beautiful plants in your yard. I do believe she has a recourse at least for the cost of the plants and brugs she put in there but would probably have to have reciepts for everything.
Gosh, what is this world coming to? I remember when we could go to town and leave our doors unlocked on our homes, leave the car unlocked when we were at the mall or in our local town and never worry. It is sad.
Kristi, if it was on your property have her arrested for vandalism and threaten a lawsuit for compensation of damages.She will wake up.Then fence your yard off to stop future damage.
Kristi, i'm gonna let you tell the guys it was a common area, not your property.....lol...
sounds like your neighbors have no...... character. they sound like real snots. are their noses always in the air?
i kind of like john's idea, a toilet with a flamingo perching on each corner, lol...
my favorite idea too!!
I can't understand what is wrong with some people? They certainly should have been proud of what you made of it all spring and summer, the work that went into it. Do they, for some reason, think it is their property?
I would just stay in my own yard, where they had better not touch anything, or else!!! They do not sound like "nice" people. They had a crow to pick and they chose you!
Please try and put it behind you and move on to better things. Will be glad to help with any plants you have room for and want. PLMK.
Kristi, I am so sorry. I know how I feel when I think I am doing something for others and it blows up in my face because of their selfcenteredness. Please stop blaming yourself, you did nothing wrong. God made us to think of others, and you were trying to put some beauty in their lives. It is not your fault they are bitter and lonely people. Anyone who cannot enjoy brugs has to be sick.
They are taking no time to smell the flowers. I sure hope they do not have children. Think how messed up they are.
I know my neighbors don't like my yard, But I do. I only wish I had more of it.
Sweetie, I know your heart is broken, but don't allow it to become stone like theirs. They are jealous. You have a gift they can only dream of.
I would type up a letter (Not Of Apology) as you have nothing to apologize for. Unless it is because you feel sorry for them as they can't recognize or enjoy beauty when they see it. I would also add I was seriously considering small claims court for replacement cost of the plants.
You could even print this thread and hang it on their doors. You don't have to print it all.
Better yet send me there addresses and I will write them. I'll be nice but stern a snob is a snob.
If there is anything I can do let me know. I am good at lending an ear.
Sandy
DatDog, so sorry for you to have such miserable neighbors, and they must be really miserable to do so much damage. I guess since you don't own the land their isn't a whole lot you can do. But sure is a mean thing for neighbors to do. I am lucky, have no really close neighbors, and the ones I do have are gardening people too.
Bob sorry about your garage door being broken in and your chainsaw stolen. I guess crack heads will do almost anything. Again sorry for your problem. Donna