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Looked Forward to Seeing It Bloom

I grew up on Farm River Road in Branford, across the street from a rhododendron. It started small 50 years ago and slowly grew into a 10-foot tall, full-bodied shrub. It stayed in its corner of the yard and took care of itself, dazzling everyone who walked by with hundreds of spring flowers. It provided a habitat for rabbits and supported bees and insects. Yesterday, two large trucks arrived, and in minutes, the rhododendron and other trees were gone. Every year, we, its neighbors, stopped on the street to admire the rhododendron. We may have occasionally picked one of its flowers. And we definitely looked forward to seeing it bloom every spring without any help.

I have room in my yard for a transplant. I bet there are others who do, too. But its owner never thought to tell us.

Michalah Bracken

Branford