My one area of exposed wire-link fence between me and my neighbor reveals his pool pump. Two years ago, I was going to place my hydrangea in that area but got into trouble digging up the area because of all the sand and then finding that stupid liner. I dug and cut a lot of it out at the time but I decided during all this that it is too shaded there and my hydrangea would need more sun so we planted it (looking like it had been through a fire at that point in time) in a different area and it is doing nicely.
Meanwhile, we placed the doghouse in the original area in attempt to hide neighbor's pump and block the noise.
Woke up one morning late last month to the sound of tractors and such. The neighbor across the street was getting his driveway, walkway and stoop all redone. Taking out the old and in with the new. Along with it were shrubs being pulled out left and right! Well, these were evergreen shrubs and just perfect to fill in that area by the fence to block the other neighbor's pool pump.
So, I made a phone call to the neighbor getting work done and I did ask. She didn't answer the phone so I left this long stupid message (sometimes I think I really am a jerk!) about wanting to steal one of her plants. She said she was busy when the phone rang and came into the room and heard the end of my message and wondered who I was and what was I yakking about! Well, when she replayed entire message she called me right back and told me to take whatever I want. I said I was going out right now but would be back later and she said her hubby would bring one over for me when he gets home.
Well, I did my errands and when I returned home, they were not home but my son was and we went over there with the wheelcart and I picked out one, had son load it up, decided no, that was not good, made him dump it and put another one into the cart. His friend was laughing at him probably more likely at me but felt safer laughing at son.
He pushed my new prized possession back home and then I proceeded to start digging a hole for it and suddenly remembered why there is no plant in this area. Had the problem with the sand and then I hit more of that stupid pool liner again. Cut and dig, dig and cut, yank, pull, etc. But combined with what I did last time, I managed to get enough of an area uncovered. Dug a hole and added topsoil, peatmoss and whatever else I could find to make the sand not so sandy. Plopped the plant in (more like dragged it... it was heavy!!)and then watered in.
By the time neighbor across the street came back, I was able to bring her over and show her the plant's new home. Her hubby later told to me about how I could have "stolen" a whole lot more plants!
Several hours later, the workers dug up the bushes that I REALLY would have liked!! But I am happy with this one.
Pool pump neighbor admired new plant the next day and said that is the best way to get plants. He used to do it all the time. He told me about the azaleas he rescued from the curb on garbage pickup day. Also, he built his shed with a similar philosophy. He is an original owner in the development and his shed - which is really nice - was built with all the "scrap" lumber he would find laying around the different building sites which he would drag home telling his wife "look at what I found that the workers were going to throw out!"
BTW - The neighbors across the street had the landscapers come back today and planted plants! Now THESE plants I would LOVE to steal. Beautiful ornamental grasses, coralbells, lilies, the red Japanese tree I like, another ornamental tree and many shrubs and some flowers which I were not sure what they were. Will have to get a closer look at all this later during the week.
Meanwhile, this neighbor had told me he has NO idea whatsoever how much all this was going to cost him because it is his wife's cousin who was doing the work (and GORGEOUS work they did) and the cousin keeps telling him "not to worry". Meanwhile, the neighbor says, they made the stoop much larger than he expected, and he thought the walkway was going to be so wide and it its three times as wide as he thought it would be. There are lots of paving stones and also stone work walls (the river rock stuff) and now with the flower beds and the shrub plantings, the place is absolutely beautiful!!! Wish I had a cousin in the business who would do all that for me and tell me "not to worry about it"! I tell ya, between the material and labor, this must easily cost as much as my first house did!
Sorry for the long post but Mamu asked for the story and I go off on tangents sometimes!
I sure would like to hear it 
