I nearly collapsed from pure shock, when my new neigbour told me that the old Willow tree in front of the house will have to go! I stuttered and spluttered, and nearly had one kingsize fit, as the tree she was talking about was a three hundred year old Californian Pepper tree, planted by the first settlers who settled in the village! I begged her to please not cut it down, as it is part of the history of Haarlem! But this woman just looked at me, and said: 'Halo-o-o, my place!!' So I just went back to my own house, but I was a troubled soul indeed, as the tree had so many memories for me, because we as a family sat underneath it so many times, appreciating the dappled shade when the sun was blazing down! But I hoped and prayed that she would come to her senses, and realize the historical value.
Then she got a gardener to help her, and I was aghast when I realized that she was about to rid the whole place of its lovely trees and shrubs! First to go was the roses. She came over, and told me that she had taken out all the roses, and if I want it I can come and collect them! So I went over and dragged all the rosebushes across, and after about six hours, and bleeding from numerous 'wounds' caused by the rose thorns, I stood back, admiring the day's work. It took some real muscle to dig holes deep enough and wide enough, as after about a foot of lovely black soil, I hit the Haarlem clay!  So of course I had to dig really large and deep holes for the roots to grow, and not smother to death!
Tonight the old body is feeling just a wee bitty stiff, and the old back aches like the blazes, but I am a satisfied woman, as I have saved seven rose bushes! now I can only pray that they grow.
In Front of the veranda Jan and Nina had planted a few shrubs that wouldn't grow to high, and one of this was a beautiful Cape bottlebrush, and this plant was a marvel, as it sported an enormous amount of red 'brushes' every year. I nearly had another fit when I saw the poor shrub lying just outside her gate, sawn into small pieces, and the poor roots all dried up in the harsh sun. Felt like stalking over and chop this person up and put her outside to dry out! I was so cross, but couldn't say a word, as it is her place.
She came over the next day to tell me that the other shrubs will also be taken out that day, and did I want them. So I started digging again, my poor back complaining by creaking and trying to go into a huge spasm, but I persevered, and when she chucked this beautiful shrubs in front of my gate, I was ready for the planting! I was not very chaffed with my new neigbour at that stage, and went to bed that night wondering what will be the next plants to be destroyed! At least my garden was getting some lovely new plants, and as I love roses, I hope the ones I got from my neigbour would grow as well as mine!