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:
Deadringer · 18/06/2024 13:32

I wouldn't be giving her a cutting, or a plant of her own or anything other than a polite and firm 'stop taking my roses!'

Mirabai · 18/06/2024 13:29

floppybit · 18/06/2024 13:11

This is a really good way of putting it. Then it puts the emphasis on the bees needing the flowers to remain, not you.

Show quote history

I mean I think the emphasis needs to be on not taking stuff from other people’s gardens.

caringcarer · 18/06/2024 13:14

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.

This. This DC needs to learn not to take things that don't belong to her.

floppybit · 18/06/2024 13:11

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.

This is a really good way of putting it. Then it puts the emphasis on the bees needing the flowers to remain, not you.

AstonMartha · 18/06/2024 13:08

Richard1985 · 18/06/2024 12:52

This is clearly the behaviour of a child from a broken home with an absent father

Prison would be my guess. Or maybe the product of a drunken fumble outside The Duck and Drake

Either way, I envisage this child will be lost to county lines drug gangs in the coming years

Show quote history

The little girl is obviously a homeless Victorian child. She isn’t giving them to her teacher, that’s just a cover to make people like her. She’s tying them into small bunches with bits of potato sack as ribbon and selling them down at the old flower market at Covent Garden. Her sister sells bird feed in Trafalgar square. Hopefully they will make enough for some soup.

Richard1985 · 18/06/2024 13:04

poolemoney · 18/06/2024 12:55

She starts by plucking flowers and moves to growing weed in her bedroom by the time she's 12.

Show quote history

I think I saw that exact storyline on Rosemary & Thyme

poolemoney · 18/06/2024 12:56

CookStrait · 18/06/2024 12:53

The parent clearly already knows what her kid’s doing, & seem to think it’s OK.

To keep the mom lovely & girl adorable, grow an identical one & tell them that’s theirs.

Do they clone rose bushes now? Colour me impressed.

poolemoney · 18/06/2024 12:55

Richard1985 · 18/06/2024 12:52

This is clearly the behaviour of a child from a broken home with an absent father

Prison would be my guess. Or maybe the product of a drunken fumble outside The Duck and Drake

Either way, I envisage this child will be lost to county lines drug gangs in the coming years

Show quote history

She starts by plucking flowers and moves to growing weed in her bedroom by the time she's 12.

CookStrait · 18/06/2024 12:53

The parent clearly already knows what her kid’s doing, & seem to think it’s OK.

To keep the mom lovely & girl adorable, grow an identical one & tell them that’s theirs.

Richard1985 · 18/06/2024 12:52

poolemoney · 18/06/2024 09:53

Could be the dad allowing it!

Show quote history

This is clearly the behaviour of a child from a broken home with an absent father

Prison would be my guess. Or maybe the product of a drunken fumble outside The Duck and Drake

Either way, I envisage this child will be lost to county lines drug gangs in the coming years

AgentJohnson · 18/06/2024 12:52

It’s stealing and it needs to stop. The mother must be aware where the flowers are coming from and is a CF.

AstonMartha · 18/06/2024 12:50

Where is the mum while your bush is being ruined?

Devilsmommy · 18/06/2024 12:50

BucketBouquet · 18/06/2024 12:39

No one should be depleting your bush without your expressed permission. Your bush is yours to share with whoever you choose! I would NOT be accepting wandering hands anywhere near my bush - especially not with scissors!

🤣🤣🤣 killing me!!!

Sunshineonasameyday · 18/06/2024 12:49

Tell her no. If she really wants to do something nice for her teacher suggest she plant her own and cut from her own plant.

CelesteCunningham · 18/06/2024 12:48

Incredibly rude of the parents to allow her to do this. Definitely tell them to stop.

PessimisticPear · 18/06/2024 12:46

When I was young I was taught to leave flowers the hell alone - apart from daisies, etc.
Nowadays, especially on the school run, I see daffodils and all sorts completely picked and wrecked and parents mot batting an eyelid.
I'd be livid. I'd have to gently remind the parents those flowers are my property.

MrsSunshine2b · 18/06/2024 12:45

godmum56 · 18/06/2024 12:43

I'd tell her parents to do this.

Show quote history

Yes, she could, but it could avoid any awkwardness and keep the relationship friendly, considering she may well be living next to this little girl for a long time.

pinkyredrose · 18/06/2024 12:44

Did she ask before taking the flowers?

Just tell her not to take any more. Just because she's a little girl doesn't mean she shouldn't be told it's wrong to take other people's things.

godmum56 · 18/06/2024 12:43

MrsSunshine2b · 18/06/2024 12:42

I'd get her a little rose bush and say that she needs to leave the rest of the roses on your bush for the bees and butterflies and for other people to enjoy, but she can grow her own roses from now on and give them to her teacher if she wants to.

I'd tell her parents to do this.

MrsSunshine2b · 18/06/2024 12:42

I'd get her a little rose bush and say that she needs to leave the rest of the roses on your bush for the bees and butterflies and for other people to enjoy, but she can grow her own roses from now on and give them to her teacher if she wants to.

poolemoney · 18/06/2024 12:40

Flower girl depleting my bush

That title keeps making me laugh. Should it have been 'Girl depleting my flower bush'.

BucketBouquet · 18/06/2024 12:39

No one should be depleting your bush without your expressed permission. Your bush is yours to share with whoever you choose! I would NOT be accepting wandering hands anywhere near my bush - especially not with scissors!

loropianalover · 18/06/2024 12:37

YANBU, her parents should not be letting her cut someone else’s flowers and should also not be encouraging her to bring a rose for a teacher every day! Very bizarre and teacher should not be comfortable with a student doing that daily, it’s unnecessary.

SnakesandKnives · 18/06/2024 12:37

How weird, have exactly the same thing happening! We have a rambling rose growing across the front of the property and every day a little girl is taking one on her way to school.

differences for us..

  1. we don’t know who they’re for. DP has decided she’s running a high-stakes rose-running business across international borders. I think he’s a fool
  2. It grows and produces flowers at a ridiculous rate so she’s actually saving us a bit of gardening as it gets out of hand every year if not trimmed all the time (it can easily add 3” to new shoots in a day)

Id be annoyed if it was a ‘proper’ rose though and taking flowers actually affected the look of it

GingerPirate · 18/06/2024 12:37

As always, first post got it.
Not acceptable unless permitted!
🌸