How very sad. So sorry. How could anyone even enjoy the beautiful blooms on a "stolen" plant????

ediblelandscapingsc said:@SpringGreenThumb it's sad you have to go through all that just to have some plants in the front yard. What is this world coming to?

I moved. I moved to a secluded place where others cannot see my plants. I took much of my gardens with me. 😉

*** I dislike close neighbors. Their kids steal, they are nosy about everything, they complain about anything as they watch and comment on everything that happens on my side of the fence... You know that fence on the property line that belongs to them anytime I want to plant something by it; but belongs to me anytime it needs a repair. 😄😄😄

Lisa - How sad indeed. I also work at a school that has become an environmental school. We have greenhouses, raised garden beds, etc. I've always thought that there really isn't anything on school grounds or even my front yard to stop plant thieves. You'd be surprised at how often such incidents happen.

Years ago, I remember someone on one of the forums somewhere (I can't remember which forum anymore), but they grew, sold, and traded some particular plant species. Well, they had a plant thief who came and stole a large amount of their potted plants in the middle of the night. Needless to say, the owners were so upset! I can imagine.

That is one of the reasons I do not put really nice or rare plants (that could easily be dug up) in my front yard. If it isn't bolted down, it seems to be fair game these days. It's criminal. I am amazed that people will go onto private property or community property and do such a thing! Sickening.

to Lisa!

Yeah I'm a fan of privacy too but when community works it's a great thing. Before this house my neighbors was directly behind us so I know all too well about not having any privacy. I'm glad you are at a place now that you no longer have to worry about people stealing.

I came into this post because I have some sort of animal digging into my potted daylilies and thought someone else might be having the same problem, but this is so much worse!
I have to admit, a local bank has hundreds of beautiful irises, and I've joked about stealing some but I don't seriously think I could ever really do it. It takes someone with a very black heart to steal from children.
I like to think there's a possibility that someone mistakenly thought that, with the new construction, they were going to be given away or destroyed. I choose to keep just a little bit of my faith in humanity.

mystlw

Lisa I don't know what I can add here that hasn't been said already. But what a terrible thing to have happened. And from the sounds of it, this rotten individual was selective being as some were taken here and there. It is also a shame that not much will be done about it either. If one good comes of it, it will to drive home a lesson with the students that thievery affects others in ways they will now understand.

To the thief, may they get fleas in areas that their arms will be to short to reach and scratch!

I just saw this Lisa and I am so sorry this has happened. I know how much work you have put into these gardens. It's just so sad that people feel that they can help themselves to things that do not belong to them. I have had solar lights stolen right out of my front yard so I know how you feel. I would have felt much worse if it were my plants though. Gardeners have a special love and connection to their plants that non gardeners just don't understand.

Thank you again everyone for commiserating with me.

Stan, I think the thief picked and chose based on what was blooming. They missed a couple really nice ones that are not in bloom yet. They took a couple older varieties that bloom well .

Some of the varieties they took include hush little baby, beauty to behold, heavenly fission, lacy doily, Aniakchak, carved initials, mini pearl, double date, little business, Pandora's box, heavenly Star Fire, blush of innocence, exotic candy, and blackberry candy. i still need to determine what is missing from a couple holes as all of it is gone including the tag. I went and checked the garden this morning and even removed blooms from a couple to reduce temptation ( isn't that sad).

As upset/angry/hurt as I feel, I need to put it into perspective. Other than the seedlings, all are replaceable if needed. No one was hurt, the garden was not vandalized and most have a fan or two left that can grow back..... Compared to what I hear and see on the news, this is just a hick up.

Thank you again to my NGA family for the support!
Lisa

Lisa, you have a good, healthy attitude about it. Kudos.

There is no excuse for all those awful thefts. Other people may have been earmarked or entitled to receive the school plants when they were no longer needed. I hope someone comes forward with info that leads to the prosecution and a shaming of the thieves. Lisa, I can understand your not wanting to look at the garden in case you see more stuff stolen than u first thought. For a long while I couldn't go down where stuff was stolen from my garden. The weeds grew and it was a nightmare for me.

In Winter while my house was being built, I planted bulbs, daylilies, garvinea gerberas and roses. I had to drag compost and gypsum and dig heavy clay to plant them. They grew wonderfully and flowered well. We had a dry spring and summer. Once when it had rained I saw a few plants went missing. I came out nearly every afternoon for a while as I had stopped working. Then over Christmas, when it is always very hot, there was rain. So they dug out almost everything. They took the good soil in which they were growing, leaving big holes. It was obviously planned with the right amount of tools and people. The older daylilies I can never replace. Gardeners know you don't move roses in summer.

