Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Flower girl depleting my bush

158 replies

TeaGinandFags · 18/06/2024 09:39

I feel that I'm being mean but I also want her to stop.

My lovely neighbour has an adorable little girl who's been picking roses off my bush for her teacher. She does this every day.

The bush is a mature Alida Lovett, so clusters of pale pink fragrant single layer flowers. It is a large plant and smells and looks bloody amazing.

While I would never bedrudge a bloom or two to others, especially a long suffering educator, I think that every day is a bit much.

YABU don't be so stingy. She's only small and her teacher deserves appreciation

YANBU once or twice is fine, but not all the time. Offer the school some cuttings instead.

OP posts:
FragileWookiee · 18/06/2024 19:24

Oh just bang really loudly on the window and shout "don't pick my flowers " that's what happened to me when I took a daffodil from a ladies front garden about 30 years ago and it absolutely shit me up the banging, I've never forgot it. 🤣

pandasorous · 18/06/2024 19:02

fromhellsheartistabatthee · 18/06/2024 18:55

Well, someone's bush obviously needs barbed wire around it....

Show quote history

thanks 😂

fromhellsheartistabatthee · 18/06/2024 18:55

pandasorous · 18/06/2024 18:19

I'm surprised at the lack or bush related innuendo on this thread.

Show quote history

Well, someone's bush obviously needs barbed wire around it....

fromhellsheartistabatthee · 18/06/2024 18:51

A little girl wandering into someone else's garden is a safeguarding issue surely? Report to Social Services. I'm surprised she hasn't been abducted by one of the paedophile gangs who lurk on every street corner.

TempersFuggit · 18/06/2024 18:50

Just say 'don't pick any more flowers darling, the rose bush will die, why don't you draw your teacher a lovely picture or the rose instead, she can put it on her wall'.... or something similar?

TotalAbsenceOfImperialRaiment · 18/06/2024 18:45

AlisonDonut · 18/06/2024 15:53

Does she have fingers made of sharp steel?

It is quite hard for a child to actually pick a rose, I need secateurs and I'm in my 50s.

And how is she getting the cut flower to school without the petals falling off?

quantumbutterfly · 18/06/2024 18:44

Buy her a dvd of beauty and the beast and tell her terrible things happen to people who steal roses. It's for her own good, today roses tomorrow armed robbery, it's a slippery slope.

ClairDeLaLune · 18/06/2024 18:40

How can an actual adult not cope with this situation? Speak to one of her parents ffs.

Notamum12345577 · 18/06/2024 18:40

alfagirl73 · 18/06/2024 10:04

It's sweet that the little girl wants to do something nice for her teacher, but, while picking wild flowers is generally okay, picking flowers out of another person's garden is not and is actually theft.

If you don't mind her taking the occasional flower to her teacher then speak with the parents and the little girl and establish an arrangement where they come and ask if the child can have a flower (not necessarily your roses though - cultivating beautiful roses isn't easy and there is a reason roses aren't cheap!) for her teacher, but it should be on occasion - not all the time and not without asking first.

Obviously if you don't want the child to have any flowers at any time, that is fine too, and in that case just tell the parents that it's really not okay and that they need to stop the child from taking anything from your garden.

Not bluebells though, that is actually illegal

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 18/06/2024 18:36

Oh no. I have looked the rose up and it seems when each flower has gone, it is gone for the season. Some roses are repeat flowerers and will come back throughout summer. I have a once flowering rose and it is quite disappointing to get flowers for about 2 weeks of the year and then nothing.

Perhaps you could explain this to the girl. Perhaps she could have taken more if it had been a repeat flowerer.

Flower girl depleting my bush
Nanny0gg · 18/06/2024 18:35

ACynicalDad · 18/06/2024 18:33

I'd probably let it go, it's not far until the end of term and next summer she'll have a new teacher and may have grown out of it. But if you want to have a quiet word the one about leaving them for the bees is a nice way to do it.

Do you let random people/children wander into your garden and pick your flowers?

ACynicalDad · 18/06/2024 18:33

I'd probably let it go, it's not far until the end of term and next summer she'll have a new teacher and may have grown out of it. But if you want to have a quiet word the one about leaving them for the bees is a nice way to do it.

pandasorous · 18/06/2024 18:19

pleasehelpwi3 · 18/06/2024 17:46

I thought this was a risqué wedding thread

I'm surprised at the lack or bush related innuendo on this thread.

MartyFunkhouser · 18/06/2024 18:19

Her parents must be idiots. This is totally not ok.

TimetoPour · 18/06/2024 18:16

The cheek of some people! I don’t know how these parents have the nerve to allow their child to continue.

Definitely say to the parents, no more flowers as they are for everyone to enjoy.

longtompot · 18/06/2024 18:11

cuckyplunt · 18/06/2024 09:43

Tell her she needs to leave the flowers for the bees and the butterflies otherwise there will be no new flowers next year.
If she keeps on doing it have a word with her mother.

I would say this to her.

Or buy your neighbour one for Christmas so she can pick from that one and leave yours alone (only half joking)

FamBae · 18/06/2024 18:09

cuckyplunt · 18/06/2024 09:43

Tell her she needs to leave the flowers for the bees and the butterflies otherwise there will be no new flowers next year.
If she keeps on doing it have a word with her mother.

Love this suggestion 🌹

TwixOwl · 18/06/2024 18:07

So many unanswered questions.

TwattyMcFuckFace · 18/06/2024 18:07

greengreyblue · 18/06/2024 18:05

Where is the parent???

Obviously not giving a shit wherever they are.

Ispywithmylittlepie · 18/06/2024 18:06

pleasehelpwi3 · 18/06/2024 17:46

I thought this was a risqué wedding thread

🤣🤣🤣 quite.

I would put a stop to it OP.

greengreyblue · 18/06/2024 18:05

Where is the parent???

TwattyMcFuckFace · 18/06/2024 18:05

I can't vote because you've manipulated it??

I don't think she should be picking your flowers at all, and especially not without asking.

Get her told.

Tulipsareredvioletsarebue · 18/06/2024 18:04

pleasehelpwi3 · 18/06/2024 17:46

I thought this was a risqué wedding thread

or something along the lines of "The gardener came to trim my bush".

Mnetcurious · 18/06/2024 18:02

Yanbu at all. Tell the parents that you didn’t mind her having one flower as a one-off but you need her to stop taking your flowers now as you get a lot of enjoyment from seeing them in your garden and you particularly want them to stay there for the sake of the bees.

Isitovernow123 · 18/06/2024 18:01

Does the rose bush overhang a boundary? If so, then not very much you can do about it. If not, then tell the mum to stop her