well it's good to be back in the conversation here. I confess to slothful and excessive vegetating these last few months and so, unfortunately, did my garden--as judged by the City of Oakland Public Works Department. They drove by my abundant grove of (California native) vegetation and mongrel, mower-destroying lawn and sent a "cease and desist" order with a $300 fine attached. We (my garden, lawn and me) were charged with "excess vegetation." We are now on a "offender" list; repeat offenders are automatically fined--without a notice.
I suppose we do stick out in my excessively unvegetated neighborhood. I think we have one of the two trees on the block. We don't park our vehicles on the "lawn" (not an offense, apparently). I don't use gasoline-powered equipment on my vegetation (a regular activity on the block), and I don't have to water it (thus conserving our precious resource and reducing my contribution to polluting runoff to our waterways). Now, however, I must change my evil ways or risk offending further. Hmmpfff.
I think this is one of those occasions that warrants a call to my Locally Elected Representative--for a little chat about environmentally-friendly gardening....
Posted by briggs at January 9, 2004 2:38 PM