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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To put weedkiller in a water pistol and nuke neighbours lillies?

161 replies

Mumteedum · 15/07/2021 21:22

Obviously I won't. I just want to vent.

Next door neighbour is a gifted gardener. He grows monster lillies. Each plant is 7-8 feet high (it's above the fence). The plant nearest my house is right next to the fence and about 2 metres from my back door.

I can count over 20 budding flowers already in the bit above the fence. There are at least 6 of these plants..maybe more. So I would estimate that each plant must have up to 80 flower heads. That's 480 liliies.

Its hot and I need windows open but I'm sat wheezing and I've got a headache. I never have to take my inhaler apart from now.

My house stinks of them.

Can I nuke them? Please 🙏 😁

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumteedum · 16/07/2021 10:13

@SilverOak

Tree Lillies can Nonsense. Each plant in that photo has about 10 flowers at most. Certainly not 80.

I will not avoid plants I like because they might be poisonous to cats, sorry. I don't have cats, if you want your cat to be safe keep it home.
I’m afraid I agree. There are many things in my garden that would be dangerous to a trespassing cat. Such as lilies, mousetraps, chemicals that I feed the plants with, and my dogs. Other people need to keep their animals off my property.

Well there are 15 in that photo. The fence is 6 ft high. I'm estimating how many I cant see. But it's going to be easily 60 plus per plant. They don't just have blooms at the top.

I'm not saying he shouldn't grow them. I know iabu as I said in my op.... It's his garden of course. It's just I needed a rant while nursing my headache and wheezing!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumteedum · 16/07/2021 10:15

@RainingZen without being too outing, he very much is a gifted gardener and knows his stuff. He did it professionally. They're in pots so he could move them...I just don't think he'll want to. And as I say, don't want to cause an issue

OP posts:
BarryTheKestrel · 16/07/2021 10:16

Lillies are stinky fuckers. Hate the things. YANBU OP. Kill them Grin

Original poster
Mumteedum · 16/07/2021 10:17

@BarryTheKestrel

Lillies are stinky fuckers. Hate the things. YANBU OP. Kill them Grin
🤣
OP posts:
SirVixofVixHall · 16/07/2021 10:22

I absolutely love the smell of lilies, but sadly the pollen does make me feel ill if there is a vase of them in a room. I don’t grow them in the garden as although cat visitors are rare, they do happen, and I don’t want to poison a cat.
I think if you broach it with him the best approach is the one suggested upthread, explaining your allergy. He is unlikely to want to move them this year but may decide on a different flower next year ?
Or get him an amazing tree Peony or similar that he will then want to plant there ?

Ironmanrocks · 16/07/2021 10:28

I'm just bloody jealous. I would do anything for pretty flowers in my garden - spent a fortune. Dahlias didnt come up. Lilies, lupins eaten by slugs. Lily of the valley and gladioli only has leaves. How does he get GIANT lilies????? 😭

Taliskerskye · 16/07/2021 10:28

Just find some Lilly beetles and throw them over the fence

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/07/2021 10:29

Have you seen the dr for antihistamines? You can get antihistamine eye drops too, eyes are a portal for allergens.

VariantL1130 · 16/07/2021 10:31

I have lilies in my garden. Not massive ones though. I'd happily move them if I new they were causing allergies in my neighbour. Worth an ask?

There's no way I'd get rid of them for the sake of cats though. Those shitting bird eating bastards can fuck right off.

tootiredtobother · 16/07/2021 10:32

find yourself some lily beetles and wait

Floralnomad · 16/07/2021 10:33

As they are in pots I really do think you should speak to him about relocating them , it’s a bit off to be moaning about it before you’ve even asked him .

pussycatlickinglollyices · 16/07/2021 10:53

I hate lilies.
Every time I am bought them, as soon as I get home, I carry them around the house rather than through it and straight to the garden waste bin.
NDN proudly presented us some as a thank-you and as soon as she left they had to go too.
I've 2 indoor only cats and refuse to pretend to be grateful for something really toxic for them to nibble.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 16/07/2021 10:55

@Ironmanrocks

I'm just bloody jealous. I would do anything for pretty flowers in my garden - spent a fortune. Dahlias didnt come up. Lilies, lupins eaten by slugs. Lily of the valley and gladioli only has leaves. How does he get GIANT lilies????? 😭
Buys the thirty quid for 18 bulbs from Thompson and Morgan, then shoves them into pots, I would imagine.
SirGawain · 16/07/2021 10:56

Are you the neighbour from hell?

