Can anyone relate?

[beautifulbay]

oh FD, how terrible.

and yes, I can relate. When I lived in Florida, I was on a busy road. My plants were constantly stolen....and I mean in the pots and everything.
Someone had pulled up to my house one day and asked me if I'd sell my large heliconia, and I said no, it had been a birthday present.
2 days later, it came up stolen along with my garden turtle.
I called the police, but couldn't do anything because I didnt see him take it.

Next it was my outdoor table set!

I was happy to move away.

I really feel for you and so sorry about your precious hydrangea. I hope they get it good.

[marasri]

Yes, some people have an odd sense of entitlement, or is it a deviant definition of community property.

[gardeningmom]

I think it is a disgrace! What makes people think that your plants, flowers or anything else for that matter that is on your property they have a right to?

Why would your hydrangea flowers be "free" for the taken and not your car? Those people are the same kind of people who say that if a house gets robbed and they find that the door was unlocked the homeowners are somehow to blame! People are stupid and if the courts don't start really punishing, this stuff won't stop.

I definitely would gather as many pictures that you can and write everything down as it happened. By the time September comes it won't be as fresh in your mind. Best of luck to you - I hope they nail them!!!!

[zuzu's petals]

I am shocked beyond words!
So proud of you for the way you handled yourself and the situation, flowerdazed.

Oh, I do hope that the judge is a gardener.

[Mandy]

Wouldn't that be perfect justice!

[beautifulbay]

hahaha!! The judge a gardener ..... too funny, that would be great!!

FD, good luck to you on the case. You have every right to press charges. To some people it may be just flowers.....but the point is even more than that. It goes beyond helping themselves to something they had no right to.... also invasion of your property and everything else....
You know you have our support!

[BarefootGardener]

You might also contact the home and garden editor at your local newspaper and get them to do a story--especially if this is such a common problem. Good luck, I hope you win wicked reparations!

[needmoresoil]

OMG! I cannot believe people would try and justify it when you said they had your flowers. Sheesh. That is just pathetic! I am beyond words. And to come with a "weapon". I mean...OMG! Good job and good luck!

I have had plants stolen. Pots just taken. Makes me wish I had cameras everywhere.

[BarefootGardener]

My mother's Mother's Day hanging basket was taken right off the shepherd's hook in front of her apartment last year. Apparently every pretty basket in the complex was stolen. I'd imagine they were later sold at some street corner for the 'last minute Mother's Day shopper.' There are just people around who have no conscience and, I fear, they never will. All the more reason why a network of people like here on PS is so important in today's complicated world. Thanks to everyone for taking me in!!

[Valerie]

man thats messed up.i know u know where angola thats where id be right now.people compliment on how good flowers look but dont realize the WORK they are.

[lovetropicalplants]

Glad you got 'em!!! Around here people will steal your plants you put around your mail box. They just take em!!! Good for you. Let us know the outcome! So sorry about your plants.

[Bernard]

I can't stand it when people don't respect other people's property. I'm glad you caught them and are pressing charges. I hope you get some satisfaction in court.

[flowerdazed]

MR, Angie, Mandy, PUD, Shirley, Deb, Diane, Penny, FernGirl, Shannon, Bernie, cherrystone, marasri, GT, Natalie, gardeningmom, zuzu, needmoresoil, Valerie, lovetropicalplants, and PlantSwap.

You have no idea just how much your support and reaffirming words have meant to me. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart yall.

Yes, there were a total of 4 police cars in front of my house when this incident ocurred. The police were VERY understanding and were so nice to me in this situation. One policeman actually took pics of the area where they cut the stems. They did all the could, and found the tresspassers. As it turns out, they live several streets behind me as I had to follow the police to their house (ha ha I have their address and names people ) as they stood outside and waited for me to ID them. A friend was with me at the time of the incident so I have a witness as well. She will testify if needed.

Yes, I took the high road in handling this. Most of the cuttings were already cut and in the passenger front seat. The mother was walking from my hydrangea bush with the pruners and more hydrangea cuttings. Had I seen the both of them actually cutting the stems, I really can't say what I would have done. The daughter was already in the car, behind the wheel with the bouquet and the maw walking to the car with more. And yes, zuzu, I sure to hope the judge is an avid gardener. The DA is supposed to call me sometime in the future so I am hoping they do not throw this case out. I will do all I can to go to trial my garden friends. This is for you too. They will pay.

Will keep you posted and thanks again for your support. It has helped tremendously.

[detroitjazzman]

Wow, the nerve of people. I can not believe they did this. That is just crazy that someone would do that. I would have been beyond upset if this had happened to me. I am in shock.
Deb

here's a real shocker, I did two very large flower pots in a glass moasic put some canna and other flowers and placed on both sides of my front door. Everyday when I came home I enjoyed the look of those flowers on my porch. One day I come home and one is missing! now i'm really p***ed, I tell my wife im camping out on the covered porch and wait for this person to return, my wife who is much calmer about this sort of thing prevailes to not have me on the 11:00 PM news. The following morning.....the other pot is gone and to add insult to injury, they dug up a rose bush that I had been growing for years!!!

[Penny]

Flowerdazed........you are very welcome, thats what we are all here for, is support.

Please keep us posted on how things progress ok, and i for one, wish i lived a heck of alot closer, i'd love to sit there and hear the two of them try and justify what they did!