The council killed this man's tree so he got the ultimate revenge

It is a story of “death, new life and revenge”.

At least that is how one resident of Redondo Beach, California, describes his battle with the city council over the removal of a pepper tree from his front yard.

Three years ago the council had noticed the roots of the 30-year-old tree had spread to the pavement in front of the house, and ordered it to be cut down. To add insult to injury, they made the man pay for the damages to the sidewalk and the cost of removal.

In an anonymous post shared on Imgur, the resident bemoaned the loss of his favourite tree, which he had named Clyde.

He wrote:

I loved Clyde. I’m beginning to get older and planting something that I knew would live well beyond my lifetime was something very special. I took very good care of him. 

Just as Clyde was becoming a strong healthy individual, expanding his root system, the mayor took it upon himself to uproot my beautiful child.

Unluckily for the council however, the man happened to be a professional arborist, and he plotted, quite literally, the perfect revenge for the death of his beloved tree.

He wrote online:

For this you will pay. Two years and seven months ago, I secretly planted 45 California Redwoods and 82 Giant Sequoias in various parks, yards and state properties around your city. 

Today each of their root systems will be at least 30 feet in diameter, and deeply embedded in the soil. You may have noticed the new one that sprouted up in your backyard. That’s a Giant Sequoia, and its growth will begin accelerating rapidly in the coming months.

If you were wondering what a Giant Sequoia looks like, here’s one in Yosemite National Park:

Picture:

While beautiful and magnificent, it is not a tree that lends itself well to urban planning.

The secret tree-planter wasn't finished however.

You killed Clyde but I have replaced him with over 100 living giants. And giant they will become… 

Good day to you, sir. May your city be overrun by trees. And may Clyde rest in peace.

It is unclear how successful his plot has been. But whether Redondo Beach really is overrun with giant trees planted nearly three years ago, one thing is clear: never cross an arborist.

More: A man and his daughter planted this tree in the middle of Oxford Street, with a wonderful message