Someone made me very sad!

This is so sad ... (((Kell)))

I'm so sorry, Kell. There's mean people in the world who do things like this. I've been thru a similar experience. They're very unhappy and troubled and don't want anyone else to have anything. My heart goes out to you. All that hard work that was destroyed by some good for nothing who has no regards for others.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I am at a loss for words over such destruction.

I want to thank you all. I was so shocked last night about it I couldn't even post it till this morning. You are all so nice.

And Delecie, you made me laugh with your song!! Too good!!!

And thanks Patricia and Margie for your offer of help. I will get it raked this weekend. And Margie, no way this was from a storm. The bad storm was the week before and I had some plants lean way over from the roots up from that, but no damage to stalks or even a leaf off. And all the damage is to the brugs in the center of my patch, right around the 2 most colorful brugs I have there.

I went back tonight after work, I left work early so it would be still light out. I picked up tons of tops and tried to figure out which brugs they were from. I have a pile of pieces to pot up.

HINT for newbies when you recover or receive in the mail a very wilted piece of brug: Cut off all the leaves except the very small ones on the growth tip. Cut a new end to it. Place in water. Wet the inside of a plastic bag, shake it out to make just damp not wet. Place glass of water and cutting in bag and seal it. The brug will rehydrate. You can leave for one or 2 days then remove and root it your favorite way!

Anyway, the center cut of the stalk, the easiest to root, are mostly missing. The ground is littered in the tender tops and also in single leaves which must have come off the missing stalks. I found nothing of my 2 brugs that had lots of flowers on them and were of good color. I only found the tops, no stalks at all!

Here is one of them. As you can see, it is tall (I mean WAS!), the tallest one I had at about 4 and half feet. It was very full with lots of trunks. None found!

How horrible, Kell! Agricultural theft is rampant (lazy jerks who prey on others)...awful you had to be a victim.

Let's be satisfied with the small hope that, perhaps...just hoping here...they break a branch and get some of the juice in their eyes...

Perhaps you should put up a sign saying POISON....

How sad you must be!...and going into winter with not a lot of chance to recover... Next year!!!!

Sorry this bad thing happened to such a nice person.

Aloha

Oh Kell.....I just can't believe what I am reading! It just makes me so sad to think of all the bad people in this world and then to think of all the good people that love things as much as you love your brugs. I have tears in my eyes and I know that you worked hard and loved every minute of this. None of us will ever be able to explain the immaturity and how anyone could vandalize something like this. I am truely sorry this has happened. I just wish I were close enough to give you a hug right now. ((((Kell))))

Just saw this thread.......I'm so sorry Kell, what an awful discovery! :(

I'm really in shock Kell. I was hoping you'd come back and say you indeed did see evidence of deer having done the damage. At least that would be part of nature...frustrating and sad as the damage nonetheless is. But to have some HUMAN come in and steal and destroy like that is just heart breaking. I mean, lots of people collect seeds and little cuttings from (for example) climbing vines growing over onto the street side of private homes. But to just come in and destroy everything....Man that's just infuriating. How could someone be so mean? There are some teenage kids in my neighborhood who think it's funny to throw trash into my garden. THAT makes me really angry. I can't imagine how I'd cope if I woke up one morning to my garden destroyed like you had to see yours. Big hugs to you.

-Julie

Kell... I'm just speechless Kell.
I'm sooo very sorry for all your heartache this must be causing you now...
I just wanna cry with you....


Hugs & Prayers to ya,
MsC

Gosh what is so shame on them who done it destroy your brugs, I am very so sorry to see you so disappointed about that.

It is hard to believe someone could be so cruel as to do this. Surely if they wanted some cuttings they could have just asked. Kell at least they didn't dig them up!

Hi Kell,
So sad to see this )o: My heart is with you.
Pick up the pieces (literally, this time) and go on.
Don't let this get to you.
You have done some very wonderful things the last year and some real beauties. A setback, yes, but get past it. Remember the person who did this is sick. That has no bearing on you. Try to recover asap and get on with your good things (o: Life is too short to dwell on the bad stuff.
((((*))))
Alice

I'm a bit dumbstruck. But like some of the others, I wondered whether it was vandalism or if they kept the tops.....

The meanness and stupidity of some people astound me. I too am sorry about the mess you have - keep your chin up..

So Sorry Kell. I know you are sick about this.
Some people are just evil.

