Flower-picking rant

[GoddessOfGuinness]

We went over to Harper's Ferry today, and enjoyed a walk along the C&O Canal...which happens to be National Park Service property. As we went down the steps from the bridge over the Potomac, a young girl was climbing them with a hefty bouquet of bluebells; her parents (or some other adult chaperone) on either side of her. I was pretty annoyed, and said rather loudly, "I hope there are some bluebells left for the rest of the public to enjoy," with the hope that they'd overhear and think more carefully about where they decide to scavenge flowers.

Then we walked a few more yards; and lying by the side of the towpath was a huge bunch of bluebells, dandelions, and spring beauties, plucked from their host plant and tossed aside in a wilted heap. As we continued to walk, I saw at least a dozen bluebell sprigs similarly harvested and disposed of when they ceased to be a source of amusement for someone.

How much more we could have enjoyed them if they'd just been left ALONE!
:grr::grr::grr:

[XemaSab]

1. Isn't that illegal?

:shrug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. Yup; but the government doesn't have anyone there to enforce the rules.

God knows what else is going on in our parks.

[XemaSab]

3. You're probably bigger than she is

You should have kicked her ass! :P

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. I could forgive her stupidity...

I blame the adults who haven't taught her. I should've kicked their asses.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

12. They're being used as ashtrays...

It's embarrassing and looks like shit.
Duckie

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. Serious crime is up in the parks, too...

Since they're understaffed, parks are attractive to drug dealers, robbers, and gangs. :(

[xchrom]

4. i hate that crap as well.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. Too bad it wasn't poison ivy that she picked...

:evilgrin:

[Shell Beau]

7. I went there last June! Such a pretty place!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

22. It is beautiful, isn't it? Here's a view from Maryland Heights

[Shell Beau]

23. Gorgeous! That was one of my favorite places we visted

while we were up there!

[bridgit]

8. Flower-picking rant...

:rofl: i just had to come see, but you are very right after all = that blows x(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. I haven't checked yet, but I'll bet this gets copy-catted

:D

[Shine]

9. How rude and what a waste!!

those "adults" that were with her should have known better. The lamenitude of others really amazes me somtimes. :eyes:

Was there anyone you could comlain to or inform of what happened? Maybe signs could be posted....although, how pathetic that that has to be done. You'd think it would be obvious. Duh.

:hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. Unfortunately, there was a severe shortage of Park Rangers...

Dumbyass' cuts have decimated the organization. Everything he touches turns to ashes. :(

[XemaSab]

13. The signs in Yosemite about resource protection are in

English, French, Spanish, and Chinese.

So of course all the tourists are Russian and Japanese. :eyes:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. The signs at Harpers Ferry are all in English

but I'd estimate that 1/3rd of the visitors I saw there were Latino.

[XemaSab]

16. And you're implying that Latinos don't speak English?

:D

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. Nah...

but I wouldn't be surprised if a number of them didn't.

[XemaSab]

18. I'm teasing

:D

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. :-)

Pardon my seriousness! :beer:

[riona]

19. Reminds me of

the time we said something to a driver who had thrown trash out her window. Her response was to find every piece of trash in her car and continue tossing it out a little at a time. Lovely woman

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. What is it with people who do things like that?

Mental illness? Ignorance?
Kind of makes you wonder what their homes look like if they don't care enough to keep their trash off the ground.

[Wcross]

24. I have had people in the woods in front of my house do it.

I have told people that as I have the property posted I was within my rights to have them arrested. Imagine the dumbfounded looks I get. They are picking flowers off my property and think nothing of it. For the most part they are middle aged women and I have caught a family up there once. I never get mean about it but I do ask them to stop and leave the area.
People have no respect for others these days.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. I had a clematis vine growing on my fence...

It had small white flowers that bloomed twice a year. Some neighborhood kid came by and started ripping the whole thing off. I told him to leave it alone; and he said "Nah...You don't want that thing there...It looks terrible!" My jaw dropped.