Re: [aroid-l] Hope Thursday went Ok

From: "Randy Story" story at caltech.edu> on 2002.12.16 at 17:23:08(9739) Linda, So sorry to hear about your problems with your less-than-enlightened neighbors. Very, very sad. As an owner of a very wild garden (in pots only), I am lucky to have very tolerant neighbors and a landlord. I realize you are being inundated with questions (and a lot of support) but here are a couple more: You say that the newspaper articles were a week after the story started--have they followed up since the fining began? A nice community outcry would help. Does your homeowner's organization demand other things, such as a mandatory lawn and mandatory holiday decoration? (I understand such things are common). How many us (all over the country/world) are stuck by all of these and can only maintain our (interesting) plant collections in their backyard? I suspect you are not the only one. I've also heard that in many drought-prone California neighborhoods it is impossible to get rid of the ubiquitous front lawn and replace it with more arid-tolerant plants. (Luckily my mom doesn't live in such a neighborhood--Dracunculus vulgaris was one of the plants that bloomed in her front yard this year in a space formerly occupied by lawn!). I suspect that some of the worst are the "gated communities"--any experiences? I guess my overall question is how many of us are suffering under such homeowner agreements and what can be done about them now and in the future. Good luck, Randy +More ---------- >From: LMassey628@aol.com >To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu >Subject: Re: [aroid-l] Hope Thursday went Ok >Date: Mon, Dec 16, 2002, 5:03 AM > > In a message dated 12/16/02 1:05:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, > ncarz@charter.net writes: > > >> Linda, I have been reading this thread with amazement. I >> may have missed something but WHO exactly is fining you >> here? The city government? Have you been told exactly who >> your accuser is? (if not it must be a local coommunity >> assosiation or something) a local community regime? What >> is the wording of the law that has been. >> What exactly is their proof that this is even your plant? >> This all seems to be so incredible and absolutly >> unacceptable. > > Hello > I live in a condo of single family homes, we own the home and we own the > land, the condo part is just the common elements like the pool and tennis > courts. It is the board of directors who are harassing me. In fact they > went so far as to encourage and solicit other residents to send in written > complaints against my garden, when they have never received a complaint about > it before. I considered this to be libel and harassment. They never > contacted me beforehand ! I was never told that anyone had a problem until > one of my neighbors told me about the letter they had received. Once again, > my neighbors all around me are on my side of this dispute. > The rule they are citing says that gardens must be "maintained". I am > maintaining my yard beautifully. In fact a week after this problem started I > had an article about my garden in five of the county's newspapers. The > reporter and photographer seemed to think my garden was maintained just fine. > > Linda > > >> How do we contact these people? An email campaign might be >> in order. >> > > I would be more than happy to print out and deliver any messages of support > you send. > > >> Lawyers (too expensive) and finding a new place to live >> don't seem to be feasible answers. >> >> Neil >> > > If I had the money I would move put that is not possible now. > > Thanks for your interest and support. > Linda > > >

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