The city of Maplewood cited a woman with several-feet-tall tall milkweed plants in her front yard for not maintaining them. She’s not the only one, as a Maplewood couple with a yard full of sunflowers can attest.
Kevin and Rose Merello, who rent the house at the corner of Lyndover Place and Oakview Terrace, have also been cited.
“We’re habitual offenders,” said Rose. “We let the flowers grow and apparently that’s offensive somehow. The yellow finches really love it and the bees really love it. You can see a lot of them out there now.”
Maplewood Director of Public Works Anthony Traxler said they were cited because the sunflowers were “planted in the public right of way, were blocking the sidewalk, blocking or hiding a fire hydrant and blocked the view of drivers at the intersection.” — See his full statement below.
Kevin said this year they got three citations. “They have their official definitions and numbers that go along with the citation,” he said. “One was invasive weeds, one was stuff in the park lawn, one was blocking the fire hydrant.”
They said they usually get the citations when they go on vacation and the plants fall over the sidewalk and cover the fire hydrant.
“Weeds over 12 inches is what they said this year,” Rose said. “I understand them not wanting them in front of the stop sign or fire hydrant. I don’t know if we actually got fined this year. They gave us a warning to clean it up.”
Kevin said they’ve never planted the sunflowers; they just come up every year and spread. The Merellos have been cited and warned and close to fines. He said the one time they were fined the landlord paid it. “Lucky for us that it didn’t get passed on to us. It kind of wasn’t our fault. We were out of town. We found out on the day of the deadline.
“I think by definition whether I planted them or not we don’t consider them weeds, so I would fight that angle,” he said, “and I would assume they’re native to Missouri.”
When questioned about the Merellos, Maplewood Director of Public Works Anthony Traxler responded by email:
The sunflowers, many of which were planted in the public right of way, were blocking the sidewalk, blocking or hiding a fire hydrant and blocked the view of drivers at the intersection. These are the reason’s the sunflower’s owner were cited not because of the plants themselves. Both the sunflowers and Alice Hezel’s flowers have in the past blocked the sidewalk which you simply cannot do and will be cited for, regardless of the type of vegetation. We have many pedestrians some of which are blind and/or disabled and you have to leave proper access across sidewalks – no exceptions.
Traxler sent photos showing the Merellos’ plants obstructing the sidewalk and fire hydrant. These are not current photos.
Current photo (Aug. 15)
City hall needs to give it a break……not so long ago we ended up with death of a fireman…….we have more serious issues…
The property is maintained as they have indicated in the article – it was while they were away that it drooped over the property lines. The fact that people are getting their knickers in a knot because it’s not their cup of tea is ridiculous. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I think its pretty. Butterflies, bees, and birds …. all contributing to a healthy environment!
its unfortunate that these self righteous individuals have nothing better to complain about. you should re-post pictures of the property now. remember,how people treat you,is their karma;how you react,is yours!!!
I believe these pictures are old. We saw the guy trimming them over a week ago near the sidewalk. The yard still has them and they aren’t interfering with anything.
Beautiful — but irresponsible and discourteous to allow the flowers to block the sidewalk and access to the fire hydrant. I support the fines in this case.
This picture was taken the morning after a storm, when we were out of town. We were home the next day and had the flowers tied back.
I run by there pretty frequently, and for a while they were obstructing the corner, and making it harder for a tall person to duck through. But they’re all good now–thanks for cutting them back some!
It’s all in the eyes of the beholder. There are over a 140 types of Milk Weed to be planted for the butterflies and pollinators. The common Milk Weed that is growing in the ladies front yard is tall and very invasive. It would of been wiser to plant other varieties that are less invasive and do not grow near as tall. Same goes for the Sunflowers. There are many different varieties that have the same benefit for wildlife that are a lot shorter.
I’m confused. The couple say they have never planted them; and they are renters. Isn’t the owner of the property responsible for maintenance?
I’m with Patty. The claim that these sunflowers magically showed up without being planted is hilarious.
but I wasn’t doubting the veracity of the couple who rent there… I have that situation with tomato plants. Every year, plants show up all over my side yard.
I can see the problem with the fire hydrant. Otherwise it looks great. Its funny here in the midwest , having lived in the desert southwest, native vegetation was encouraged. Here you give people tickets. Go figure!
If you want to live on a prairie move to the country where it doesn’t effect your neighbors, the neighborhood and property values. I don’t think renters understand that. No one wants to live next to a mess if a yard. It also attracts rodents which is dangerous for children and pets. CUT IT!!
I’ve wondered whether they ever get cited. Now I know.
I love sunflowers as much as the next person, and I plant milkweed for the monarch butterflies, and I love having lots of plants. But, the point here is you can’t block streets, sidewalks or fire hydrants. That doesn’t seem like an unreasonable requirement. Other people need access to sidewalks and streets, and the fire department might need that hydrant yo save a burning house. Am I missing something?
I live around the corner, and the number and variety of finches we see at our bird feeder are amazing.
Unless you wish to walk on that sidewalk. But I’m sure those wheelchair riders have a ‘limbo’ button they can push to go under the sunflower arch.
what a stupid thing to complain about, the sunflowers look great
Stupid unless you jave a mobility issue.
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