Hundreds of peonies vandalized at botanical Michigan garden
Pro-Palestinian signs left amid the destruction at University of Michigan's botanical garden read in part: "Plant lives don't matter. Human lives do."
Hundreds of peonies were vandalized and pro-Palestinian signs were left behind at the University of Michigan's botanical gardens, officials said.
The peonies were cut on May 31 in what was described as a malicious destruction of property at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security said.
"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," gardens director Tony Kolenic said in a Facebook post the morning of June 1 from the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden.
About 250 peony plants – or approximately one-third of the peony plants on the north side of the garden – were discovered with most of their flowers cut off at about 6:14 a.m. on June 1. In addition to the flowers, about 100 paper signs were left throughout the area. No group or organization has taken credit for the incident, according to the division of public safety.
The signs read, in part: "Plant lives don't matter. Human lives do."
"Palestinian lives deserve to be cared for more than these flowers. Don't waste your tears on the peonies. They are not even dead and will grow again next spring," the signs read.
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 over the 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 incident is being investigated by the University of Michigan's Division of Public Safety and Security, which asked for tips from the public.
"Make no mistake, the criminal tactics used in the recent act of vandalism at Nichols Arboretum are wholly unacceptable. We unequivocally condemn the destruction of property and any act of vandalism on our campus. Damaging a beloved community space intended to foster reflection and bring hope to the whole community is counter productive. We urge all community members to channel their voices through constructive and meaningful dialogue," said Kay Jarvis, Director of Public Affairs, in a written statement.
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 3 miles of nature trails.
Vandalism comes after months of tensions on campus
The flyers left behind at the botanical gardens called for visitors to advocate for Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war that started after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas forces on Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Since then, over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the siege on Gaza, Hamas-run health authorities have said.
"Stop the war. Resist imperialism," the flyers said.
Amid escalating tensions throughout the United States in reaction to the conflict, college campuses including at Ann Arbor have faced student protests and counterprotests. Earlier this year, a pro-Palestinian group on campus was suspended for two years after the school said it violated policies by protesting outside the home of a university regent and demonstrated during a popular student event, the Detroit Free Press, part of the Paste BN Network, reported. The suspension furthered a tumultuous relationship between university officials and student activists, the Free Press reported.
In May 2024, a commencement ceremony was also disrupted by protesters advocating for Palestinians, the Free Press reported. The campus was one of dozens around the country where students set up encampments as part of their protests.
Contributing: Reuters