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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What do you think this means?

39 replies

cakeandcustard3 · 30/07/2023 22:53

Hi

i was walking my dog through the large country park in our town. She was running about off the lead and I was on my phone. Just the same route and routine as we go everyday. I suddenly noticed one of the huge trees had a large bouquet of flowers tied around it. There was no card or note.

what would your first thought be as to why they were there? My initial thought was that someone had lost their life and it was a tribute and maybe marking the date (tragically there had been several suicides in the park in recent years, I don’t know specifically what part of the park as it’s over 200 acres but certainly there have been many) however I mentioned it to my boyfriend and he said don’t be utterly ridiculous it won’t be something as dark as that and that it could be something as simple as someone’s favourite tree.

whatever it is, it’s a beautiful bouquet of flowers and clearly means a lot to someone but I suppose I was just curious- what would you think it would be? Am I looking for something much more serious than it realistically could be?

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 30/07/2023 22:55

No it's always a death.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 30/07/2023 22:57

Definitely someone passed away there. Odd that your boyfriend sees it another way

HippyPippy · 30/07/2023 22:57

Flowers in this context is always a death

cryinglaughing · 30/07/2023 22:57

I too would conclude it was to mark an anniversary of a death.

MissHoollie · 30/07/2023 22:58

I'd assume death but not necessarily at that spot.
Maybe someone ashes were scattered there. Or fab place .

wherehastheyeargone · 30/07/2023 22:58

My initial thought would be suicide. However, depending on the placement of the tree (ie, not secluded / on a main path) I'd just think it was a special place for someone. Maybe they proposed there, said I love you for the first time or had another significant moment.

I live by the beach and there are often bouquets of flowers tied to the benches all along the front.

Twothousandandjustonemore · 30/07/2023 22:58

I would say it’s a remembrance thing.

I do wish loved ones would take the plastic wrapping off before doing this though. There are a couple of places where this is done near me and they just regularly add bouquets and never take the plastic.
Choking hedgehogs and strangling birds on ribbon isn’t exactly a positive thing in memory of the departed imo.

ChesterAndRaoul · 30/07/2023 22:58

It's just someone's favourite tree... So they left it a bouquet of flowers...? That's ridiculous, surely? 😂

9 times out of 10 it's a death.

Boomboom22 · 30/07/2023 22:59

Always a death. Otherwise they'd give them to the person.

WhateverMate · 30/07/2023 23:03

It'll be a death.

Does your boyfriend seriously think people treat their favourite trees to a bouquet of flowers? 🤦‍♀️😂

MrTiddlesTheCat · 30/07/2023 23:03

Your boyfriend thinks people give bouquets of flowers to their favourite trees? 🤣🤣🤣

custardlover · 30/07/2023 23:03

Tribute in memory of someone who has died, connected somehow with that spot. Not a favourite tree.

WhateverMate · 30/07/2023 23:04

I can't stop laughing at him saying you're being utterly ridiculous 😂😂

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 30/07/2023 23:05

Maybe a spot where someone was killed by an off lead dog while the owner was on their phone

(sorry just questioning why the OP needed to include those particular details)

uncomfortablydumb53 · 30/07/2023 23:06

I think it would be put there to mark someones passing either recent or on the anniversary

Original poster
cakeandcustard3 · 30/07/2023 23:07

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 30/07/2023 23:05

Maybe a spot where someone was killed by an off lead dog while the owner was on their phone

(sorry just questioning why the OP needed to include those particular details)

Suppose it’s just a bit of context, I forgot the idea of an off lead dog would have sent some people into a bizarre frenzy!

OP posts:
JudgeRudy · 30/07/2023 23:11

Well without further evidence no one can say definitively what the flowers were about but I'll echo what everyone else has said. I have never laid flowers down for anything other than in rememberance of someone that's died. I've never known of or observed anyone laying them for any other reason...ever.
That doesn't mean it couldn't be for something else, but I'd guess a death. Google died/killed and the location and I bet something pops up

Original poster
cakeandcustard3 · 30/07/2023 23:13

Yeah I agree with everyone else, I honestly thought it was a death or marking an anniversary too. I think my boyfriend knows I’m easily frightened and he probably thought I would be spooked or something but honestly, who puts flowers on their favourite tree 🤦🏼‍♀️ I was wondering if that was a thing that I was just somehow completely unaware of but it seems not to be!

OP posts:
JaneJeffer · 30/07/2023 23:16

I think they were left there by a jilted bride who became a tree hugger because of her pain and she will be on This Morning telling the story of how she fell in love with a tree soon.

ShouldReallyGoToBed · 30/07/2023 23:17

MrTiddlesTheCat · 30/07/2023 23:03

Your boyfriend thinks people give bouquets of flowers to their favourite trees? 🤣🤣🤣

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

ShouldReallyGoToBed · 30/07/2023 23:18

I would have thought death too

808Kate1 · 30/07/2023 23:30

however I mentioned it to my boyfriend and he said don’t be utterly ridiculous it won’t be something as dark as that and that it could be something as simple as someone’s favourite tree

Surely he's pulling your leg? Wait till he hears about white bikes...

WhateverMate · 30/07/2023 23:47

cakeandcustard3 · 30/07/2023 23:13

Yeah I agree with everyone else, I honestly thought it was a death or marking an anniversary too. I think my boyfriend knows I’m easily frightened and he probably thought I would be spooked or something but honestly, who puts flowers on their favourite tree 🤦🏼‍♀️ I was wondering if that was a thing that I was just somehow completely unaware of but it seems not to be!

The next time you walk the dog with him, please buy some flowers and chocolates and ask if he's got any string handy 😂

FictionalCharacter · 31/07/2023 02:14

Has your bf really not noticed floral tributes in public places before? Does he think the bouquets at the side of the road are dedicated to someone’s favourite lamppost?

DeeLasVegas · 31/07/2023 02:25

It may also be a favourite spot of someone who passed away. The family could have left them there for a birthday or anniversary.