lauriebasler said: ... I was brought back to down to earth by the sound of a car door. I went to edge of the hill, and there below me, was a Stater, with the fosters grants and the toothpick, just looking up at me,and there I stood, in a dress with armloads of flowers. At the sight of him, I just dropped those flowers like I had never seen them before. Removing the toothpick, He asked what I thought I was doing. I really was scared I was in some big trouble. I said "Well, I guess I was stealing flowers" He smiled, and said "I better keep you away from my wife, she comes home with dirt on her dress from stealing flowers too. Grab a couple extra for the missus, and I will let you off with a warning. ...

Great story! That's up there with the classic threads about Dumpster-Diving Divas and the Seed Snatchin' Saga in the Old Dave's Garden! The lady who was caught by her minister, "stealing" seed pods or cuttings, was one of my favorites there.

Thanks guys. Every year a fox glove or two shows up somewhere in the beds I don't disturb them. The sight of them always makes me remember what a dork I was that day, and how that tough looking officer had a pretty kind heart.

Hi!

I know this has nothing to do with the present flow of conversation here BUT, a thought for the original poster....I am currently experimenting with growing Asclepias from cuttings...my friend has an awesome stand of A. tuberosa and it flowers beautifully but rarely sets pods and I have never seen any monarchs here (Western NC) though it couldn't be a more monarch friendly property. So, I have taken some cuttings and cuttings from another species, A. amplexicaulis...I've heard that others have had luck with a bit of rooting hormone and Horntoad's method of propagation from cuttings. If you take cuttings from young plants or after older plants have finished flowering and there are no insects still in need of the foliage, I don't see the harm. If you can get cuttings to root they are easier to deal with than seedlings!

The thread "Cuttings...need advice.." in Propagation forum

I wonder if they would consider cuttings okay. You can't pick the flowers, so I guess it would be up to whoever stopped you to make that determination.

Good idea though.