Flower girl depleting my bush

[TeaGinandFags]

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.

I'm assuming it's a front garden, so leaving the flowers on the bush will allow them to be admired by more people (and insects)

Go out next time and say "please stop picking my flowers or there won't be any left." She'll stop. Kids aren't stupid.

That said why is the mum allowing it or is she one of those mothers?

I agree with people suggesting a cutting - but offer to the child; if this is something you could/want to do, it might be nice to teach the child about growing her own flowers (if you have time/the inclination of course) - you can set a boundary re your own flowers but encourage the child's interest in the meantime. If she is keen you could turn it into a really positive thing. Win-win - you protect your roses but establish a really nice neighbourly relationship and the child is happy too.

Oh I would be reall really upsetabout this.
The little girl presumably doesn't know any better but if she isn't taught that touching other people's plants and gardens is wrong then this will be her attitude for life. She needs to know it is stealing.
My garden is my passion in life and it truly breaks my heart the problems I have with the local children damaging my hedge and coming into my garden.

I really think you need to speak to her parents about this. You should have the right to enjoy your beautiful rose bush. I'm sure there will be more problems in the future if you don't try and stop this now.

The child should not be picking flowers from someone else's garden. That's stealing, as the rose belongs to you.

Just ask the parent to tell her to stop.

Also, how is she picking them? Roses need careful cutting as most have sharp thorns and need scissors or pruning shears to cut them. Apart from the illegality, it's dangerous for her.

I totes thought this was a fnar thread.

It would be a hell no from me.

I’d be pissed off. Tell her mother that she needs to stop.

If she wants to give her teacher flowers, she can buy them.

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

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

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.

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!

Flower girl depleting my bush

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

🤣🤣🤣 killing me!!!

Where is the mum while your bush is being ruined?

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

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

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.