I too am guilty of the occasional 'snip'........
I should tell the story of the first time I got caught!
I was on my bike and had been coveting this one plumeria for ages. So I walked up to the front door and rang the bell. All I was greeted with was dogs barking.... so I went back to where my bike was (under the tree) and pulled out my clippers and JUST THEN the owner of the house pulled up (also on her bike) and saw me and said '
were you just going to TAKE a piece???'. And I put my clippers down, looked guilty and said 'I was, and I am sorry, but I did ring your bell and there was nobody home, and I collect these, and I have been looking at your beautiful tree for a long time. Again, I am so sorry.'
She must have recognized a fellow plant lover because she gave me a cutting... I told her she was far nicer than I had any right to expect....
