Couple years ago I was at the garden behind the Alamo mission in San Antonio with my mother. Without thinking I reached down to deadhead a dahlia and the flower cop was on me like a duck on a june bug. "Never touch the plants!" she yelled. I was mortified and my little 78 year old mother almost fell over from fear.

Then last year I was at a botanic garden somewhere in Georgia and reached down to touch a flower cluster on a hydrangea. The plant cop materialized out of the mist and pointed at me and said, "No NO!" Just like I was some wayward two year old.

What to take? Ski mask (for disguise), bicycle (for quick getaways), sharp bypass pruners with pruner holster (for ease of sneak) and a buddy (to fake a seizure as a distraction in case the flower cops come after you.)

Moral of the story, if you're planning to take cuttings or snatch seed heads from a public garden, just don't get caught.

Cheryl

I would also suggest a cute outfit in camo gear....maybe if you jumped into the foliage first you would blend in and could whittle away unnoticed? Or if you are real lucky, the zookeepers aren't as vigilent as the Garden cops?

Either way, good luck and be sure to demand your ONE phone call:)