My neighbor insisted I remove my apple tree—then one morning, I woke up to my entire yard buried in apples.

replaced his mailbox, cleared every flower from his front garden, and covered the soil with white stones. One afternoon, he knocked on my door and pointed immediately toward my backyard.

“We need to discuss your tree.”

“The apple tree?” I said. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s messy,” he replied. “Its branches cross the fence, and fruit falls into my garden.”

I continue reading …