Let no one accuse Pelham Manor’s operations people of being lax when it comes to enforcing property maintenance codes.

Natalia Zotova learned this lesson the hard way last month after a team from the Manor’s operations department mowed down a small patch of flowers she had planted on the strip of ground between a stretch of sidewalk near her residence and the street, land that is village property.

The clear-cutting occurred on the afternoon of Friday, August 15, when Zotova was inside her home, on a work call. Afterwards she emerged and saw that her patch of colorful flowers–including Hollyhocks and Cosmos–had been eradicated from the small patch of earth surrounding a telephone pole on the corner of Esplanade and Carol Place.

“I was like, oh my God, shall I cry?” she said in an interview. “I felt really sorry.”

After talking to her husband about the incident, which she thought might have been an act of vandalism, Zotova called the Pelham Manor police.  The officers who responded took note of what happened, but recommended that Zotova reach out to the Manor’s planning board.  Zotova spoke with Village Manager Lindsey Luft that afternoon.

According to Zotova, Luft explained that because the flowers surrounded the base of a utility pole, they were viewed as a hazard.  As to why she wasn’t given any notice that the flowers violated the town’s code, Zotova acknowledged that the flowers were not directly in front of her property, but a short distance away.  The call with Luft ended amicably. In response to an email, Luft acknowledged the conversation with Zotova but declined to provide details as to why the village determined that the flowers posed a hazard.

A few days later, the village issued a statement advising residents to adhere to the Manor’s property maintenance codes. “It is a beautiful time of year to walk the Village and enjoy time outdoors,” the statement began. “However, we would like to take a moment to remind homeowners of their duty to make sure their property is maintained in compliance with our local municipal code. This is especially important as we near school being back in session as children will be walking to school.”

“As stewards of our community, the Village of Pelham Manor’s operations staff is tasked with enforcing our local municipal code uniformly for all property owners and on public lands,” the statement continued. “Our regulations are quite similar, and in some instances exactly the same, as neighboring and nearby municipalities.”

Zotova, a member of the Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams (EcoPel), decided to respond. In a Facebook post of her own, she raised questions about the Manor’s warning that unraked leaves become a breeding ground for ticks. “Without leaves, we risk losing beloved fireflies, butterflies, and bees – they are dying out,” she wrote.

“It is also not quite correct that VoPM codes are similar to those of our neighbors,” she continued. “In fact, Village of Pelham allows residents to plant trees and flowers on the strips adjacent to their property. In Westchester county, Tarrytown and Rye allow grass and vegetation up to 12 inches, while Ossining allows 10 inches. Some other villages are currently revising their codes.”

Zotova also posted “before” and “after” photos of her flower patch, which struck a chord with her followers. More than a dozen people commented, lamenting what seemed to be the senseless slaughter of innocent flowers. One wag suggested she move over to his block in the Village of Pelham, where sidewalk strip vegetation is welcomed.

“We all need beauty in our lives,” said Zotova. “I think that people sympathized so much with my post because they really enjoyed my flowers. Beauty is a great unifier.”

While Zotova has no plans to contest the incident further, she would like to see Pelham Manor update its landscaping codes. It’s a position she shares with her neighbor Tai Montanarella.

In July Montanarella appeared at a meeting of the Pelham Manor Board of Trustees to appeal a notice she received informing her that her garden was in violation of the Manor’s property maintenance code.

Zotova said she is determined to continue her environmental advocacy and her mission to “beautify Pelham.”

As for the corner with the telephone pole near her property, Zotova still wants to improve the plot.  “I’ll plant some ground cover,” she said, “but not flowers.”