'Natural yard' owner gets fine, no jail time A Harris County resident today was ordered to pay $100 a day until she cleans up her front yard of "natural" vegetation that has angered her neighbors. Lisa Wright, 55, could have been imprisoned for violating a court order requiring her to clean up her property, but County Court-at-law No. 2 Judge Gary Michael Block said he decided against jailing her at this time. "I'm not going to make you a martyr by putting you in jail," Block said. "But I still believe you are in violation of your order." Wright agreed to the order last year, but today said she previously suffered a stroke and was not in a clear frame of mind before she signed it. "If it takes me to be a martyr, I'll do what it takes to help any homeowner," Wright said after today's court hearing. Wright, unemployed and living on unemployment assistance, said the fine would place almost as much of a hardship on her as jail. Wright was ordered to clean up her property in the Sundown Glen subdivision near Katy after members of the homeowners association said she was violating deed restrictions and filed suit. Over the last 10 years, she has cultivated a collection of red cedars, crepe myrtles and wood sorrel ground cover, along with an overcup oak, a Barbados cherry tree and a Mexican plum. Dozens of other plants, large and small, dot the yard. ---------
So it's not one of those lawns that hasn't been mowed in four months, just some lady with an extremely green thumb? Leave her alone, sheesh.
I hate the hell out the homeowners associatons and other neighborhood groups. My house keeps getting letters sent because we keep our big black trash can and our recycling bin on the side of our house, but far back near the door to our backyard. People telling me where to keep my crap, that's not my America.
I read about this the other day and I got so angry I just wanted to go slap someone. Ms. Wright's yard isn't just some overgrown lot, it's been certified by Texas Parks and Wildlife as a Backyard Habitat. That means it has food sources and shelter for beneficial wildlife (such as birds and lizards) as well as a high percentage of native or locally adapted plants which require little water and no pesticides. So in a suburban lawn wasteland, the one person actually contributing to the local ecology (as opposed to depleting it) is singled out for punishment. Sounds about right.
Put some natural fertilizer in a brown paper bag, ignite the bag and place it on the front steps of Homeowner's Assoc. Ring the bell and run off.
Pack her up and move her to the Heights. My "natural yard" and I have been very happy here. Honestly, I'm not sure there is much we can do. Homeowner's associations still have too much power (although that does seem to be changing, finally). I tracked down her address and phone #, maybe I'll give her a call tomorrow and see if she needs help clearing her yard.
Maybe we can all go down and protest the neigborhood until they remove their complaint. What would they rathar have, a natural yard, or a bunch of protester clogging up their street?
So does anybody have a picture of what this yard looks like? I'd like to see if its trashy or not before I have an opinion.
This was in the Chronicle a few days ago, and they had a picture of our yard. I hate HOAs as much as the next person. However, the good ones are there to protect property values. Thats what is happening in this case. If you see the picture, her landscape is GROSSLY of line compared to the rest of the neighborhood. And while its all natural, it has an unkept look to it IMO. I can see why some of her neighbors are upset. It looks bad when one house in a huge neighborhood sticks out like a sore thumb. Thats why you cant paint your house just any color, like pink or purple, without HOA approval. Thats why you cant open a used car lot out of your garage. And thats why you cant just plant anything and everything you feel like planting without checking with the HOA. Would anyone disagree with the fact that if your neighbor painted their house purple and orange, that that wouldnt hurt your property value?
There was a huge picture of it in the paper the other day. She has a TON of plants all over her yard. The worst, IMO, are the 6 foot plants that are right up against the street in her front yard. It definitely sticks out like a sore thumb.
Here's my take: Who cares if she has this stuff in her yard? Get over it. On the other hand, if she moved into the home knowing that such wasn't allowed, she only has herself to blame. I do get tired of the "I'm exempt" attitude of some people--" I don't have to follow the rules." I don't know if this woman is that way or not.
It's a pretty neat lawn. I saw the picture of it in Tuesday's Chronicle, I think it was. If I still have it, I'll cut it out and scan it. In a way, I am sort of opposed to it. I know there aren't any freaking wolves, or coyotes in it, just birds and lizards. But man, I don't need anymore birds ****ting on my cars. I don't need the neighbor's dog ****ting on my lawn either. But overall, I am good with it.
