That time my neighbor's prize-winning orchid got mistaken for a weed

Last month, my neighbor in apartment 3B was showing off her Phalaenopsis that had just taken a blue ribbon at the county fair, and she left it on our shared balcony ledge for some sun. The building's new landscaper came through for his first maintenance round, saw the slightly wilted flower spike, and yanked the whole plant, tossing it into his green waste bin with the actual dandelions. I had to fish it out of the mulch pile and explain it wasn't a goner. Has anyone else had a prized plant almost get trashed by someone who didn't know what they were looking at?

3 comments

3 Comments

harper2543d ago

Did you get a pot with a clear label on it? I keep a cheap plastic tag stuck right in the soil that says "DO NOT REMOVE" in big letters. It's saved my herbs from the cleaning crew more than once.

nancybennett3d ago

My basil plant got tossed last month, but your "DO NOT REMOVE" tag idea is pure genius.

haydenburns3d ago

Saw a gardening blog that recommended painting the pot rim bright red. The visual cue works even if the tag gets missed. Might try that with my next batch of cilantro.