Elderly woman's yard center of neighborhood complaint

HOUSTON -- A 75-year-old master gardener may be in the midst of a mix-up over the plants in her front lawn.

Ada Palmer said a sign from the city of Houston appeared in her front yard on Thursday, only to disappear days later. It required her to "cut high grass and weeds" on her property by October 25, or face a fine.

"The main feeling I had is like I was attacked," said Palmer.

The grandmother, who has spent her life running her own lawn service, takes pride in her knowledge of plants and flowers.

"I don't think it's ugly," said Palmer. "Right now, it looks like a weed because it goes to seed in the fall."

The city defines a weed as "a rank and uncultivated growth .. more than 9 inches in height .. or which, regardless of height, is liable to become unwholesome."

Palmer's neighbors don't seem to have any problem with her yard.

"I think it's a natural landscape design, nothing that's uncommon," said neighbor Giovanni Delacruz.

"It's wonderful from my window. It looks nice. I enjoy it," said neighbor Rajesh Garee.

Palmer said she's willing to mow a little for the sake of compromise, but she sure hopes it won't come to that.

"There's definitely worse if you drive down these streets," she said.

We noticed the sign placed in Palmer's yard has the wrong address written on it, so we called City Councilman Richard Nguyen's office. They agreed to dig into the matter to see if the sign was placed at the wrong house or perhaps moved there by a prankster from a home around the corner.

We should know more by Tuesday morning.