Original poster
Mumteedum · 16/07/2021 10:58

@SirGawain? Nope. Not guilty. I'm quiet and helpful and lovely thanks. Just venting on here because the smell is making me poorly. Haven't been mean or difficult in any way!

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMoonCup · 16/07/2021 10:59

@SilverOak

Tree Lillies can Nonsense. Each plant in that photo has about 10 flowers at most. Certainly not 80.

I will not avoid plants I like because they might be poisonous to cats, sorry. I don't have cats, if you want your cat to be safe keep it home.
I’m afraid I agree. There are many things in my garden that would be dangerous to a trespassing cat. Such as lilies, mousetraps, chemicals that I feed the plants with, and my dogs. Other people need to keep their animals off my property.

30 per bulb/plant, Thompson and Morgan sell them in packs of three bulbs or larger 'collections'. If you look them up, their write up is very clear about the number of flowers per plant. It's also a reason why they are used in bouquets, as they are prolific flowerers and people think they're very expensive.

This seems such a peculiar hill for you to choose to die on.

Original poster
Mumteedum · 16/07/2021 11:02

It's not something an antihistamine will solve unfortunately. It's just the smell is so strong. It's not hayfever like allergy with itchy eyes. My asthma gets triggered by really strong perfumes too sometimes. I think lillies cause migraines in some people too.

Yes ..ok.. guilty for moaning before speaking to him I did just want a moan to be honest as I'm not sure whether I could broach it without upsetting him.

OP posts:
Ironmanrocks · 16/07/2021 11:07

@NeverDropYourMoonCup

You misunderstand....I bought bulbs/plants/seeds and stuff. They just don't grow for me for whatever reason! Slugs admittedly being one of the reasons!

Tunnocksmallow · 16/07/2021 11:10

I totally sympathise OP.
I love lilies, but lilies do not love me.
I get a migraine and an instant severe asthma attack. I only have to walk past a bouquet in a supermarket and I’m needing to reach for my inhaler.

But ya know, I’ll pop an antihistamine and stop being selfish.

Original poster
Mumteedum · 16/07/2021 11:14

@Tunnocksmallow

I totally sympathise OP. I love lilies, but lilies do not love me. I get a migraine and an instant severe asthma attack. I only have to walk past a bouquet in a supermarket and I’m needing to reach for my inhaler. But ya know, I’ll pop an antihistamine and stop being selfish.
Ok great 🌟 well done.

I'll try a be a better human and not moan on anonymous forums while continuing to be a very nice neighbour. Halo

I'd forgotten aibu is a bit bonkers Grin

OP posts:
Porcupineintherough · 16/07/2021 11:15

@Warmduscher any cat owner who is worried about the safety of their cat can take steps to keep them in their own property. If they care so little they fail to do this, why should I mind? Do all our gardens have to be safe for all our beighbours children and pets now, in case they fancy a wander?

Soubriquet · 16/07/2021 11:17

I love lillies. My favourite kind are oriental/stargazer lilies and tiger lilies.

But I appreciate they can be strong. My dh buys them occasionally and only having the one bunch in the house can spread the smell. I usually cut the pollen off as I have a cat. She doesn’t chew the leaves so it’s just the pollen I have to worry about.

But damn that’s a lot of lillies

Cattitudes · 16/07/2021 11:20

@Whoarethewho

I plant them to keep away cats. But not tree Lilly's on the boundary of another garden.
As far as I know they do nothing to deter cats but all parts of them are poisonous to cats.
AlanThePig · 16/07/2021 11:23

@SilverOak

Does this help from the RHS

The recently-introduced 'tree lilies' are monster Orientals and they really are dramatic. Carrying dozens of 15-20cm flowers on stems up to 2.5m tall, if you’re looking for impact look no further. They persist well from year to year and their stems are so stout that they rarely need support

These would grow wonderfully in my garden, might stick a few bulbs in and see what happens. No close neighbours or cats to annoy.

Porcupineintherough · 16/07/2021 11:23

Parts of lots of plants are poisonous to cats. What is it about lilies that makes them so dangerous? Do cats preferentially eat them or something?

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