WARNING: This is more of a rant than a blog

I live in Glendale. On my property I had a Live Oak that was the showcase of my house. It had been ailing for a couple of years. Last year I spent $1k trying to save the tree, giving is phosporous baths (the same treatment they are using to battle sudden oak death.) After the final treatment, the consensus was to wait for spring and hope for the best. Spring came, new growth did not. I called the city to find out what was needed to remove the tree, as it's a protected species in Glendale. After being transferred around multiple departments, I finally was connected to the one person who had authority over oak trees. In April, he came out and declared it dead. He also issued me a permit to remove the tree. However, it was a conditional permit that allowed me to remove the tree only if I planted another Live Oak (at least a 24" box). He initially only gave me 30 days to get this accomplished. I reminded him that he had said that oaks were best transplanted in the fall, so he revised the permit and gave me 6 months until the end of October. Fast forward 2 months. I came home and found a violation notice from the city regarding weeds and a dying oak stating that I had 30 days to rectify the situation. I called the department, which was different from the tree guy's, and explained the situation to them. I faxed them my permit from the tree guy and thought all was taken care of. I pulled out the weeds and was waiting for summer to end. The next week I received another notice in the mail and another and another. By then, I'd decided to just go ahead and pull out the oak, just to get the city off my back. They must have inspected again right before the oak was scheduled to be removed ($1400 worth or removal) becuase I came home to another violation notice, followed by antoher barrage of mailed notices. The tree was removed. I pulled some more weeds and covered the entire front yard with bark, hoping the bark would keep the weeds and the city at bay while I waited for the fall and planting. Fast forward to yesterday. I came home and found a third notice, this one stating that I had to have a landscaped yard within 30 days. Called the city, completely frustrated. After much discussion, reminders of the past history, I was told that I can apply in writing for a 30 day extension, which in all fairness, puts me back in the timeline for originally planting the oak. I kept reminding the official that I had shown due diligence through this entire process, by approaching the city months ago, getting my ducks in a row, only to have it thwarted by another department, who by their own admission has no authority over oaks. Yet, I am obligated to appease both departments operating on different timelines.

The good news in all of this is that a friend came over and a plan exists to revamp the front yard and really make it great. It will only take time and money. The joke is the city said that it will offer me an additional 30 days if I show due diligence. Isn't that what I have been doing?