I couldn't catch them, so I put messages up. That seemed to stop it. On waste pieces of sheet rock I wrote in charcoal "A bit more evidence and you will be prosecuted." Also "I will catch you THIEF". and "I hope someone steals your dreams so u know how it feels". For a few years after I had moved in I felt anxious they would come back. That was the worst part.

I am giving a neighbour La. Irises for her front verge. I suggested she pick the stems as soon as they bud so no-one steals the plant. As others have said, many gardeners will share plants with people who ask. It seems extra low as apart from the cost, people usually choose plants they especially like.

@Lilydaydreamer I am so sorry but the good you do for those kids goes way beyond what any thief could steal. Your heart and the time you spend with them teaching them about nursing a seed, plant and bloom will last a lifetime, Thieves steal because they did not have what you are giving those students. I commend and thank you for helping the next generation, your job is hard and gets little respect these days. If I wore a hat it would come off for you. You are an angel!!!

mystlw said:..... a local bank has hundreds of beautiful irises,.

maybe u shld ask them if they will give u some when they have to divide them. I used to help pull weeds in a neighbour's garden when I walked my dog. She was grateful as the weeds were bad. I wish now I had asked her for some bits of daylilies she had. Before I thought to ask a new owner ripped them all out and put down pine bark.

Sorry to hear that someone stole your plants. Our club display garden is in a public park and some plants have been taken and it is when the plants are blooming.

I understand the damage and distruction from people who steal. I have experiences like you all may not believe. Some people just go through life that way leaving the damage they do for others to put back together and recover.

There is a support group here on the forms that will help you put back and recover from the damage.

Well, I am late seeing your post, but I want to add my sympathy.The good might be that this is a teaching experience for the students, to let them see and feel how terrible it is to lose something that a person has worked hard for, and have it taken away.The only time I have lost a plant was when we moved here to the country. Our house sits well off the county road, but we have a big field in front and there are lots of old style daffodils growing close to the road. One time I was coming home, and I saw some guy load up some of the daffodils he had just dug up. He was gone before I could get close enough to see who it might be. The thing is, if he had come to the house and asked, we would have told him he could have the plants. There just something about a person taking without asking that leaves you with the violated feeling. This was just a small thing for us, but what happened to you is an entirely different thing, and perhaps knowing you have the support of all these fine people on the Daylily Forum will be a little comfort.

I'm late too, but want to add my sympathy as well. It's so sad. I love the way you think about it, Lisa. I guess some people steal just for the thrill of it. It happens often at the cemetery too, where my dad and my grandmother are.

So sorry, Lisa. I planted a daylily garden this year with my students, and I would be heartbroken for it to be taken away by bits and pieces.

I can't add anything more except to say that I grow Hush Little Baby and will be happy to donate fans back to your garden as soon as the heat of the summer is over.

I'm adding my sympathy Lisa. It is such a shame to steal benefits from children, just because you don't have it. I do hope that the students do learn a very valuable lesson in life. Stealing is wrong in any form and it hurts the victim(s) whomever they are. It's an invasion of one's privacy and for some people, it shatters their world. No one should want to be a party to that. Here's hoping that this does not happen again and that the school at least puts up No Trespassing signs stating that violators will be prosecuted. It's the least that they can do. Wishing you and your students a speedy recovery from this sad event. Please do not allow this experience to dampen your joy and efforts in gardening and in helping the students. The photos posted are beautiful and show your love, devotion and care for these beautiful plants. There are many who do appreciate your work , but may not take the time to express it. So please don't allow this situation to dampen your zeal. Life goes on.

You know what, I think I would post a sign by the plants letting people know that they are school property and they will be prosecuted for taking any of them. I bet that would strike a little fear in any future thief.

Lisa, hearing about this really upset me, too. It is just so sad to think that someone who loves plants would have the gall to do this. Gardeners are supposed to be the best people in the world, or so I thought! I am so sorry that this happened

I agree with Becky regarding putting up a sign. And also adding that whoever took the other plants return them as they were not available for digging. If you already have your suspicions, that person probably comes around the school often and will see the sign. I think I would find out where they live and if they have the dl's, then call them out about it.

oooooh! I am getting madder and having more vicious thoughts the longer I type. I wish I could do something about this.

I almost bet is was someone on the construction crew?
Set up a motion detector that sprays water, and add a generous amount of red dye

The fact that the school probably will do nothing about it irks me about as bad as the theft itself. I would call up the news station and stir it up myself as an anonymous tip...