"Nervous ride home" Topic

Yesterday I drove from Waco to my hometown of El Campo to set in motion the sale of my mother's house. I had some time to kill so I went to a nursery to look for a plant I have been seeking to fill a special spot in my backyard. The plant is called Texas star hibiscus or sometimes Rose Mallow. It is easy to find on the Gulf coast but trickier in Central Texas.

Luckily I found a place that had them for a very reasonable price and good size so I bought. Then I realized I had to get it home, some 200 miles away. Am I worried about the size? No. I am worried about the police. You see the star hibiscus looks like this before it blooms: picture

After blooming it looks like this: picture

After several speed traps and being tailed by a state trooper who probably thought it was too hot to see if this old geezer in a minivan is actually doing what he thought he was doing, I arrived successfully home and the plant in the ground.

Since it grows 8-10 feet I should probably warn the deputy sherrif who moved in next door recently.

And if you think I worry unnecessarily, here's a story about a Houston man who got raided for growing it: link

But it is still a fun plant to grow, blooms profusely and winters over in my part of state.

"Honest Officer, it is Texas Star Hibiscus. It grew too big so I pruned it and am burning the clipping a little at a time. The water pipe seemed a good tool to burn them Officer."

I know yer kind, Boy. Jes' askin' fer trouble, ain't you?

I don't know, however pretty it blooms, I don't know if it is worth risking some sort of federal raid in Waco, Texas.

"I'd like you to meet your new room mate, Ben. That's Ben Dover"

You *could* leave the nursery tags on the plants, I suppose, but informing your neighbor in law enforcement may be your best bet. Find another account of that raid without the op-ed bits and pass it along. A police department that has the tools to prevent it from looking stupid is a good thing.

We aren't that stupid, Waco Joe.

That's true Corro, usually the TCLEOSE classes or academy weed out the less than brilliant. I still remember watching the TCLEOSE orientation at our school. First get all the recruits in the auditorium. Then wait for the DPS and Sheriff dept to come in to serve the outstanding warrants.

We need to get together sometime and trade Waco stories. I'm old enough to remember the police chief before Larry Scott.

I should be okay Pictors, I have only one wife.

Funny, I've spent part of the week cutting back the marijuana that grows wild in and around our pastures. Pity I don't indulge, I'd be set for life.

You weren't an ambulance, so he didn't need to stop you…
--
Tim

Well, I need to correct that- most of us aren't that stupid. Scot was on his way out when I got here. I bet you have some stories to tell.