Dear Kell .... This apparent distruction makes for a sad claim for humanity..... How anyone could be so mean-spirited is beyond comprehension.
I am so sorry that this happened to your special brugs. Are these the ones you were growing in a church yard lot??? That makes this act even more disgusting.
How sad.... how very....very...sad. All your hard work ....... destroyed by some cruel entity who obviously has no appreciation for anything. You just hang in there and know that we all feel your pain.
Renee

Kell, I'm just learning about Brugs, in fact I had only seen about a dozen until I joined DG and your pictures introduced me to their beauty. I was able to buy a few Trumpets and I'm hooked! First, post low to the ground signs. " Certain precations must be taken when handling these plants. You are welcome to look. "
or " YOU ARE UNDER RANDOM VIDEO SURVALENCE
Vandals and Thiefs will be PROSECUTED! "
I did notice a motion activated camera at WalMart for $70.
I too join all of the others with outrage, sympathy a tear.Sidney

Kell, I was not on my computer much yesterday and just now read about your tragedy with awful mindless horrible people who ruined your bautiful brugs. And not to get to see your lovely brugs finish their bloom is really sad. I don't understand at all such mean hearted people. Again so sorry. Donna

So sorry Kell. I bet it really ripped your heart out. Hope you notified the police so maybe they may patrol the area a little better. It is vandilism after all. (((HUGS)))

i think i would put up a fence. i know people enjoy them and all but maybe a see through fence.

its mean and cruel. there no doubt about it and to do it in the center so no one could see is even worse. i am still in shock over this .

my heart goes out to you . Marie

Kell, were other plots damaged too, or was yours singled out??? If you file a police report, maybe they will have information regarding other incidents that might be related to yours. There were some problems near my brother's business, and when he reported it, they already had the person in custody...

I'm so sorry for you, Kell. It's horrible to know that there are people out there that will do that. :(

-Paul-

Oh Kell, I feel so saddened and shocked!

I felt my stomach dropping when I was looking at these pictures, so I can only imagine what you are feeling.

Gracie

Oh my gosh, (((Kell))) I'm so sorry! I haven't been looking at all the posts the past couple of days and missed this... I am also so very mad over this! Is just so hard to believe that people do this sort of thing. Its sickening! I guess if you start watching e-bay and other plant sites for cuttings, you might be able to at least find out who did this. Gosh, Kell...I'm just sick for you. Gretchen

I agree Gretchen, it sounds like someone wanted cuttings. Just unbelievable how low some people will stoop. Kell, I hope you will be able to save (and identify) some of them. Wish I could be there to help you. LindaSC

Kell,
Like everyone else, I was so shocked to see your pictures that I think my mouth just dropped open. From your posts, it seems that it was a theft and not just vandalism. At first, I thought it must be bored teenagers getting revved up for Halloween, but now I agree with other posters that you should watch for Ebay members close to you who are now selling brugs. Will you continue to rent the space there or try to move your brugs somewhere else? My heart goes out to you.
Terrie

im so sorry,i know how you must have felt,when i slept in one morning(8 am),i awoke to find my creamsicle,s (loaded with blooms) top gone out of it.i cried,i called to police i was so upset.we found where they had cut all blooms off and took the parts they knew they could root and threw the rest down the street i live on.i never found out who it was,but i did want to let you know i understand how you feel and im so sorry it happened to you.

trunnels, watching eBay is a good idea...

Thanks all. I still am in shock. So is my husband. I have cuttings all over the house now. LOL! It was just these have taken a full year of care to come to the point of blooming and then to be set so far back again. All these were from pollinations I had done so many months earlier. They are my babies! Well, until they bloom ugly that is! LOL

This is part of a huge community garden that you rent plots on. Up till this last week, huge corn rows hid my garden from view of the main road that goes by. Now you can see them from the road. All the other gardens are now about empty for they were growing summer veggies. They are all doing clean up now.

I have offered all the brugs I do not want to the other gardeners and offered to root them a piece of the ones I am keeping if they fancy one of those so I do not think it is any of them.

Unfortunately, the police here have more to worry about! This is in a densely packed urban city. The guy who rents out the plots actually came by the garden the night I found it. He was so shocked also for they have had so few problems.

Anyway, though they broke the very top off my best brug so far, they left it alone. I think they did not see the flower for it was hidden low between 3 trunks, in the crotch and covered in part by leaves. Needless to say, it is no longer there! LOL

Did you dig the plant or take the cutting? If it were to be named, it would be 'Survivor'. Is that a pollination tag? LindaSC

I am so sorry that this happened to you, I do not understand how anyone could enjoy a stolen plant. One lady was telling me about shrubs taken from a church! Our local newspaper was having a guess the giant pumpkin contest and you know what happened... it was smashed... Things like this can make you feel so sad.

Kell, I am so sorry you had to go thru this. I have to admit though that when I first read your post regarding your garden plot, my first thought was, "gee, it will be so easy for any low-life to take advantage and steal cuttings." After seeing some of your pictures, I don't feel it was a greedy plant lover. I feel even a greedy plant lover would take more careful cuttings. Your plants looked as is someone didn't care and just whacked them off. My wild guess is that it could've been someone who knows about the toxicity of brugs and may want to use them to make a hollicinating brew. I honestly hope this is not the case. I'll paste below an article someone in another forum posted that was written by a New Orleans newspaper, the Times-Picayune.

N.O. bans flower brew
Angel's trumpet teas abused by teens

Monday, August 09, 2004
By Bruce Eggler
Staff writer

Responding to recent reports of young people abusing hallucinogenic substances derived from the popular garden plant known as angel's trumpet, the New Orleans City Council has passed a law banning the manufacture or sale of compounds made from the plant.

The law does not make it illegal to grow the tropical plant, which is known for its spectacular tubular flowers and is found in gardens throughout the New Orleans area.

