Orchids and Yardmen

[trinigirl]

Hi everyone,

Today I watched the yardmen working in the back yard.

I watched one guy raking leaves, and each time he pulled his arm back, he hit one of my catt mounts which was on the crepe myrtle tree. This is the only tree I can hang orchids in. Also, as he was blowing and moving back and forth, his head kept hitting other pots and mounts on the crepe myrtle tree. None of this registered with him.

I had never watched the guys work before, they come every week. I did not say anything to him, I don't know if I should tell them to be more careful around the plants or what. They may do this every time, I just never had watched before.

I remounted the catt which got twisted. I rehung the one side of the hanger on one potted plant. I still have to go upright orchids from a table. I always get fallen plants. My husband thinks we should block off an area and not let them cut there. Unfortunately the crepe myrtle tree cannot be blocked off.

Also, when the guy was done and waiting for the other guy, he kept the blower pointed on the fence and blowing on orchids that I hang on the fence. I guess they were alright, I should think.

Has anyone had this problem and what have you done? I guess orchids aren't as important to some people as to us orchidists.

Thanks

[FLBob]

I can only imagine the horror of watching someone bang into my orchids, and a leaf blower generates winds that are hurricane force!

I've stopped showing my mother-in-law my flowers, she always grabs the flower and pulls them up to her nose!

If I were you I'd be looking into buying barb-wire to fence in my crepe myrtle tree!

Sarah you showed a lot of restraint.

[Stelios]

Is the guy handsome? just joking

I would made some lemonade, go outside to offer a refeshment and politely explain the issue. You'll be amazed how effective a kind request is.

If he kept doing it i would hire a new guy.

[virgil]

Sounds like and attitude adjustment is needed, First be nice if that don't work, oh well.

[patticake]

Well that's not an issue that I have to deal with, living in the great northeast, of New York! I would be going bonkers if anyone was messing with my plants! As Stelios stated... be kind and suggest nicely.

[fred]

you toucha my a orchids I break ya face

bad fred lol

or the nice approach ( do you feel lucky punk )

nope thats still bad fred lol

[FLBob]

Originally Posted by Stelios

Is the guy handsome? just joking

I would made some lemonade, go outside to offer a refeshment and politely explain the issue. You'll be amazed how effective a kind request is.

If he kept doing it i would hire a new guy.

I like your attitude. Great approach.

[LauraGR]

Stelios - you win the prize - great answer!! That is a great way to get what you want, and have him remember it the next time too. Tell him how much you like your plants and what a good job they do on the rest of it (I hope they do for you to put up with this!)

[trinigirl]

You guys are too funny!!!

These guys are new, this is the 2nd time they have cut the yard. The last crew were too undependable, and they knocked over orchids too, and even broke a clay pot! Can you believe it?

When I went back to look at the orchids later, I repotted 3 orchids, in addition to retying the catt that was mauled by the rake handle. The worst part of it all was that one of the tags fell out of the angraecums, (the plant was turned over- I got to inspect the roots was the only good part in all this) and I can't find the tag anywhere. I guess it must have gotten eaten up in the mower, or blown and put into a trash bag. This bothered me for a couple of hours. I will have to make a new tag which should be easy enough, it just wont be pretty like the tags that tell you the name, color, blooming season, or temp requirements all printed so nicely.

I don't think I can explain too well to these guys how to be careful around the plants, unfortunately. They speak English, but not well enough for me to explain why orchids are different from other plants in the yard. I will just have to put a fence around the area where the orchids are hanging or hang them on the back side of the crepe myrtle, which is protected as it is in the flower bed.

I still have to discuss a plan of action with my husband. This plan would also have to include keeping the 1 and 2 year old kids away from the orchids, it's hard to explain to them why they should not shake the hangers(attached to pots, always orchids), or pull them from where they are hanging to play with them, but that is another story I will not even go into. Oh, the trials....

[lmartiny]

I would definately talk to the lawn guys and ask them to be more careful around the plants.