Saskatoon orders removal of 'unique' neighbourhood sidewalk sunflowers

juneberry occupier Claire Ernewein-Schouten says she only when ever so planted i "little, ornamental sunflower" just outside her gate four years ago. 

Since then, tall, healthy yellow flowers have blossomed all over her yard in the Rosewood neighbourhood and — this year — in a small crack of dirt between the sidewalk and the curbside in front of her home.

But the sunflowers have drawn the ire of the City of Saskatoon. Ernewein-Schouten received a bylaw violation notice saying the sunflowers must go by Wednesday, with the penalty of a $250 fine if they're not removed by then. 

"I think it's a very unique feature of our neighbourhood," Ernewein-Schouten said. 

"People enjoy it and they enjoy these sunflowers. Even strangers walking by, that maybe don't even live on the crescent, have commented on how much they like them," she said. 

Once Ernewein-Schouten got the bylaw notice asking her to "remove all flowers and plants," she said she let her neighbours know, inviting them to come help themselves to flowers for bouquets. 

Ernewein-Schouten said this is the first year that sunflowers have grown in that crack. She noticed the little plants in the spring and left them alone, only weeding around them, she said. 

"I thought, I'll just let them grow because I thought it was kind of cool and whatever happens, happens." 

Dozens of flowers bloomed, with a few growing as tall as a person. 

The crack provided the tiniest sliver of dirt and is less than an inch thick, but the rain this year helped the flowers thrive, Ernewein-Schouten said.

Saskatoon's bylaws compliance manager Andrea Gibson said that while the sunflowers may appear harmless, they pose mobility issues and could potentially obstruct the view of drivers from the road. 

In general, bylaw compliance in Saskatoon operates on a complaint-driven basis, she said.

"Our inspectors aren't going out looking for sunflowers in the cracks," said Gibson. 

Instead, Gibson said that there was at least one person in the neighbourhood who reached out "that they were having trouble navigating the stretch." 

Saskatoon woman shows off sidewalk sunflowers that city wants destroyed

She said the city doesn't share the number of complaints received because of confidentiality considerations. 

Gibson said it is the responsibility of homeowners to ensure that sidewalks are clear of obstructions, whether snow or plants, so that all members of the public can navigate them. 

The city has received approximately 550 complaints about overgrown vegetation in the past three months, she said. 

Ernewein-Schouten said that her house on a corner lot is known for being the decorated one in the neighbourhood, frequently decked out at Halloween and Christmas.

She said she does it in part to honour the memory of her husband, who died six years ago. 

"Every little bit of joy that I can bring either to myself or to the neighbourhood is kind of in memory of him because that's kind of who he was," she said. "He was the neighbourhood joy." 

Ernewein-Schouten said the sunflowers' surviving and thriving in such "a little crack" and becoming beautiful is a positive reminder to people.

"Things can be tough, maybe, but you can grow and be happy — just like the sunflowers," she said.

Reporter

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