Sunday, August 9, 2009

The last (?) word on the dead plants

I have tried, in good faith, to find out the status of this abandoned house with the neglected plants in our neighborhood.

I have: Googled it, Zillowed it, checked the archives of The Oregonian, Portlandmaps.com-ed it, called the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boys and Girls Club (since I heard from a crabby neighbor that they might own it; that was a total red herring.) There have been 2 nuisance complaints cited on the property since July 2nd. So this is it. I will not bore you with any more details about dragging water down the street in a trash can, or trying to be a model citizen. I'm over it. Yes, boys and girls, I took the plants. Not all of them mind you, but a few:

A volunteer baby Birch,

A pink Phlox,

An orange-red Dahlia,

A clump of Crocosmia,

& 2 Delphinium. (Plus 3 clumps of Echinacea.)

Look who drove by! This was one of 3 cop cars that went past while we were stealing...er, I mean rescuing the plants. They could not have cared less.

With my bounty...

Home at last! Emma was the official photographer and my partner in crime.

So, I will care for them and love them and if the house is ever inhabited again, I will offer them to whoever ends up living there. And that's a One Gal's Trash pinky swear! In the meantime, they are all going into the same garden bed in front of our house. I'll call it "the adopted garden". Can't wait to show it to you next spring!

19 comments:

Joan@anythinsggoeshere said...

Ah, I know they have found LOVE! Better than death every time.

misselaineous said...

YYAAAHHHH...you go girl!!! Seriously! After all you did to get permission, and all the "legwork", albeit on your PC, and all the H2O you hauled to those poor dying plants...they deserve to come home with you! They will surely be much happier and will grow even better knowing what you went through to adopt them. You know, this can't be the Last Word, cause now we're gonna have to see how they are thriving in your TLC. I, for one, am looking forward to that post! Have a great week *e*

Georgia Peachez said...

A good deed, yeah! xo, suzy

svelteSTUFF said...

BRAVO!! I too cannot bare to see a neglected plant, and have from time to time been referred to as the 'Home for Wayward plants'! Nice job!

Vintage Christine said...

It's not stealing if you photograph what you're taking and then post it on the internet! Good for you!!

will @ ritadeco said...

Make sure you hold a "Garden Gal" business card when they take your mug shot. You are one fearless (kooky) gardener...!
The house in question is a ridiculous eyesore. Why don't you contact Jonathan Nicholas (Oregonian paper) who lives directly across from the derelict house and ask him to investigate?
He's in the Art Deco style house on the corner....
Will

Lisa said...

Way to go!! Good for you and the plants!!

If someone came in and cleaned up the place, they probably would have ripped them all out anyways.

Plus we all get to enjoy them now too!!

laurie -magpie ethel said...

Well you did it in broad daylight, with police cars driving by and you documented your deed on the internet....NOTHING sneaky about that!!!! May they thrive in your yard.

Anonymous said...

Good for you! There comes a time when a person must obey the conscience and flout the law -- hey, it worked for the Founding Fathers!

vintagebetti said...

And they lived... happily ever after!

ps Now go back and rescue the poor Japanese maple! It needs you :)

trash talk said...

Emma looks like she is having way too much fun aiding and abetting!
Can't wait to see y'alls pictures on the Post Office walls!!!
You did the right thing if you ask me. If it had been a dog or cat you rescued, no one would have a problem with that...plants are living things also and you saved them!
Debbie

Beth said...

How funny! You and my mom were cut from the same cloth. That is right up her alley...LOL

Franny@ATimeForUs said...

It was the humane thing to do. Lol! Those lucky plants will have a chance at life now. Poor babies. I can hardly wait to see them a year after they've been loved and fattened up.
:+)

Cottage Panache said...

Oh! I love it! Too Good! Hey are there any plants left ~ I could use a few for my new location! It is vegetation challenged!!! Maureen

Anonymous said...

You took property that wasn't yours. Period. I wouldn't be proud of that AT ALL. I'm very disappointed in your decision.

Betty G said...

I think you did the honorable thing. I would have done the very same. :)

Heather at Happy Chippy Junk said...

I'll send you post cards when you are in Jail!!

U2Kitteh said...

LOL!! That picture of Emma is the just the greatest. Buncha plant thieves, you!

Taking a picture of the cop car passing by is PRICELESS.

I know I don't comment often, but I love your blog and this entry was just too good not to!

Good for you! =cD

EverydayMe said...

Pam... this is priceless... so happy they have a new home... can't wait to see how they flourish!!!
{{hugs}} Michelle