Two women in Winnipeg’s Transcona neighbourhood face fines from the city for making additions to their boulevard trees.
Joyce Maryk and her neighbor received a city notice to remove a flowerpot and faces from the trees along their street. If they don’t comply, they face fines.
“He just told me I had to take everything down,” Maryk said. “I deprived the tree of oxygen.”
Maryk said she has since removed her flowers and planter, which have been hanging on the tree for five years. The faces lasted even longer – they brought emotion to the block for about a decade.
“They could be doing other things,” she said. “There are houses that don’t mow their lawns… they’re not doing anything about that.”
According to the City of Winnipeg, residents are allowed to add items to the boulevard as long as they do not impede vehicle or pedestrian traffic, obscure views, block access to utilities, hinder snow removal or cause damage to trees.
Nails and screws are also not allowed in trees.
Maryk said that local residents were happy to see the flowers on the tree and often asked her to hang them back up.
“I don’t think so,” she said, adding that she has no plans to replant. “Honestly, I didn’t care. I have enough. It costs me a lot of money every year for flowers and stuff and watering.”
