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lady_gw

Rough summer

19 years ago

It has been a really rough summer and I am feeling a little overwhelmed and sad. Some of you may know that we had our pool and lanai redone which is great but it came at a cost. I had to move 250 orchids as I was told the cement dust could kill them if I left them in the orchid room. No big deal as it was only supposed to take 4 weeks after the pavers were made. Well 4 weeks became 3 months and in that 3 months I lost at least 8 orchids and damaged a dozen more due to storms that sent them flying and mangos droping like torpedos. The guys rinsed stuff on top of plants and trampled a little which really isn't their fault as there wasn't a lot of room for them. While all this is going on we have been dealing with an identy theft problem which can really put you on edge. We also had a storm come threw and take out a 15' duranta, half my cassia alata and damage my 25 year old areca palm patch. Monday I thought things were on the mend and I could start enjoying my yard and orchids again. That was short lived as I came home on Thursday to find stakes in my yard and notes from the city telling me I had to remove any plant 4' from the middle of my swale. I removed the bromeliads that had edged their way out of the bed and thought I was ok as the palm trees were exactly 4' from the center. To make this short the city removed those 2 palms that my parents had planted many years ago which really upset me. Then they toyed with removing my mothers gardenia which is really a large beautiful plant so I begged and almost cried and the guy caved and told me he would work around it. They are supposed to be finished in 2 weeks, but I don't know. The pool company said 6 weeks and that took almost 4 months so does that mean the city will have my yard dug up for a month? I am sorry to say that anyone coming to the Cape yard tour maybe very dissapointed when they hit my place. I figured this was the only place I could vent about losing plants or feeling so upset about my garden, I hope you don't mind.

Comments (13)

  • 19 years ago

    I'm so sorry for your pain and yes the gardeners here will understand the way other people won't. They are more than "just plants" to us aren't they.

  • 19 years ago

    Oh Man Lady!! I am so sorry you are going though all this!! Especially the loss of your parents palms, that is a crime and that gardenia is a specimen. I would freak. Anytime I think of gardenias I think of that huge and fragrant plant of your Mom's. I would be so upset too. The identify theft has got to be a total scare! You really need a break! You don't have to appologize to us for sure. Your gardens will shine through. Hang in there babe!

  • 19 years ago

    Sending you loads of positive energy and happy thoughts to tide you through all of this stuff, Lady! I would be JUST as upset with every bit of it, myself, and it would most definitely make me sad and angry. But as we all know, you can't change what has already happened, so I hope you are at a place where you can put it behind you and look forward to whatever is next. HOPEFULLY only GOOD stuff for awhile!!! You deserve a break, for sure!!

    Thinking of you!
    Marcia

  • 19 years ago

    Boy Lady, I know exactly what you're going through. Our pool was poured the day before Charley hit. It was a year before it was finally finished. We couldn't open our sliders because our cats being fools would have rushed out to the wide open lanai. The pool people felt they could drive anywhere on our side yard. They couldn't get workers, cement, pavers blah, blah blah. The five huge trees in my garden were knocked down and that's where I had my orchids hung temporarily so I had no place for them and a lot of them died while I tried to figure out a shady place away from construction and near a source of water.
    Renovation is the pits but there is an end in sight
    BUT the loss of plants that your parents planted ---that would really hurt.
    I'm sure your garden will look fine and if not, you'll have to invite us back next year and/or post pictures here when you are pleased with it.

  • 19 years ago

    Lady,
    I am soooooo sorry that all this happened to you! I have been dealing with identity theft issues for 6 years so if you need any advice or just want to rant, I am always a sympathetic ear. That is one of the toughest things to go through, believe me, I KNOW!!! Oh and all your poor plants too.... ooohhh I am sorry!!! I have a NOID orange brugmansia that I will try to propogate from cuttings for you if you wish... It isn't a datura but it is as close as I can come..... let me know and I will send you what is successful!!!! My email address is starfirex724@yahoo.com if you ever want to vent. good luck!!!!

  • 19 years ago

    Lady,
    Is not the end of the world but how upsetting. The palm trees was a memory. I really feel for you.
    As manature indicated what is done is done.I do hope things go better. Do something that will make you feel better.
    Go shopping or something.
    Felix

  • 19 years ago

    Lady,
    What a bad summer indeed! I remember your large orchid collection, your huge gardenia, beautiful duranta, and a vast assortment of wonderful plants. Hopefully we can all bring some new plants to CindeeA's Fort Myers Swap to replace some you have lost. See you in a couple of weeks.
    Linda Leaf

  • 19 years ago

    I too, am very sorry for all that has happened to you and your plants. You can certainly vent here all you want. We do understand they are not just plants to us. I have a sunshine tree planted in memory of my Dad, it's name is Joey, and I would be in morning all over again if I lost it. Hopefully, happier days are headed your way. ;o)

  • 19 years ago

    Oh, Lady. ID theft and then desecration, the only word I can think of to describe loss of memory plants. ID problem will be solved with great inconvenience and, hopefully, no loss of money; the loss of the plants, sadly, can never be repaired. Maybe gardeners are strange, katkin with Joey and me with hibiscus, Mina, for my mother who died last year, but we do understand.

  • 19 years ago

    Isn't it amazing.. How many hearts seem to be tuned to the same notes... It touches our hearts to hear what you've gone through lately... Tomorrow is a new day and its amazing how gardeners recover. I think we're a resilient bunch.

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks everyone! I told a few friends what was going on and they said things like bummer you lost a couple big palms and then they would tell me where I could get more. LOL I don't even care for palm trees. My dad planted those and some of the orchids I lost were my mums, and the duranta I planted for my mum about 6 months before she passed away so everything felt so personal.

    Orchidluvr and Linda thank you for the offer of plants! I really appreciate it. I have already decided what I am going to put in the durantas place.

  • 19 years ago

    Lady,
    I am so sorry to hear about your plants. I hope you find more plants that will make you smile, though I know nothing can replace they ones with such special memories. If I have anything in my garden that I can share with you please let me know.

    Ariel

  • 19 years ago

    That totally stinks girl! I especially can't believe they cut those huge palm trees down. What are they doing anyway? I don't really know what to say to cheer you up, but at least you still have other plants around that are part of your parents original garden. Try to cheer up, this too shall pass and your garden will be back better than ever. It just really stinks that you lost the plants & trees with sentimental value. Judy

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