A Random Summer Morning at Thunderbird Vapes

We have planters outside the shop, they've been there since we opened in 2014. In fact, they and the first round of plants, were a gift from Brendan's sister in honer of opening Thunderbird Vapes. While they get a little neglected between the seasons, we take great pride in them when they are blooming. Its our way of trying to make the neighbourhood a little more beautiful. 

Over the years select staff have taken special interest in tending them. Those years, the flowers are more abundant. Lobellia's trail and geraniums bloom endlessly into the winter months. 

Back at that nursery in 2014, I'd made some comment about picking prickly plants. Ones no one would want to steal. The reaction to this was along the lines of "what type of person steals plants?!" Well, let me tell you! So many types. 

Twelve years later, we've had families pluck a hand-full of tulips, little old ladies argue that they are public flowers - hence, can be picked by the public - late night strollers yank zinnias, trailing dirt down the street. That's not to say that they aren't appreciated by others.  

One of the older residents trims back the deadheads for better growth. Just this morning I spotted a gentleman, stop, pull out his phone case from a plastic bag, and snap some pictures. These encounters out weigh the negatives. That said, on mornings when we're greeted by upturned dirt, there's a little switch that flips.

A deep desire to wade through security footage, print out screen shots, laminate them and turn them into shame signs kicks in. (For the record this was done, but not by me, one of our green thumb staffers. I may have posted the odd one to IG or Facebook.) Today was one of those mornings. 

A bare whole in the dirt where roots where once supported a plant winked up at me. A discarded plant wedged between the planter and wall revealed a stash of, what I'm assuming were, stolen disposable vapes and cigarettes.