Letters to the Editor
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So stealing the view from those who own it and can't afford more than a view is ok?
Why didn't the neighbor ask if she could plant the oleanders? Without permission, her "nerve and cunning" constitute garden-variety criminal trespass and illegal encroachment. I personally would advise the nice neighbor, since he's good enough to care about the nice old lady victim of a third neighbor, whose secretive crime is a dire sign of that dreaded neighborhood hazard - the fussy busybody - to ask himself if she objects. Though my guess is she'll say "no" she "understands", if she hedges (pun again intended) he could show that cunning and nerve Cary admires to help a neighbor in need of defense against the lawless by digging them up, though I doubt he will, being smart enough to be afraid of fussy busybody criminal neighbors. Unless the criminal intends to sell her house tomorrow, her "property values" are immaterial. Before the oleanders are large enough to do their trick, the old lady will be likely be dead and/or gone along with her son, who will have the smarts to sell, so the mean neighbor's crime won't pay a penny, but will be a debit on her life record. Besides, a hedge can get sick and scraggly, too. That said, fact is, plants ARE are the best neighbors.