I stopped by the post office and nearly peed my pants when I opened 3 letters with the same newspaper clipping. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before planting a bush not approved by the neighborhood association.” Hilarious!!! Thank you so much for thinking of me Sarah, Nicole and someone who’d rather remain anonymous from Kentucky. 🙂 You made my day.
And for those of you who sent Lucy the puggle some more flamingos…. she thanks you too!
A solar light garden bird. FANCY!!!! It really does automatically light up at night.
Gwen from Madison, Wisconsin said the town takes their plastic pink flamingos very seriously. Did you know the lawn flamingo the official bird of Madison? Yes sir it is! Apparently 35 years ago, a group of University of Wisconsin-Madison students played a prank that’s remembered fondly — by some, at least — in Madison to this day.
The students — members of a group called the Pail and Shovel party, which ran UW’s student government at the time — planted more than 1,000 pink plastic flamingos on the grassy expanse near the dean’s office. {read the full article HERE} Let’s just say some of those birds are still around.
Which kinda gave me the idea that when I finally do bust out of this joint…. I’m going to hide all the pink flamingos around the neighborhood. Bahahaha! How fun would that be? Thanks Gwen!
Rescuing flamingos from boxes is a tough gig.
I’m not sure who sent in the 12 pink flamingo whirligigs…. but THANK YOU. I can’t wait to get a video of these babies in action during the next windstorm.
And the almost neon set of flamingos…. you’ll need to break out the shades if you walk by. They are so bright it is practically blinding. Whoa Nelly.
I know I shouldn’t be flaunting the flamingos in the front yard… But this sneaky bird lights up at night. And I don’t recall anything in the convents about landscape lighting…. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Anywho, Pinky blends in with the flowers anyway… right?
Keep Calm and Garden with the Flamingos,
~Mavis
If you have any pink flamingos you are willing to part with, please send them my way. There is nothing in the CC&R’s against pink flamingos in the yard. Yet. 
Pink Flamingo Sanctuary {Gnomes and dream-catchers are welcome too!}
C/O Mavis Butterfield
P.O. Box 2083
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Delores says
Have you ever typed in “pink flamingos” on amazon?! I am torn between the zombie pink flamingos (which are actually black) and the pink flamingo party string lights. There is even a Circle of Friends Pendant! And Pink Flamingo rubber duckies. I could go on. 🙂
Lynne says
I cannot wait to hear how the HOA reacts to the presence of a flamingo sanctuary in their jurisdiction. The fact that their precious covenants are silent on yard art in general and flamencos in particular is unlikely to prevent those nosy Parkers from making a comment. And I love your plans for them when you finally break out of Shelford.
AshleyAshley says
I’m sure the HOA is closely watching your website and thinking…….how quickly can we amend and bend the laws against this crazy flamingo loving plant lady!!!
Karen says
I was shopping on amazon and fell in love with the solar flamingo and the whirly ones,…. Just had to encourage the mischief. What does the HH think of this?
The last HOA I lived in was awful, so I am all for pushing their buttons. Enjoy!
Kristina says
I wonder if there is some point at which the nosy Nellies realize that they’ve been had (and maybe even chuckle a little). (Cue The Pythons– “this is very silly indeed!”) Or is your neighborhood truly a silly-free zone?
Tina B says
The solar flamingo is quite cute. I’m not a pink flamingo fan, but I could see myself having one of those and a blue peacock one in my front yard.
There is a thing going around my area in which one wakes up one morning with a HUGE FLOCK of pink flamingoes all over the lawn, with a big sign that says “You’ve Been Flocked!” It’s hilarious!! Maybe you should do that when you leave, Mavis? (insert evil laugh here)
Sally A says
I love them hiding all over your garden and please “gift” them to the neighbourhood when you leave. Why do HOA’s exist in the first place? I think there would be riots in the UK is someone tried to set one up in their neighbourhood.
I get that a wheelless car in the front yard is unattractive but prescribing which plants are allowed is OTT. I wouldn’t cope at all with a HOA. Are they widespread?
Stacy says
Good Morning, I was just reading about the newest *Flock News* and noticed something. Particularly, the light up solar bird, Pinkie. If you check the photo, his feet/toes are pointed the wrong way, as well as his knees are bending incorrectly….looks as thought hey are attached in the wrong direction. (—or unless his feet/toes are correct and his body is backwards?! haha.)
Once I noticed that, now I can’t ‘unsee’ it! LoL
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you for rescuing Pinkie from a horrible life. I hope none of the other flamingos notice. I will fix her immediately. 🙂
Michele says
Go get ’em, Mavis!
Shea Moore says
This is hilarious. Where I live, we have a group of “flockers” that go around town during breast cancer awareness month and randomly “flock” (set up a TON of flamingos in the yard) houses overnight as a fun way to raise awareness. It’s so fun to follow them online because you never know where they will strike.
Heather says
LOL THIS is hilarious! I love it!! We are moving soon – thank the Lord! – from an HOA that is holier than thou into a much better place. As in NO NEIGHBORHOOD. NO MORE HOA. No more of this you can’t do this, you can’t have that wreath on your front door, you can’t put up a fence in secret. I am SO SICK OF THEM. These people who are in our have screwed up on a lot of things. And, we are so happy to be leaving. We may put out a waving gnome when we have a sold sign. You go, Mavis! That solar flamingo is awesome, by the way!
Sheri says
Omg! You are my hero!
Jennifer says
The whirly-birds were screaming your name… SO glad you’ve been able to find a place for them!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Jennifer! 🙂
Kellie R says
Hey Mavis, if you get enough flamingos you could accessorize them as members of your HOA and recreate the entire “I’ve got my beak so far up your business I can see daylight” drama using your yard as sort of a giant diorama. That could be classified as art, right?