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?!
I have been known to keep secatures in my car during winter so that I can pull over & cut branches of wattle. I figure that if it’s growing on the side of the road it’s for all us to share. And I like how you describe the plant cheering it’s cut blooms off on their new journey. I like that thought a lot.
Pruning is a horticulture necessity!!
And loving blooms even more so 💗 who knew camellias & tea where family!