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AIBU?

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Kid keeps picking flowers from garden bushes - shall I say something?

130 replies

Primmyhill · 07/03/2024 16:32

The last few days a girl, about 7 years old, and her mum have stopped outside my house, presumably on the walk back from school, and have reached over the railings and picked some flowers from some of my hedges. Today she must have picked about 10 and then dropped them in the street while walking off. Am I being petty to be p’eed off? I don’t want to seem like an ogre and upset a child if it keeps happening, but surely an adult should be teaching the child that this is someone’s property and not encourage it. AIBU?

OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 07/03/2024 17:26

Itslegitimatesalvage · 07/03/2024 16:43

You’re not supposed to pick wild flowers either, so which flowers were you teaching her to pick?

Yes you can pick wild flowers

Plantlife’s Code of Conduct for picking wild flowers – Mark Avery

https://markavery.info/2018/04/12/plantlifes-code-of-conduct-for-picking-wild-flowers

Dotty2dot · 07/03/2024 17:26

Wills890 · 07/03/2024 17:08

Would you try to start an argument in an empty room?

I do tend to read the OP. Do you?

JMSA · 07/03/2024 17:26

Definitely reasonable to say something!

PeryleneGreen · 07/03/2024 17:24

I'd probably put up a sign/note because I'm a coward who hates awkwardness. But then I'd worry that it might attract the attention of people who would pick yet more flowers out of spite.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 07/03/2024 17:21

DrJoanAllenby · 07/03/2024 17:20

Snip off the child's plaits as they pass by as a warning.

Seriously, I would not like that and would have to say something next time or put up a sign -

'Please do not pick the flowers in MY garden'.

Proper snorted at the comment about the plaits Grin

didyouseetodaysrainbow · 07/03/2024 17:20

I agree daisies and dandelions are fair game. My DS (7) has been asking me for weeks to pick a crocus to take home, I've been saying no because they are for everyone to enjoy and if we pick it, it will die. In the end I let him pick one, he put it in water and it died quickly. He doesn't ask to pick them anymore so lesson learnt I think! People definitely shouldn't be picking your flowers in my opinion

DrJoanAllenby · 07/03/2024 17:20

Snip off the child's plaits as they pass by as a warning.

Seriously, I would not like that and would have to say something next time or put up a sign -

'Please do not pick the flowers in MY garden'.

Elephantswillnever · 07/03/2024 17:11

Itslegitimatesalvage · 07/03/2024 16:43

You’re not supposed to pick wild flowers either, so which flowers were you teaching her to pick?

I always think daisies and dandelions are fair game

User364837 · 07/03/2024 17:10

If you know what time they come I’d pop up at an opportune moment

Wills890 · 07/03/2024 17:08

Dotty2dot · 07/03/2024 16:50

They don't grow on bushes though.

Would you try to start an argument in an empty room?

phoenixrosehere · 07/03/2024 17:04

dreamingofsun · 07/03/2024 16:57

why does it matter what type of flowers they are? they are still stealing/damaging her garden.

Agree.

I enjoy gardening, put a lot of work into it and would not be happy with anyone just picking flowers off especially since I specifically put them there to attract pollinators. I’ll admit I was excited to see bees a few days ago on my salix tree.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 07/03/2024 16:58

I’d be there tomorrow and would ask her not to do that please as they are your flowers and not picking

dreamingofsun · 07/03/2024 16:57

why does it matter what type of flowers they are? they are still stealing/damaging her garden.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 07/03/2024 16:55

Our neighbours have a beautiful tree/bush in their front garden which is currently blooming with large deep pink flowers - definitely not blossom

SnapdragonToadflax · 07/03/2024 16:55

Dotty2dot · 07/03/2024 16:50

They don't grow on bushes though.

I missed the bushes part. But still plenty of blossom around now, it's Spring!

DSD9472 · 07/03/2024 16:54

If the plants are growing within your boundary, then absolutely YANBU!

You said they are on a bush, so could be sloe flowers or various cherry plum varieties which can make up a hedge. All of which I use each year and cook with. A one off, fine, but every day- NO.

Wait outside tomorrow. Ideally spring up from behind the bush and ask them to stop.

HelloMiss · 07/03/2024 16:53

Bushes

So blossom?

Dotty2dot · 07/03/2024 16:52

Do you mean blossom flowers? I don't think it would bother me too much if it was blossom.

BogRollBOGOF · 07/03/2024 16:52

Dotty2dot · 07/03/2024 16:50

They don't grow on bushes though.

Forsythia, magnolia, camelia. There are some blossoms out too.

phoenixrosehere · 07/03/2024 16:51

HelloMiss · 07/03/2024 16:47

It's March.... which flowers are these? Are you not in the U.K.?

I’m in SE England and in my area and including in my garden there are viburnum bushes with flowers on them and they have been there for several weeks now. My camellias and magnolia are starting to blossom. I also have nemesia that are starting to show flowers.

Dotty2dot · 07/03/2024 16:50

SnapdragonToadflax · 07/03/2024 16:48

Daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, irises... plenty of flowers out now.

They don't grow on bushes though.

BogRollBOGOF · 07/03/2024 16:50

I told my children that when they picked flowers, they stopped other people from enjoying them too.

Dandelions and daisies that grow abundantly and have a long season are fair game though.

Oriunda · 07/03/2024 16:49

If in UK, presume daffodils or similar? I'd be furious to see them picked and then just dropped in the street. At least take them home! I'd be having a word, myself.

SnapdragonToadflax · 07/03/2024 16:48

HelloMiss · 07/03/2024 16:47

It's March.... which flowers are these? Are you not in the U.K.?

Daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, irises... plenty of flowers out now.

phoenixrosehere · 07/03/2024 16:47

You could politely ask them to stop, but considering the mum is allowing her child to reach over onto your property and pick flowers off, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Saying that, the mum may be embarrassed and been allowing her daughter to do so because she thought no one was watching.

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