A family in a Pacific Northwest suburb was visited by local police after a neighbor filed a complaint about their front yard garden. The complaint, which the responding officer shared was among the more creative he had encountered, cited “unauthorized botanical activity.”
The Nextdoor post that preceded the police call read, in part: “The tomato plants are encroaching on the visual character of the street. This is a residential neighborhood, not a farm.”
Several neighbors responded with photos of their own gardens. One replied simply: “Ma’am, those are cherry tomatoes.”
The family had planted a modest raised bed with tomatoes, peppers, basil, and marigolds. The garden was entirely within their property line. It did not violate any local ordinance or HOA rule, because the neighborhood does not have an HOA.
The responding officers confirmed there was no violation, declined to file a report, and — according to the homeowner — asked if the tomatoes were any good.
The garden remains. It reportedly produced an excellent crop of Sungolds that summer.