This story has been updated to reflect new information released by public safety officials.
Hundreds of peonies were cut in an incident of malicious destruction of property at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor early Sunday morning, according to a statement from the University of Michigan’s Division of Public Safety and Security.
In a Facebook post on Sunday morning, gardens director Tony Kolenic provided a video message from the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden at Nichols Arboretum.
“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,” he said.
Approximately 250 peony plants — or about 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. Sunday.
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 DPSS.
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 this 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. Anyone with information is asked to call (734) 763-1131, the confidential tip line at (800) 863-1355 or email UM-DPSS-TIPS@unmich.edu.
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 three miles of nature trails.
“Wow. Like a gut punch out of nowhere,” one Facebook user commented, in reaction to the destroyed peonies.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Peonies cut at Matthei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum