I went out to check on my flower bed this evening and someone had decapitated my poppies that had the largest seed heads on them! The thing was, these were in the middle of the bed, and they had to walk past several others to get to them. Cut them clean, too. Soooooo MAD!!
It was this cluster of poppies.
When I lived in Fort Worth I had Dobermans and that put a stop to people taking things that they should not. At one time I had 14 of them.
I love Dobies, but don't think I'd survive 14 at one time! LOL We had 2 when I was growing up and at times, they were a handful.
Some people don't have any respect. What a shame. Those were probably "pass alongs", too!
Will you be able to salvage any seeds from what is left?
I will if they don't come back and steal them all! I have seeds from last year. They could've just knocked on the door and I'd have shared.
Rude people! Maybe you need to set a trap for them!
Yes and use a Doberman to catch them. I have friends in Fort Worth that still breed them, I can fix you up.
Wow, neat picture though...
I always try to believe the flowers were just so beautiful that they couldn't help themselves. If they only took some, and picked out the best ones, at least it sounds like they know what they're doing - your seeds should be successful, wherever they are...
They only wanted the seeds. Either to do something illegal with them or to grow in their own yard. The flowers had been gone for a couple of weeks, so I know they only wanted the seeds. The seedheads hadn't even started turning brown or opening up. Grrrrrrrrr!
well if the seed heads werent dry then the people who took them had no idea what they were doing.. Im so sorry this happened to you... you know, if you cant handle having the dobies maybe a motion activatied tape recording of them barking would scare the crap out of them if they tried to do it again ( smiling evil grin ) and it could be live entertainment for you as you watch them run...
just remember though their Karma will come back and bite them in the kiester when they least expect it...
I am so sorry this happened to you. I am with blkraven2 that if the seed heads were not dry maybe they won't get any benefit from them. maybe get one of those motion activated sprinklers and they will be surprised.
I don't understand people who help themselves to others property. Karma is good but I would like to be there when it bites. I know my screen name may speak different but I am human....I can turn the other cheek but when karma bites i still would like to watch.
LOL ilove! I totally understand what you're saying! I hope that whoever took them doesn't know what they're doing with them.
I'm thinking they DID know what they were doing! Especially if those were opium-type poppies...most druggies use the ripening pods, not the dried ones. Experts are trying to develop kinds of Papaver somniferum that have only a very minimal amount of narcotic chemicals in them. That would certainly help!
I have no idea what kind of poppies these are. They're not the solid red ones (Flanders).
It is amazing what you can find on the internet.
I found this that was wrote for places that it is illegal to grow poppies but thought it might help to disguise yours from these predators. The detail they tell how to grow, pick and use it is unbelievable.
Interplanting with ranunculus and/or anemone, which flower at the same time and have a similar leaf and flower formation, may reduce flower visibility: this is important in areas where cultivation of opium poppies is illegal. Also handy to remember is the fact that flowering plants of equal heights can distract the eye effectively. I have found that milk thistle, parsley and salad rocket all flower at the same time and height as opium, and provide excellent diversion.
and this website I was on talked about using purple ad white poppies and never mentioned red ones.
I'm sorry this happened to you, of course you are upset.It's hard to believe someone would just help himself.
If you got the original seed from Sheila, as I did, they are useless for an illegal drug. Mine were so absolutely gorgeous this year. There are many varieties and what I have are "Oriental". Just a pretty flower.
Christi, I did get them from Sheila! Mine were pretty this year, too. I was hoping to increase my poppy count next year, but after this, I'm not sure I will.
That is why I listed what it said about mixing in the other plants it listed. What may be good for people trying to get away with illegally hiding plants may help us keep our plants safe.
It was posted somewhere on DG in the last 2 yrs a person had a big pot of the dark red leafed oxalis stolen from their porch. It was told on that thread people will do that trade it for drugs and the drug dealers sell them at flea markets to get their money. I can believe what people will stoop to.
Since they are not the opium poppies I hope they get sick and spend a week with a bucket to throw up in and sitting on the toilet for the other end.
I have all my amaryllis in pots as on my front porch behind a brick wall. I am afraid to plant them in the ground as they may disappear. Actually I gave my neighbor some and she is so ugly about the vet bill I have from her huge blood hound attacking my little chi/weenie that I want to go rip them out and take them back. I had to find him a home as She won't keep her dogs put up. I sure miss him.
One or two seed heads will yield thousands of seed each....10 would cover your entire yard.
