If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder...
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder...
LED ZEPPLIN lyrics
The laurel hedge is tamed for another year, but we have another saga to add to the long list of hedge stories. Colin's workers got a late start on Monday morning. After a few hours, they managed to cut a wimpy foot or so from the top and sides. They got creative (or lazy) and trimmed out a nice curving bulge where it had grown into the yard, instead of hacking the monster back. Well, in fairness, the hedge has fooled many strong men, but this would not do. When Colin showed up at 2 pm, he basically had to start over. Which is a very late start indeed, even for the longest day of the year.
To make a long story short, the hedge-cutter, blower and chopper were still roaring at 9 pm. Yes, it was annoying, but since we are quiet as church mice 364 days of the year, I hoped our closest neighbors would forgive us.
However, we live in a tightly packed neighborhood. After 40 years, I only know a handful of the people around us. And of course, many new people are moving into apartments and condos. A violently angry man showed up. The noise must have triggered his insanity. He challenged Colin to a "fight in the alley" and made wild threats about "what the City will do to us."
Yes, I apologized profusely and agreed it was a rude noise on a summer evening, but I thought we were just under the wire, regarding Seattle's night noise ordinances. It was finally over by 9:10, and a deafening silence descended.
Fortunately, Seattle arborists tend to be pacifists, and Colin told the demented man that a fight wasn't a good way to "settle things." As for The City, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if an excessive noise citation shows up in the mail. I think the Seattle police were too busy that evening to investigate yard noise. But if the crazy man had a weapon, it would have been a different but sadly familiar story. The poor fellow ran in circles for a bit, then disappeared back into the Urban Village. With luck, I'll never see him again.
I know I should be more Zen and let these things roll off me, but it was very unsettling. I couldn't sleep. People are so violent and angry, just turn on the news! It's impossible to go through a day in Seattle without seeing some example of road (or other) rage.
But behind the green wall this morning, life is once again quiet and peaceful.
To make a long story short, the hedge-cutter, blower and chopper were still roaring at 9 pm. Yes, it was annoying, but since we are quiet as church mice 364 days of the year, I hoped our closest neighbors would forgive us.
However, we live in a tightly packed neighborhood. After 40 years, I only know a handful of the people around us. And of course, many new people are moving into apartments and condos. A violently angry man showed up. The noise must have triggered his insanity. He challenged Colin to a "fight in the alley" and made wild threats about "what the City will do to us."
Yes, I apologized profusely and agreed it was a rude noise on a summer evening, but I thought we were just under the wire, regarding Seattle's night noise ordinances. It was finally over by 9:10, and a deafening silence descended.
Fortunately, Seattle arborists tend to be pacifists, and Colin told the demented man that a fight wasn't a good way to "settle things." As for The City, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if an excessive noise citation shows up in the mail. I think the Seattle police were too busy that evening to investigate yard noise. But if the crazy man had a weapon, it would have been a different but sadly familiar story. The poor fellow ran in circles for a bit, then disappeared back into the Urban Village. With luck, I'll never see him again.
I know I should be more Zen and let these things roll off me, but it was very unsettling. I couldn't sleep. People are so violent and angry, just turn on the news! It's impossible to go through a day in Seattle without seeing some example of road (or other) rage.
But behind the green wall this morning, life is once again quiet and peaceful.
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