The thing that wouldn't die

One thing about a condominium development. The landscape is beautiful, but it’s not your own; you’re at the mercy of whatever management decided to put in.

          We’re a case in point.

          In 2016, our building was completed and smiling real estate agents were glad-handing those of us who were touring the models with our shining eyes and the amazed realization that we could actually own a piece of Florida. Only weeks earlier, the builder had socked the beds in front with mature palm trees, lovely flowering bushes, and other showy plants.

   

Good luck getting past this.

       One plant they chose really gives you a lot of bang for your buck – big, red leaves on a sturdy stock. In low groupings they’re particularly effective. Except I’ve learned they don’t stay low.

     

     We have one outside our dining area window. The first year I liked it. The second year it grew taller. By October I was only able to see out of ½ of the window.

          We took a pair of super-duty heavy shears and lopped off a branch. It didn’t help much, but I could see a little better. My Guy carted the branch off behind the garage and tossed into an open space beyond a hedge.

          We went home for November and December.

          We returned and Big Red was bigger, and blocking more of the window.

And this is after today's trim.

          I sent a request to our management company for a trim or even a removal. The landscape crews came and went. Nothing.

          Today I grabbed the shears myself, went out, and lopped off a good 4 ft section. When My Guy took it to join its cousin, he discovered that not only had the 1^st cutting not died, it had rooted where he had tossed it.

 

October trim on the left, happily growing away.

         I think I’ll keep the dining area widow firmly locked.