Sunflowers land homeowner in jail

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:46 pm

Buffalo is about 60 miles west of me.

Sun Aug 6, 1:04 PM ET

TONAWANDA, N.Y. - A homeowner's bumper crop of sunflowers has drawn praise from his neighbors, and a summons from the town. Robert Samson was cited this week for "sight obstruction" at the intersection of his driveway and sidewalk in this Buffalo suburb.

"That's a very busy street with a lot of pedestrians on it," said Michael Hazen, the town's supervising code enforcement officer.

On Thursday, neighborhood children posted signs in support of the towering flowers and had collected nearly 400 signatures on a petition, many from motorists who pulled over near a stop sign.

The offending flowers line Samson's front yard, a few feet back from the sidewalk.

"I drive a tow truck. I can still see when I pull out," Samson said. "You can see through the stalks."

Samson is due in town court Tuesday. Hazen said the town is just looking for compliance with the its rules about sight obstructions but could fine Samson $250.

"I'm just trying to make it look nice," Samson said of the home he bought last fall. "I can't help I've got a green thumb."

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Information from: The Buffalo News, http://www.buffalonews.com

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:58 pm

You're right up near Lake Ontario, Marie.. Finally got out my map!!! Grin. What a pity about the sunflowers!! I have a friend who lives in a small town in Illinois where apparently some official actually drives round the streets to check up on whether everyone has mowed their grass properly. If not, they get arrested!! To an aussie, this is totally incomprehensible. Here we'd tell the officious little wanker to bugger off. Grin.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:59 pm

Let's send the officious little bugger a huge bouquet of sunflowers....and THEN tell him to go WANK!

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:02 pm

You're my kinda gal, Lulu!!!

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 5:07 pm

AussiePam wrote: You're right up near Lake Ontario, Marie...

Yes I am. In fact, while I was on my vacation I went up to Ontario Beach for a couple of hours. Took some pictures, which I will post here...sometime.

K.Snyder · Post by **K.Snyder** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 5:08 pm

With as many accidents that accure, I say its better safe than sorry.....

sorry but automobile accidents should have no exceptions to a garden of sunflowers, especially when supply meets demand.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:04 pm

I saw that article earlier. I wish they had posted a picture. I like sunflowers.

Attached files

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:42 pm

K.Snyder wrote: sorry but automobile accidents should have no exceptions to a garden of sunflowers, especially when supply meets demand.

There are exeeding few motoring accidents - however, there are many crashes.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 11:18 am

"I drive a tow truck. I can still see when I pull out," Samson said. "You can see through the stalks."

So...the owner of the property has thought about public safety. It STILL sounds like an officious little bugger, to me.