Thousands of peonies were cut in an act of vandalism at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor on Saturday night, according to the garden’s director.
In a Facebook post on Sunday morning, director Tony Kolenic provided a video message from the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden at Nichols Arboretum.
“Thousands of blooming flowers were cut and left behind. These peonies are not just plants, they are living beings. They’ve been nurtured over generations and bring joy, community, and connection to the natural world for so many people every season,” he said.
The vandalism came just hours after a Facebook post from the Matthaei Botanical Gardens page that said “The peonies are looking great this morning” and that many of them were expected to bloom this weekend.
“What happened here was an act of disregard not just for the garden, but for the community that cherishes it, even for life itself,” Kolenic said in his Sunday message.
The Matthaei Botanical Gardens, established in 1907, encompasses more than 300 acres of diverse landscapes, including eleven outdoor gardens, a 10,000+ square-foot conservatory with numerous plant collections and nearly three miles of nature trails.
“Wow. Like a gut punch out of nowhere,” one Facebook user commented, in reaction to the destroyed peonies.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Peonies cut at Matthei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum