Stealing things

Have you ever stolen flowers?

I have.

I’ve plucked the odd sprig of lavender or jasmine from front gardens as I’ve walked by, sure that aromatherapy would prove a good defence, were I ever challenged.

We all do that, don’t we?

Today I took things further.

I spotted a giant camellia tree draping its gorgeous blooms over someone’s side fence. The fence abutted a walkway between properties. 

There is a path and grass and lots of giant gum trees in the in-between. And clearly there is a camellia tree too. Well. Sort of. 

There was a significant wodge of camellia tree, looking like it wanted to escape its garden and join the unbridled flowering gums and wattle on the other side.

Who was I to ignore such a cry for help? 

Clearly, I could not do a lot, but I could do a smidge. I snapped 4 blooms from the tree and took them home.

You might be thinking that it’s a bit cruel to part blooms from bush, but actually it’s not. It’s fine. 

The camellia will notice immediately and, with a newfound vigour, it will try to replace the runaway growth. I think.

The other plants will cheer inwardly as they watch the flowers head off to see more of the world. I hope.

And I will feel heartened every single time I glimpse their blush pink petals, their lagoon green foliage, their stolen stems. I know.

PS: Did you know that the tea we drink is made from a variety of camellia leaves?!