Mysterious chemicals

I have been thinking about starting my garden postings again over the last several weeks, but never quite got to the writing stage. I wanted to tell everyone about the wonderful little projects I have going, and my anticipations for the spring.

Today's little mishap took the stage, and it’s not a pleasant story.

I went outside to check the health of little tulips and daffodils to see how they have been weathering the sudden winter return (now looking like the coldest April on record. Read More winter on the way) I then noticed little green and yellow granular stuff spread in the flower beds that I did not put there. Mom? Had she been there to fertilize? It wouldn’t be completely out of the question for her to show up and think she was helping me out.

Then I noticed it was all over the grass -- I mean, spread everywhere: the kind of job that takes pushing a fertilizer spreader around. There are not any fertilizers good for grass and bulbs -- completely different needs. This was not my mother’s doing.

I checked the backyard and it was spread everywhere there, too. Now I was nervous. Seeing that I write a public garden blog for a major news organization, the thought ran through my head that someone had attempted to vandalize my yard and make it a spectacle.

I was stressed, but late for work and needed to catch a bus. I ran down the driveway to the sidewalk and then noticed a small inconspicuous sign, about 6 inches square

"This area chemically treated. Keep children and pets off."

Huh?

There was a phone number on the sign, so I threw it in my bag and ran for the bus.

When I got to work I called the number and a woman answered saying it was @#$% Lawn Service. I asked as politely as I could, "What the heck did you put all over my yard and who gave you authorization?"

“You mean you’re not a customer?”

"Of course, not. What service did you give me? What chemicals did you use?"

I was nervous about the use of weed killers for dandelions or something. I had planted $700 worth of daffodils and other spring bulbs under the lawn to get that naturalized look. (See Drilling for Daffodils.) The young sprouts are poking out 3 inches or so everywhere.

"It should tell you on the invoice. We always put an invoice on the door."

"I don’t have an invoice!"

"Then how do you know we visited your property?"

"You left a sign on the boulevard with your number."

"How do I know you didn’t get that from someone else’s yard," she started to defend.

Right, like I just go around the neighborhood looking for signs to call.

"If you don’t have an invoice I can’t help you. This call is finished." The line goes dead.

I am sure this saga is to be continued….