Some people think fake and/or plastic flowers can make attractive arrangements. Others think they’re ugly. The  neighbors of the Sheridans in Queens definitely agree with the latter. For years Michael Sheridan and his mother lived an eccentric life in the house, covering the outside grounds with fake Christmas trees and thousands of fake flowers. The neighbors complained and one even sued to no avail. Finally, after his mother died, Michael Sheridan abandoned the house and moved to Long Island. He left behind all the flowers, the house itself rotting on the outside and filled to the ceilings with garbage. It appears he and his mother were hoarders. Recently however, a local couple bought the house for around $700,000, a fraction of what it would have been worth had the Sheridans properly taken care of it, and plans to gut and rebuild everything-and get rid of all the plastic flowers.

The couple said they hauled away 17 dumpsters filled with garbage before the house was finally emptied, and their new neighbors are relieved. How would you feel if your neighbor decided to cover their yard with fake flowers? I’ve had neighbors that filled their flower beds with fake flowers and yard ornaments and while it wasn’t the most attractive look, it never really bothered me. I think I’d be more concerned that my neighbor was a hoarder than I would be about the fact they have a thing for fake flora. I used to live above a hoarder and it wasn’t pretty. When she moved out it took nearly a year to get the apartment back to normal!