The ordinance, introduced by council President Eddie Sapir and passed unanimously at Thursday's council meeting, makes it illegal to "knowingly or intentionally combine, produce, manufacture or distribute any compound containing the plant material known as angel's trumpet, also known as brugmansia arborea, for human consumption or with the intent to sell, distribute or dispense same for human consumption."

The law says compounds containing angel's trumpet and used as recreational drugs "potentially are extremely dangerous to the health and well-being of anyone ingesting them."

Young people who have drunk a tea made from angel's trumpet in search of a cheap and, until now, legal high reportedly have engaged in bizarre behavior. One teenager supposedly tried to eat his arm, thinking it was a roast beef sandwich. And two teens showed up naked in a neighbor's back yard, explaining they were looking for spark plugs.

Police and other authorities fear misuse of the plant could become more widespread. Adding to the problem is the fact that the compound made from angel's trumpet -- also known as jimsonweed, devil's weed and locoweed -- is not a controlled drug, so it has not been a crime to use it.

"It makes you hot as hell, blind as a bat, dry as a bone, red as a beet and mad as a hatter," said Dr. William George, director of toxicology at the Tulane University School of Medicine.

On June 4 in Destrehan, three boys, ages 15 and 16, drank a concoction of angel's trumpet parts boiled with an unknown liquid. All three boys suffered severe hallucinations; two were hospitalized. The father of one of the teens was so angry that he shot and wounded a man he thought had given the drink to the boys, authorities said.

A week earlier in Kenner, three youths, ages 16 to 18, mixed angel's trumpet with Kool-Aid to create a hallucinogenic cocktail. Police said one tried to jump from a roof, and another tried to take a bite out of his arm. All three were hospitalized.

A Hialeah, Fla., teen died May 26 from a 106-degree fever after drinking soup he made from the plant, authorities said.

After the Kenner incident, the Kenner City Council passed an ordinance making it illegal to consume or sell a hallucinogenic cocktail made from the plant.

The man suspected of giving the hallucinogenic tea to the three Destrehan boys was booked in St. Charles Parish with second-degree cruelty to juveniles and mingling harmful substances.

The ordinance passed by the New Orleans City Council does not specify penalties. However, the usual penalties for similar municipal violations are a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for not more than five months or both.

Noting that the state normally controls dangerous substances, Councilman Marlin Gusman said the ordinance passed Thursday will send a message to the Legislature that it should enact a statewide ban on angel's trumpet compounds.

Thanks Gemila. But if they were going to make this tea, they forgot to take the leaves! LOL. The ground is littered with leaves.

We have brugmanisa all over here. They grow as trees in many yards. So they are very accessible around here.

I would just love to get a dark pink growing all over here. It would be so pretty to drive around and see them.

My heart goes out to you "Kell" ......made tears fall just thinking about something like that happening to my plants.

Judy

it just shows you nothing safe anymore i can see how hard you have worked and have been helpful to people just remember all your friends on this forum who are behind you they say there is a reason for everything in life and if is humans doing this they must have a very boring and sad life. nature has a way of surviving and these plants will. God bless Bob

OMG! I just saw this thread! I'm so sorry for you Kell! You have such beautiful Brugs. I can't imagine someone being so terrible! Did you call the authorities? This is vandalism - and to me, much worse than spraying graffiti on a wall. A wall can easily be painted over. The work you put into these plants is irreplaceable. There are some sick sick people out there.

I just saw it too Kell. I am SOOO sorry! I think mindless vandalisim is the worst. I mean, even gang members who "tag" your garage or car have a purpose. Just to destroy something that someone else clearly cherishes, just to be mean, is inexcusable. I would almost find it "better" if they DID want them for cuttings. Even if it was to make a profit selling them on Ebay. At least they had some reason for it other than to destroy your plants. But if it was someone who even knew there was a market for brug cuttings, you would think they would have been more careful and deliberate in their actions. This looks like a sloppy, high speed whacking job by someone who just wanted to tear them up. Taking the top of your brightly blooming one was probably just to rub salt in the wound. It's big, bright, has lots of flowers so they took it. It clearly wasn't someone who knew which ones were more valuable, where you should take a cutting, etc. In any case, it was mean and whoever did it sucks! I'm nothing if I'm not articulate. Ha! Jamie

Kell said brugs are abundant where she lives. If not for that, I'd say it looks like someone did it to make it look like vandalism, when it might have been for profit.
Or maybe Kell's garden was maybe outta the way or better hidden than a private yard and was, in fact, done for profit...I'm gonna watch eBay, but if it was for profit, I expect the thief intends to root the cuttings, and start more cuttings, before they are offered for sale...

wow, what a freaky thing to happen. a couple times i found one of my potted plants broken or accidently trimmed by the lawnmower guys and it made me feel sick. i can't imagine something like this happening. it seems so unreal. i hope you can find a way to prevent it from happening again. i think i see some stakes in your picture. maybe get taller ones so you can secure the tops? or plant something to hide them from the main road? unfortunately, whoever did this already knows about them so they might come back.

Check some local growers shortly and see if a new GLUT of NEW brugs shows up! Ya never know .. :-)