Snowdrop theft

[Maggi Young]

Maybe Kentgardener is drifting towards Cyclamen. I spent a lovely morning with him at the Cycsoc show at Wisley in the Autumn........he went away with lots of goodies and packets of seeds   

I'm sure I've seen photos of  some pretty gorgeous cyclamen flourishing in his garden already, Jo - I think KG is simply afflicted with a rampant plant virus - I expect to hear he's in the Guiness Book of Records any time now for the number and range of things he has squeezed into his garden!

[Maggi Young]

Disturbing news of a theft from the alpine house at Wisley this weekend :
"Sad news of plant theft from Wisley - 3 special plants stolen from our Alpine Display this weekend."     https://twitter.com/RHSWisley/status/430753305812164608

[Alan_b]

I emailed 'Kent Gardener' the other day  He says that work is very demanding at the moment, leaving him little time to spend on his computer in the evenings and only weekends for the snowdrops.  I'm told that 'Kentishlass' also has good reason for not contributing at present.



 Edit by Maggi : Kentish Lass has suffered  a family bereavement

[mark smyth]

Maggi what was taken from Wisley?

[Maggi Young]

Maggi what was taken from Wisley?

Just says "three plants from the alpine house display"

[Maggi Young]

Some posts have been  removed which mentioned another  theft that turned out to be just a rumour  -- thank goodness!

M

[angie]

Can people not leave alone what doesn't belong to them 

Angie 

[Gerard Oud]

I have put some on a isle that can only be reached by rowingboat if you know where it is

[steve owen]

Gerard
We have an island like that, called Somerset.

[Gerard Oud]

I have seen some fantastic islands in Scotland too, some with the ruine of a castle on it!

To prevent stealing they do patrol now with AK47"s in the forrests in Georgia! That wont happen here, we are to civilized to steal aren't we?

[MR GRUMPY]

 :

Gerard
We have an island like that, called Somerset.

[ichristie]

Hell all, we are totally disgusted by the recent thefts so much so that I am now going to use only numbers on my specials and only allow friends and small groups to visit it is terrible that this makes you wary and suggests that you trust no-one but that is where we are unfortunately, cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[MR GRUMPY]

Maybe we need to do a strip search? ,But only when they are leaving.....

[Diane Whitehead]

I am now going to use only numbers on my specials

Back in the 20th Century I visited the UK greenhouse of someone with a huge crocus collection.
Each species seemed to be growing in the bottom of a plastic milk jug so they all fitted really
close together and didn't waste space.  Each was labelled with a number.  This wasn't to
save the effort of writing out the names, but to thwart thieves.

[Susann]

I am not sure if it is correct to post this, so if not, please just take it away Maggi.

It is hard to understand that people do not have to patience to wait until they can find a plant the honest and nice way.

Gothenburg Botanical Garden have had problems with valuable plants being stolen. For example Cypripedium. Last year a person that they suspected got caught in act. Former president of a Orchidaceae society...It was on the news and everything, so sadly enough, no rumour.

A famous Swedish Hepatica breeder reported in an article that someone had stolen all his Hepatica breeding material from the alpine house. It is not that many years ago.

A few years ago several gardens reported that plants had been dug up during the yearly meeting of the Swedish gardening society.

Personally I have big difficulties with people digging up red listed plants in nature too...I believe nature is for everybody and for the generations to come. There are other ways to make sure that species stays in cultivation.