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August 19, 2010

Bartlett Mows Regularly

It has been about 1 month since the Village of Bartlett chose to destroy the parkway garden that I had tended to for the past 4 years. Since then, the hardy native plants had made considerable progress in growing back. There were several patches of Hairy Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis) that had actually managed to grow up and bloom. There were a couple of daisy fleabanes (Erigeron strigosus) as well. At this point I was even happy to see that Awnless Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa muricata wiegandii) was valiantly trying to fill the void left by the mowers. I was happy to see that nature was recovering from the ignorance of my neighbors and local government.

Unfortunately, I was foolish enough to think that the Village was done with me for the season. Today they visited the parkway with their mowers of destruction again. Goodbye little plants, goodbye flowers... Now the parkway is once again a barren patch of ground littered with the stumps of my beloved native plants. How many times will they be able to survive this treatment? Benia was so sad and angry to see that the flowers had been mowed again. It is hard to watch this happen all over again.

One interesting observation I have made is that this is the second time that the Village has made the effort to mow the parkway in front of my house. They have not attempted to bill me for this "service". I guess they realized that I am not legally obligated to maintain their property. So for everyone out there that no longer wishes to mow the parkway, you can just stop doing it. Eventually the Village of Bartlett will come and mow it without applying any reason or engaging in any dialog with you. If they threaten you with a fine, just ask them to provide you with a reference to the municipal code that indicates that residents are responsible for maintenance of the parkway. They will not be able to do so.

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Comments


Claudette wrote at 2010-08-31 10:00:

Hi!

I happened upon this website in search of support for a very similar situation, in Monona Wisconsin. While this is the home of the Aldo Leopold center, and the year Lorrie Otto has a memorial, I am fighting with the city weed ordinance and ignorant neighbor to grow native plants in my lawn. I am astounded by the lack of understanding by my neighbors. One came forward and said my yard is an eyesore (1st year from seed) and two realtors told her it would hurt her house price. Then she said her hay fever is worse. So, I am being blamed for the 'potential' affect on her house price and hayfever from plants that are pollinated by insects...and do not cause allergies. The house on one side of me just sold, and the new neighbors love my 'lawn'. So do many others in the city, and most of all the woodpeckers, finces, and butterflies which are now abundant. How can we change the hearts and minds of others so bent on traditional thinking and ignorance?

Michelle Clay wrote at 2010-09-01 10:02:

Hi again Don and Benia! I'm sad for you, but not surprised, that the city is continuing to mow your hell strip. I think the root of the problem is that you do not understand what the hell strip, or "public right of way", or ewhatever they are calling it entails. If the city doesn't own it outright, then that strip is an easement, meaning you signed a contract saying that the owner of the buried utilities or the city has particular rights to that property. You need to find out what your rights and responsibilities are concerning that strip of land, and then go from there to get the laws properly enforced, or changed, depending on how restrictive those laws are.

Here is an article on hell-strip gardens that is fluffy and happy but does repeatedly mention that the hell strip is typically under the thumb of the city, rather than the homeowner: http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704421104575463583587617668-lMyQjAxMTAwMDMwMTEzNDEyWj.html

The article I wrote about your yard may be going up on Garden Rant this week, by the way. Here's hoping it brings you some positive publicity. -Michelle

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