Unbelievable Vandalism in Big Sur

[Michael13]

I had a plan to leave this weekend on a trip to Big Sur, California! One of the places I had heard of and wanted to see in person was the Calla Lilly Valley in Garrapata State Park. During an online search yesterday, I found this disturbing news ...

Calla Lilly Valley Vandalized

I am still going on my trip, but how can people do such a thing? It is true Calla Lillies are not native to CA, but are found in other CA coastal areas as well.

 

[AlanLichty]

I have seen articles describing what happened down there. Nothing points to what the motive behind the act might have been since they didn't actually destroy the plants.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Seems like one of three possibilities:

• Straight up vandalism for the sake of vandalism
• Locals trying to discourage crowds
• Invasive "warriors" who felt the the need (wrongly implemented) to try eliminating these dangerous weeds

I've never actually made it there for the flowers. I kind of want to, but I'd want to do it early in the season before the crowds get large and the plants get trampled. Probably impossible at this point.

 

[Michael13]

I have seen articles describing what happened down there. Nothing points to what the motive behind the act might have been since they didn't actually destroy the plants.

Right, only the flowers were cut from the plants. What were they thinking? I hope someone who knows will come forward.

 

[Michael13]

Seems like one of three possibilities:

• Straight up vandalism for the sake of vandalism
• Locals trying to discourage crowds
• Invasive "warriors" who felt the the need (wrongly implemented) to try eliminating these dangerous weeds

I've never actually made it there for the flowers. I kind of want to, but I'd want to do it early in the season before the crowds get large and the plants get trampled. Probably impossible at this point.

Their location was no secret, I wonder why CA State Parks didn't remove them if they are an invasive species. I am just sad because they were beautiful, and now they are gone.

At least I know there is much more to see and photograph at Garrapata State Park!

 

[Kyle Jones]

Their location was no secret, I wonder why CA State Parks didn't remove them if they are an invasive species. I am just sad because they were beautiful, and now they are gone.

At least I know there is much more to see and photograph at Garrapata State Park!

I agree with the sadness. The general public has no authority to remove things they don't like from state or national parks. Or frankly any public lands. This was simply selfish and mean-spirited.

But you are right - there are a lot of great things to photograph at Garrapata!

 

[dan swiger]

Dang, that's bad news. I found this place after seeing a photograph taken with a 4x5. Found the place & had 2 or 3 visits with success. But quickly discovered that people & their dogs, drones, etc had found it too. This hyper religious attitude about native species was a pretense for destruction. There are a lot of plant specie that have "migrated" on their own or been helped by humans. I think the spread of Calle Lilies "naturally" suited the draw out from the road to the beach.

Here's my take the site back in 2009

 

[BlackRockArt]

Dang, that's bad news. I found this place after seeing a photograph taken with a 4x5. Found the place & had 2 or 3 visits with success. But quickly discovered that people & their dogs, drones, etc had found it too. This hyper religious attitude about native species was a pretense for destruction. There are a lot of plant specie that have "migrated" on their own or been helped by humans. I think the spread of Calle Lilies "naturally" suited the draw out from the road to the beach.

Here's my take the site back in 2009
View attachment 87851

wow, Dan, I love the shot.

Oliver

 

[JimFox]

That's so sad to hear. I do hope they are able to piece together who did that.

I don't believe it has anything to do with the "invasive Species" as whoever vandalized just cut off the blooms, they didn't remove the whole plants.

I think it's just our America has turned into a very mean country, and people feel emboldened to be able to be mean and do whatever they want with no feeling that their will be consequences.

But, that's just my opinion, and we all have one.

 

[JimFox]

Seems like one of three possibilities:

• Straight up vandalism for the sake of vandalism
• Locals trying to discourage crowds
• Invasive "warriors" who felt the the need (wrongly implemented) to try eliminating these dangerous weeds

I've never actually made it there for the flowers. I kind of want to, but I'd want to do it early in the season before the crowds get large and the plants get trampled. Probably impossible at this point.

I have gone later in the season, and there are pathways around the clumps of flowers. Not to say they have never been trampled, but I never saw them being trampled like a bunch of cows had been let loose down there.