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Mum asks what is the correct etiquette when it comes to picking flowers on the side of the road?

“On our walk to pre-school, there are lots of wild flowers growing on the side of the road. My kids often pick the dandelions and the daisies.

“The other day there were some gorgeous red flowers growing on the verge and they each picked one and this grumpy lady walked by muttering about ‘stealing flowers’.

“I was completely taken aback! Not sure what the official rules are around picking flowers but I was keen to hear whether other mums allow their kids to pick flowers when they’re out and about?”

What parents think

Some parents think it is perfectly OK to allow kids to pick the flowers on the side of the road as long as they are not on someone elses property.

“There are no official rules. They are wild flowers. Don’t pick all of them and ignore the grumpy lady.”

“I let my kids pick flowers. It won’t kill anyone! They will grow back.. no biggie.”

“As long as the flowers or whatever the child is picking are not on anyone’s property and you are with them I see no problem with your child picking them.”

“If they are just wild flowers of course it’s fine but if they have been planted by the council or someone else that’s different.”

“Flowers are supposed to bring joy and happiness… what’s more special then seeing a little girls face light up over a simple flower. Lighten up dragon lady.”

While others believe flowers should be left to spark joy for everyone and not picked to just wither and die.

“Totally my opinion, but I tell my kids no. Purely because they are so beautiful and having them there for us and others to look at is a gift. They die once picked (obviously) so I prefer them to stay in the ground where they can live and be appreciated.”

“I’m surprised by the amount of people that allow their kids to pick flowers from someone’s garden. “It’s only 1 flower” it’s a pretty crappy mentality, what if everyone thought the same, there’d be no flowers left. Some people spend a lot of time and money on their gardens, other people’s property should be respected, that’s what’s wrong with people nowadays”

“I live in a city. All of the flowers are planted by businesses or home owners. They aren’t wild. My daughter wants to pick them. So i explained that i love the flowers too. I love them so much i want water them and watch them grow. Picking flowers kills them. You can take them home and put them in water but in a few days they will wither and be thrown away. If we leave them be and let them grow they’ll live a lot longer and we see them everyday and stop to smell them. She now just smells them and tells them they are beautiful and she loves them.”

“In Northern Cali, the mommies freak out about how we’re killing bees by picking flowers.”

“No – they are not our flowers to pick, leave them there and let everyone enjoy them.”

Ummm this comment was a bit surprising – “I would be more concerned about the children being poisoned from any sap in the plant… This is a very dangerous practice if you don’t know about plants.”

And OUCH! “Went for a walk once and my son picked everything along the way and sure enough he grabbed a fist full of a cactus, 6hrs later we were still picking the pricks out and a bad ass allergic reaction.”

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  • If they are on the side of the road then all is good as long as they are not stripping all the flowers as you have to teach them to leave some for others.
    But never are they to take flowers from someones garden without asking.

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  • Parents should teach their kids to respect other people’s property. If a flower is in someone’s property they do not have the right to pick them! My beautiful red and yellow tulips came out in my front garden and three kids came past (with their mothers) and picked them. I was so angry because tulip bulbs are expensive and I put a lot of time and effort in to growing them. The kids picked them, then proceeded to pick every petal off the flower. They didn’t even appreciate it. The boy threw his tulip to the ground and destroyed it. I caught all this as I was driving up my street and saw them one house away. So I stopped the car and told them off. My tulips have been admired by everyone that walks past but now those kids have destroyed them. And can I just add, we have a camera – those kids (ages 8-10) even felt it was ok to flip open my mail box and look inside. Obviously the parents need to teach those kids respect!!

    Reply

  • I think it is another way children get to learn to appreciate the wonders of nature, but of course teach them to leave some for the birds, butterflies and the bee’s.

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  • I think it’s lovely to see children picking flowers and, providing they don’t take them from property, why not?!

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  • Grabbing a couple flowers from the garden at home or at the grandparents is fine. I loved watching the girls playing outside and getting creative in the garden the best.

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  • I don’t think it’s an issue if the flowers are growing on public land, but also keep in mind others may want to appreciate the beauty of the flowers and don’t be greedy and take them all!

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  • As long as they’re not on someone’s property, I don’t mind picking one or two from my own garden, the same with wild ones. Though the yellow ones that are technically a weed, they can go nuts.

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  • It can be really hard for me to stop my kids from picking flowers, one because I’m outnumbered, and two because they always have the sweetest intentions, either picking them for me, or each other. But since my son accidentally pulled out an entire daisy bush from our neighbour, the rule is now wait til we get to the beach, then go nuts! Luckily we have very sweet, understanding neighbours :)

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  • I think it’s ok unless it’s on someone’s property then it is unacceptable.

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  • my boys love picking and giving it to me

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  • Of course they should pick flowers. Does anyone remember making daisy chains? As long as they aren’t on private property, go for it. How else are kids meant to experience nature?

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  • They should be allowed and while they are doing it parents can teach them where to not pick them from and also which ones are poisonous. As for meddling old ladies……

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  • We pick weed flowers like dandelions and fire week, it’s a bit of fun for the kids. I would pick flowers in someone’s yard! Never.

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  • I suppose it depends what the child does with the flower… I would hate for them to pick it just to immediately discard it.

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  • I always told my children they are there for everyone to enjoy, so don’t pick them cause you are spoiling another person’s day.

    Reply

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