A Crushed Bouquet

While walking a few days ago, Olga and I came upon this crushed but colorful bouquet of tulips and daffodils lying in the gutter. Of course I didn't have my camera.

So on the way to work, about a half-hour later, I passed by once again, camera in hand -- and realized the minute I tried to turn it on that I'd left the battery at home in the charger. So I had to go back home, get the battery, pass back by the bouquet and snap some photos -- and of course by that time I was late for work.

I just want you to know how much effort went into that picture.

When I looked at it later I realized that some of those flowers, the unopened daffodils lying closest to the curb, appeared salvageable. So the next morning Olga and I walked by again, and I figured if the bouquet was still there I'd take it home. But it wasn't, so maybe someone else had the same idea.

I'm a little late posting today because I wanted to include this photo. Our landlord sent a gardener yesterday morning, who removed our gigantic toppled bush and also pruned the hell out of the rest of the landscaping in the front. (Before photos here.)

I tried to have a chat with the gardener, but he was an older guy (Eastern European, maybe?) who didn't seem to speak much English, so I just let him do his thing. In the end, he cut a little more than I would have -- but things still look better than they did. And it's like a new haircut -- in a few weeks or months it will grow in a bit and look more natural.

I'm so relieved to have that bush out of there.

He did not touch the cypresses. Turns out we're in a conservation area, so those can't be pruned without special permission -- I suppose because they're trees. I told the managing agent I'm fine with leaving them the way they are and that in my opinion, Mrs. Kravitz can mind her own business!