Wild Flowers
We have some daffodils growing just outside our front gate, planted years ago before I moved the fence a bit.
Wife keeps these watered, as she does the tubs of primulas adjacent to them.
Yesterday, she found a woman and small child, presumably grand child, about to pick these daffs. Woman saw expression on wifes face, asked her if it was alright to pick the daffs. Wife pointed out that we had planted these bulbs, at which point woman retorted
that she thought that they were 'wild daffodils', as if that made it OK.
Why can't folks just leave flowers alone, for all to enjoy ?
Like the cretins who (illegally) gather armloads of bluebells in the local woods.
Comments
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Lots of people have no knowledge that you are not supposed to pick wild flowers, many are often totally remote from any aspects of countryside living, or even that some people choose to look after not only the property bounded by their hedges and fences,
but choose to keep the immediate environment looking nice and attractive. We regularly sweep the footpath and road outside our property, and of our elderly neighbour as well. I often ponder on how much nicer and cleaner places would be if it was compulsory
for all (owner, tenant or business) to keep the immediate environment around the property tidy and weed/litter free. Some do try, but not enough!0 -
Bit harsh of me to think so, but I sometimes ponder that the moral code, degree of respect for others, knowledge of right from wrong is diluted with every generation. Lots of different factors at work undermining certain aspects.
We can all think of certain instances where people in high places are technically and entrepreneurally gifted, but morally bankrupt!
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Just occasionally children do pick flowers, I can think of times when one of ours headed for a flower and picked it before we could say "no." Years ago the pleasure of picking flowers in the wild was something many enjoyed, sad those days are gone.
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My granddaughter often brings me a few daisies and buttercups in the summer. I think its quite cute really.
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It's an odd state of affairs really. Our ancestors lived off the land, foraged, some do still, it's a natural thing to do is harvest the landscape. Picking the majority of things does not kill them, just stops others from enjoying them for that season. If
there are many others to enjoy I see no major problem with it. It can be viewed as being just as selfish to not want these things touching because you want to see them in their entirety.0 -
It's not really a problem with the common flowers but some plants have very limited habitats or sites left now due to human action. Some 'collectors' and thoughtless pickers though can contribute to the threat our rarities face . Afterall a picked flower will not set seed.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1273702/Britains-rarest-flower-Lady-Slipper-orchid-gets-police-protection.html
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Micky Boy, I'm afraid collectors won't respect any plant, if they want it they'll take it. Take Bluebells-they are classed as invasive in some areas due to the spreading speed. I now dig out so much of the area I have English Bluebells in because of their
rapid spreading. I would never stop anyone from taking a bit of Natures bounty. Children in the Village I live often pick Bluebells from my clumps to take home to other family members-I find it touching they should care enough.0 -
It's not just the general public etc don't realise what they are doing. Last year on the new stretch of the A11 from Barton Mills to Thetford we had a stunning display of poppy's on both carriageways. We were heading south and noticed Highways people mowing
the poppies whilst in full bloom, an act of vandalism in my view. Don't these agencies employ people who understand the cycle of life
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What really annoys me is mindless vandalism. On a road near us there are big attractive swathes of daffodils in a grassy area next to a road. Once the daffs are in flower you can guarantee that most of the heads will be pulled off and thrown to the ground
by kids on their way to the secondary school so usually have no parents with them.0 -
Micky Boy, I'm afraid collectors won't respect any plant, if they want it they'll take it. Take Bluebells-they are classed as invasive in some areas due to the spreading speed. I now dig out so much of the area I have English Bluebells in because of their
rapid spreading. I would never stop anyone from taking a bit of Natures bounty. Children in the Village I live often pick Bluebells from my clumps to take home to other family members-I find it touching they should care enough.As I said Rocky, it's not a problem and I have no issue with the picking the common ones within reason (not taking whole swathes mind, it's the rarities that the collectors go for, bit like the egg collectors who have no scruples what so ever about taking
those eggs of our endangered species.0 -
We have Daffoldils in our local park, they make a lovely colourful display. Some years they are completly cleared by people picking them all.
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Its not only flowers, but people walking their dogs. They let them cock their legs on people's hedges. I even saw one let their dog widdle in the garden (not their's). I pulled her up about that. But flowers, yes, they would be left for people to enjoy.
It won't be too long before the Government/Council's take over land to build yet more housing or roads0
