JulieJess
10-08-2007, 10:39 AM
A month or so ago we noticed that several of the young maples along the front of our property looked irregular in shape. On closer inspection we discovered many branches had been cut off, leaving only stubs. This cutting of branches has continued to happen despite lights and a sign, and at last count five trees had lost 38 limbs.
A few more branches are taken every week, and now very high branches are going, necessitating the use of a stepladder. The trees are grotesque and may not survive, and at $200 a tree and four years of growth, this is a huge loss for us.
These are small branches, an inch or so at the large end, and 4 to 8 feet long. The trimmings are taken away, so we’re pretty sure it’s not just malicious vandalism, but that someone is using them for some purpose. (Even the sheriff thought this whole thing was pretty weird.) The leaves had just started to turn, so we’re guessing that maybe someone wanted them for (large) decorations.
So who is doing this? There’s obviously a market somewhere. Maybe an interior decorator or florist. If you see, in your wanderings, pots full of long maple branches with small red leaves, perhaps in a restaurant, winery or hotel, please let us know. Our overwhelming emotion is sadness — that in the wonderfulness of West County there exists a person who would come onto private property and disfigure small trees.
A few more branches are taken every week, and now very high branches are going, necessitating the use of a stepladder. The trees are grotesque and may not survive, and at $200 a tree and four years of growth, this is a huge loss for us.
These are small branches, an inch or so at the large end, and 4 to 8 feet long. The trimmings are taken away, so we’re pretty sure it’s not just malicious vandalism, but that someone is using them for some purpose. (Even the sheriff thought this whole thing was pretty weird.) The leaves had just started to turn, so we’re guessing that maybe someone wanted them for (large) decorations.
So who is doing this? There’s obviously a market somewhere. Maybe an interior decorator or florist. If you see, in your wanderings, pots full of long maple branches with small red leaves, perhaps in a restaurant, winery or hotel, please let us know. Our overwhelming emotion is sadness — that in the wonderfulness of West County there exists a person who would come onto private property and disfigure small trees.