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.
