Quick update and a massive thank you for the commiseration

[stoney321]

I'll sum up since it'll make me sad to go through each comment and say this over and over.

1. Things were ripped out and sitting in our 104 F heat on pavement for who knows how long. So no, most cannot be saved. They burned up/dried out.
2. I WAS able to save the rose, which made my heart feel much better. Someone knew what they were doing and used a pitchfork to get that out, not a spade.
3. They didn't toss everything into a dumpster, so I've soaked the debris pile, hoping to find some of the bulbs (there were over 200 bulbs in the bed) and salvage them.
4. The pool man was horrified, he knows how dear my garden is to me (he wants to HIRE me to help him landscape, for pity's sake) and knowing him, he is giving/has given the guys an ass chewing.
5. Once I figure out the damage, he'll work with me because he is a very nice man (which is what led me to being so upset, I didn't want to think he wouldn't take my feelings into consideration.)

It's just... construction crews work in crazy heat here, they work hard, and they don't care about things like succulents, etc. It's just a plant. I'm not excusing them, I'm explaining them. They tried to stick everything back in the ground, but they're plumbers, they're not gardeners. So. *sigh*

Thank you all so very much for making me not feel like a titty baby for being so upset over some ajuga, phlox, lilies, gayfeathers, stonecrops, firebushes, meadow sage, and I don't even know what else. Oh, all of my bearded irises. And daisies, but those jerks never bloomed so, eh. :) They were the first things I put in my garden when we moved in 6 years ago. I guess this means I get to re-do a flower bed? I'll be okay in the morning. Thanks again, you all are aces in my book. <3

Comments

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

I hope you are able to save many, many bulbs, and I'm so happy about the rose. I still cannot believe they didn't inform you, but guys are guys wherever they are working. They have a job, and they do it; they don't always think about anything else.

When we renovated our house a plumber walked right across our newly finished (and still wet) hardwood floor despite the many, many signs and big tape Xs across all the doorways, which he had to duck under because he just... I don't know, wasn't thinking, assumed "Do Not Walk on the Floor" didn't apply to him, had to get upstairs because he left his favorite wrench? If you look closely you can still see some of the marks of his feet in the stain pattern in our front hall.

I'm glad the pool man is so nice and is responding so well. It doesn't excuse the loss of the plants, but at least he's being good about it.

Come up with a super spiffy even more awesome plan for that bed. And maybe bury one of the guys' corpses in there as fertilizer?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

That's the spirit I'm going for! New bed, new plan, new design, and really, it's only half of the bed (well, 2/3) that's wrecked, I won't lose the other 2 roses or some of the other babies I've cultivated, so I'm going to be positive.

And I literally gasped out loud when I read your story about your floors. I would have shrieked and flew at his head. What is WRONG with some people!? They're just lost in la la land, I guess!

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

Omg Stoney, your plants! *hugs* I can only imagine the feeling, like they were ripped out of your HEART.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

YES. THAT IS IT PRECISELY.

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you were at least able to save the rose, sweetie.

xx

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oy, me, too.

[tabaqui]

Yay, the rose!
I'm glad about that.
*hugs*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Me, too. I'm keeping my eyes on it for the next few days to be sure...

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

BIG BIG hugs. I'm glad you saved the rose!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I've been meaning to say, the rain we got was last Friday - that's been it. It's supposed to rain (maybe/kinda) next week, so let's hope the whole metroplex gets some.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Ahhh ok.

And yes, please? We need some relief from this heat!

[meridius.livejournal.com]

"waaaah" is now my favourite tag lol

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

And you have to imagine a "Snookie" Jersey waaaaaah. :)

[rubywisp.livejournal.com]

oh jesus, honey, i'm so sorry to hear about that. i hope you can save some stuff. *HUGS*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I think I can save the really important things, like the lilies and the rose. (these lilies are 6 years old, so they get HUGE and put out so many flowers! Well... it was time to divide them anyway? I'm trying to do that silver lining thing.)

[nwhepcat.livejournal.com]

Missed your earlier post, but ohh, babe, I'm sorry. I'm glad they'll make it right, but holy shit don't they freakin' understand?!

View it as a clean slate, I guess?

::hugs::

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

That's exactly how I'm seeing it today: clean slate, new bed, new design to create, and that usually makes me happy, so why not this time, right? *squares shoulders*

[thebratqueen.livejournal.com]

They hurt irises?? Oh it is ON.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

they threw AWAY the irises. I has none. Fortunately I gave babies to a neighbor this spring, I bet she'll give me back a cutting or two.

