U-M's renowned Arb peony garden vandalized
A Nichols Arboretum employee made a disturbing discovery last Wednesday morning when she arrived for work. A number of the beautiful blossoms in the Arb’s peony garden were strewn over the ground.
“It’s particularly sad during this time when hundreds of visitors are out enjoying the peonies that someone would ever want to destroy these plants,” Robert Grese, director of the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum, said in the Record Update, an online publication.
One of the many beautiful and fragrant peony blossoms at the peony garden at Nichols Arboretum.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
Whoever pulled off the flowers and stems apparently tried to pull up the plants but wasn’t successful, and instead just pulled off the stems. “That basically deprives people from enjoying them this season,” he said.
Six plants were damaged, he said. That could amount to about 50 stems and many blossoms. Each plant can have up to about 20 blossoms or so, he said.
The employee found peony stems at the Arb's Washington Heights entrance. Peony leaves, flowers and stems were strewn around the central garden path, the Record Update reported.
The Arb is in the midst of celebrating the 90th year of its peony garden, which U-M says draws thousands of visitors each season and is the largest collection of antique and heirloom peonies in North America,
Dr. W.E. Upjohn, founder of the Upjohn pharmaceutical company in Kalamazoo, donated the peonies for the garden in 1922.
Grese said it’s not too late to enjoy the beauty of the peonies this year. Though there’s a bare spot in the garden where the damaged peonies were, there are still many others sporting their lovely blossoms. The garden includes more than 230 kinds of peonies.
Grese said it’s hard to understand why anyone would want to damage peonies. He said it’s the first such incident since he became the director in 1998.
“I don’t know if it was a spur of the moment thing … if someone had a burst of anger or what they were thinking.”
Comments
John Hritz
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 5:50 p.m.
It seems we have entirely ruled out accident or ignorance as a cause. A few years ago, there was a story about a small child that danced across a sand painting made by some Buddhist monks at the local mall. Hard to say what motivated him, but it wasn't evil. http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=63,4179,0,0,1,0
JRW
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 5:16 p.m.
More and more vandalism is striking A2, whether it is graffiti in the parks and city, or cutting the top off of a 30 foot pine tree in the Arb at Christmas for some frat house tree, or damaging a flower display at the Arb. It's all the same ugly and criminal behavior. Add more security cameras in the city. That's the only way perps will be caught and arrested. Driving around this morning, I saw more vandalism and graffiti in areas that have previously been untouched. It's disgusting. "Grese said it's hard to understand why anyone would want to damage peonies." There are thugs coming into the area from other communities committing crimes, and there are few consequences when they are caught. A2 also has some home grown vandals as well. Nothing will change until there is more surveillance and more consequences. Cops certainly don't have time to patrol the parks and every city street.
brimble
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.
The unfounded attack on rogue teenagers here is interesting. We know that someone damaged flowers. It appears, or we can infer, anyway, that they attempted to steal the plants whole, but were unsuccessful. But there is no indication that this is not a rogue retiree garden club member. Why not impose a curfew on residents of Glacier Hills? It would be equally sensible. That people are selfish enough to want to steal something made available in a public place for the enjoyment of all is quite sad. Selfishness is not solely the province of the young, however.
JRW
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
Vandals and criminals come in all stripes. Lately, the graffiti vandalism around the city is the work of teens, allegedly. It's not too far fetched to consider that teens are also responsible for damaging the flowers in the arb. It was college students who cut off the top of a 30' pine tree in the arb for a Xmas tree in a frat house. Sure, the peonies could be vandalized by seniors, but I would put my money on teens.
CobraII
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
What do you expect from a town that has a food fight at a school & calls it a bonding moment.
JustInTime
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.
It's 11PM, where are your teenagers?
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 3:03 a.m.
OK, just so I understand the rules here: If you spray paint a business, causing thousands of dollars of damage to the owner, it is "cute" and "what makes Ann Arbor fun". If you cut down tennis nets and take a dump on the athletic field, causing thousands of dollars of damage, it is just kids being kids. If you cut some flowers in the garden that will grow back for free next year, it is one of the seven signs of the apocalypse. Got it. I love this town. Smartest in the country, I hear.
Jon Saalberg
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 1:24 a.m.
This is just wrong.
sh1
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 11:35 p.m.
Why don't we just say it was done by a bunch of graduating seniors and then everyone can say what a non-story it is?
Carolyn
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
Maybe.....someone who thought they could save a buck and get free plants?
megehend
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 1:58 p.m.
I think it is entirely unfair to say point blank that it is graduating students. U of M students havre been done for over a month, and hopefully have grown to appreciate the Arb during their stay in Ann Arbor. If we're talking high school seniors that that's different.
JRW
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 5:16 p.m.
NOT an excuse for vandalism.
gladys
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 11:16 p.m.
I don't even like peonies but that is just sick! If you don't like them, go find something you do like - don't spoil things for other people.
Goober
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
Seems like vandals are running wild in Ann Arbor. Not a day goes by without a report of something ruined during the night or spray painted with symbols and profanity. On top of this, many parents defend their belief that they are too busy to control or keep track of their kids.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 10:41 p.m.
Tsk Tsk that would be profiling which is a no no...
1bit
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
For juvenile acts look for juveniles.
Pilgrim
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.
People who indulge in such activities as this have no conscience and do not care what others think. They probably are a new genetic strain of subhumanity.
RJA
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 8:28 p.m.
Bottom line, they wern't thinking at all ! Sad!!
Tom Teague
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 8:21 p.m.
A real shame. If you've never seen it, this spectacular garden is worth the time and trip to see it.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
Have they planted new evergreens in anticipation of the Xmas rush yet? Wouldn't want to run out for the yearly thefts...
jrtluvr1959
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
What makes a person evil?............
Carolyn
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.
Ignorance