Oh how I can relate. I turned green lawn into a beautiful French garden paradise. All the topiaries that I spent thousands of hours on. Only one neighbour this lovely lady was passing by once and said how she admired my garden. I tanked her gratefuly. Not so lucky with others. One came to me and said did you go to school? How do you know what to do? I smiled and told her no I just love this kind of stuff. The very one called the city's bylaw that my lawn was full of weed. The city officer was shocked, she admired me, took photos with my permission and told me the complaint was her waste of time. That very neighbour told me I am there always plucking and plucking. The other guy said wow everything hou touch grows loughing at me. I loughed back but I knew there was hate in this perverts message. His wife who I never see came out of the house in 26 years that I live here called a meeting with all other neighbours on the street chatting there, laughing and looking at my property. That whole event hurt my heart, to the point that I don't wanna do it anymore. I do have lots of fenced yard in the back of my house. Just thinking to continue that love in the backyard and leave the front to be taken up by weed. Well the front need to blend in with others. I had cancer 3 times. The garden is my escape. Now all I think is move from here. I know when people say They hate about you what they don't have. My message to you is continue your passion. Annie

Ahh. Back to school. With only one of four left in HS, Back-to-School is dwindling. It is so much simpler now. There is only one child in one sport. And only one to track along on their school work. We will have time to deal with our overdue HOUZZ projects now that summer R&R is over. So let me weigh in on the controversial mamby-pamby comment. Hate to see name calling. It's negative and unnecessary. As for patience with the new traffic patterns, this is to the parents who take their children to their bus stops and feel compelled to chat with the bus driver. Please DON'T. It is really inconsiderate. The bus drivers are at work. They don't have time for social hour. It may brighten your day to "brighten their day" but it is not the time nor the place to "make a difference in the bus drivers' lives". I have been part of huge lines where the same parents do it daily. All the cars that are stuck behind the bus (and lawfully NOT passing the school bus) actually have somewhere to go. They sure do. Maybe it is an appointment. Or maybe, just maybe, they are trying to get to their job. Keep that in mind. Fortunately it is a small number of parents who want to chat it up. Unfortunately it has a big impact.

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I bought some Sucker Punch to use on a plum tree that is sending up root sprouts like mad. When I read the instructions I found a host of restrictions, beginning with "can be used on suckers and sprouts on apples, olives, pears, non-bearing citrus, and ornamental woody plants." Apparently plums are off limits. It also seems to be meant for use as an area spray, which is rather impractical for roots. I think I'm going to have to return the Sucker Punch and try something else. What? If I just keep cutting the sprouts, they'll just keep growing back!