[ruthless1.livejournal.com]

WEEPS!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

Ack, catching up on posts now, and I'm so sorry!

At least the pool man understood the gravity of what had happened. But again, so sorry this occurred, and that you have to deal with the aftermath. *hugs*

*makes a big pitcher of lemonade for tomorrow and rolls up sleeves to get to work*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

LEMONADE! For both it's literal and symbol meaning, yay! I'm going to work out a new design, a new bed, and be happy. The alternative is to be negative, and that's not how I wanna be. *determined*

[firesprite1105.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, this is so awful to hear about. My front garden is probably safe from construction, but I have buried electric and such in my backyard, and I'm afraid to do anything too awesome in case it ever gets ripped up.

I'd offer you plants, but I think my xeric Austin plants are totally different than what you're working with in Dallas. But if you want any bulbine or agave weberi, just holler! : /

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I have xeric lush plants, if you can believe it. I've trained my garden to tolerate the 104/no rain up here. That is so sweet of you to have offered, that's why I love fellow gardeners. <3

[anniemare.livejournal.com]

Great on the rose! YAY! I completely understand how you feel. I would be wrecked. {{HUGS}}

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much how I felt about it yesterday. I'm going to put in a new bed and just be excited about new ideas.

[anniemare.livejournal.com]

I was highly upset when my yarrow was winter-killed. I can't imagine what I would do if one of my beds was ripped up :(

I have some iris I can send you if you want some. I can't guarantee what color they are, but I would be happy to donate them to the cause :)

[gabzilla.livejournal.com]

So glad you were able to save the rose! If the pool man doesn't give them what for, the internet has a few words for those guys, that's for sure.
Hugs

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I've heard about the pool man going ballistic for ONE TILE off kilter, I can't imagine what he'll say about this. (I did say that no one should like, lose their job over some irises, they just need to know that people want to know about digging outside the original planned area.)

[swmbo.livejournal.com]

Ohhh *cry* Was it my rose? For my hero coworker?

I do hope you can find bulbs and things will be better. *cry*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

.....yes. BUT! BUT!! I think I'm able to save it. I was out early this morning rooting around looking for root stock and bulbs, and I think there's plenty of the root system to the rose to help it bounce back.

I had a splitting headache last night and was an absolute grump. Seeing that the rose and a few others weren't dead this morning (or wilted, or brown or...) gives me hope.

:(

[swmbo.livejournal.com]

I have absolute faith that it'll survive. IT WILL. <3 <3 <3

[oatmellow.livejournal.com]

I just got caught up. *offers route 66 cup of yummy wine and hugs*

So sorry, Stoney. But it sounds like it's being handled appropriately and I'm so glad your rose was salvaged. Now, if you need me to help bury a body in the new flower bed...just holler.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I hear plumbers make excellent fertilizer...

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

Man, I know that is a crushing feeling, when you look out and all those plants you worked so hard to raise are ripped out. ::wince:: Hopefully now they know to come get you before they rip out any others?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

My pool man just came with his hand literally in hand and assured me no one is doing any more digging in my flowers and brought a peace offering plant to boot.

There's a good reason why I hired him. :)

[strtmyorange.livejournal.com]

Oh no! It's bad enough when mother nature rips plants out of our hearts but this was intentional! I'm so sorry. I think that your new flower bed will be bigger and more beautiful.

[windstar.livejournal.com]

So glad you were able to save the rose. Can't wait to see what you do with the rest of it, you are very talented in the gardening arena.

[nijireiki.livejournal.com]

In retribution for their acts, I have cursed the crews to prick their fingers on several spinning wheels and sleep for one hundred... hours (they have to get back to work on your pool still, duh) surrounded by prickle bushes! Without roses on!! ONLY ALSO WITH FACES, like in Alice in Wonderland! /attempted weaksauce Hellraiser imagery

Also, this! (http://kathleeniscookinginmexico.wordpress.com/2010/08/07/mexican-ibarra-chocolate-ice-cream-me-gusta-mucho/)

~cheer up stoneeeeeeey, just be glad you're youuuuuuu~

[voodoochild9.livejournal.com]

Oh my GOD. A while ago, some of the neighborhood kids tore out the tulip tops from our front yard garden. (we live in a townhouse so there isn't a lot of room out front for planting stuff) They didn't uproot the bulbs, thank goodness, but I know how you feel. If you put the time and energy into planting and taking care of them, they aren't 'just plants'.
Its one thing to pick flowers off the side of the highway, (wildflowers not flowers from a roadside shrine O.o) its another to go into somebody's garden and pick their flowers.
I hope you're able to get a new flowerbed going. *hug*