A Solemn Farewell to Nature’s Beauty

I’m generally a positive person. I enjoy passing on joy, happiness and maybe a little laughter to my readers. However, today will not be that day.

The story begins with a love affair between a family and a glorious front garden.

A tiny blue house with powder blue siding, three concrete steps and a metal screen door sits in the middle of a one-block street in Vancouver. The street is a hidden gem. Each yard is prettier than the one next to it. We have a house with an arch full of roses and such.

The little blue house sits proudly on this street of old houses with lovely front yards, and flowers everywhere.

We walk through the front yard to our little blue house. We are greeted by stunning yellow rose bushes over 6 feet tall as we walk up the steps each day.

These yellow roses would burst with joy, begging to be noticed.

Beautiful pink roses also… which were a wonderful surprise one day as they bloomed to their full brilliance.

We had so many roses that I would take a few that were hiding… and bring them indoors to love and appreciate.

The rest of the yellow rose family accented the home along the front of our little blue house.

Unique purple flowers whose names I don’t know were the colourful cheerleaders on the right side of the yard.

The little blue house was perfectly accessorized.

The garden at the front of the yard was full and lush with Blazing Stars reaching for the sky. Gratefully attracting bees; and a natural part of our ecosystem.

The fuschia-coloured hydrangeas beamed with pride as they stood guard along the fence to the left.

Finally, the front garden was filled with a burst of red which may be called Red Spear Lilies. Fiery red plants, finish off the symphony of colour and life. Unfortunately, I believe I only have this photo nearing the end of its brilliance.

Our stunning Blazing Stars… see how tall they are?

In amongst the Blazing Stars were perfectly purple lilies and White Trilliums.

More colourful brilliance…

And closing off with vines embellishing a rustic wooden trellis.

When I arrived to pick up my daughter’s Amazon package today which accidentally arrived here, at this home we just moved from, I felt like I’d been punched and had the wind knocked out of me.

This entire yard was clear-cut.

The yellow rose trees were cut down to the ground with nothing left but the wooden stump. The glorious huge hydrangea bush was completely wiped out as if it were never there.

All the roses, pink and yellow… never to bloom again. Discarded, probably with the garbage.

Why would someone clear-cut an entire yard?

Curb appeal adds value to a home. A beautiful yard attracts people to rent. If it isn’t for financial gain… then why???

It took all my power not to text the owner of the house… my former home and ask what the reasoning was behind destroying so much beauty.

Why destroy natural pollinators?

I guess it will forever be a mystery. I understand it’s fully their prerogative to make these changes and scrap years of growth.

Unfortunately, sometime in the past, they had their primary residence, just two doors down paved in both the front and back yards. And they’re a large corner house.

Is that their plan for this house?

If they convert this yard, which is their revenue property, into concrete, it would ruin the beauty of this charming one-block street. This street, with its lush boulevard gardens and inviting front yard escapes, is cherished by everyone in the neighbourhood as is the cute wooden library just two doors down.

I’m grieving the loss of these beautiful plants.

They also own a third house on this tiny one block street. This little paradise in the middle of the city beaming with pride.

Imagine the devastation one thoughtless family can do?

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This post was previously published on In Living Color.

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