Oblofusc

So there's this road near my house which borders a state park. I notice one day last year that there's a big mat of bananas growing a few hundred feet off the road in a power line right-of-way that cuts across the road and into the park. I vow to snatch a pup some day to add it to my yard's motley collection of various nanners. I figure what with the crappy soil and near drought conditions these things must be hardy, whatever they are. They probably sprouted from someone dumping there. They are nowhere else in that park, and I hardly think the state obtained them in order to plant them in an obscure place in a power line right-of-way. (Come to think of it, they technically may have been the property of the City of Tallahassee, since they were in the utility right-of-way.)

So finally I make it over there the other morning with my little army folding shover, and I dig out three pups. The "soil" was atrocious, clayey and full of road stones. I notice that a few of the big ones in the mat have already fruited! (Mine in my yard have not yet!) Pathetic little fruit at that, and no wonder, given the conditions. The mat was generally undernourished looking, a bit on the pale side, I could tell that with a bit of good soil and more watering they'd be robust and worthy specimens.

Feeling like a bandit, I hightailed it home, and planted them in pots with nice moist dirt.

Being as I work for the state, to assuage my guilt and compensate for my theft, I worked an extra 10 minutes overtime yesterday (for which we don't get paid).

I CAN STOP ANYTIME. REALLY. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

MediaHound

Great story! I've been eyeballing some bananas owned by DOT as well, ha!

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daryl

No harm, no foul IMO. Getting caught would suck...Any idea what they are? I have done similar in the past, fellow plant poacher lol. Haven't really done anything in Florida. I eyed, but never poached some sort of palm growing through a sidewalk near South Beach for most of a vacation a couple years ago. Very tempted. It was just waiting to be sprayed with Round Up. I did accidentally pick up some seeds at Fairview(or child?) Gardens in Coral Gables. Perhaps counseling at Plant Poachers Anonymous is in order...lol

mskitty38583

i thought if they were in the "ditch" it was fair game.....for 100.00 i saw the whole thing.LOL!

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island cassie

Haha!! Plant Poachers Anonymous would have the longest waiting list!! I'm guilty as charged!! I'm an addict - just can't help myself from helping myself (to homeless plants) Your Honor!
Cassie

natedogg1026

Sounds like you did the plant a favor to me. IMO.

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Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

stumpy4700

Don't feel bad I too am wanted in the state of Fla. Last month while in Orlando visiting Seaworld, I was able to liberate a nana from the wild jungle that bordered our hotel. I had to go to home depot and get some 4 inch pvc and 2 endcaps. I wrapped the corm in wet toliet paper and put the contraption in our suitcase for the flight home. We were waiting to hear our names called from the NTSA to come to the baggage area. Im sure the container looked like a huge pipe bomb on the x-ray machine. I wrote live plant on the outside of it just incase. The container had been moved when they searched it but I guess they opened it and let it go as we never got called. Its planted in a pot now and hopefully in 2 years I'll have a flower to end the saga of the mystery banana.

island cassie

Go Stumpy!!

pharazon

I suppose it would be too self incriminating to post a picture of said, ahem, liberated bananas.

stumpy4700

I will post the nana tommorrow, but the container has been discarded to deter prosecution.

stumpy4700

Hopefully they won't extradite from Tennessee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

john_ny

Cool stories!

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Ahava

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ewitte

Our subdivision has a walkway between the houses and a retaining wall (trees then river). One of the houses has a lot of banana plants and some of the pups grew into full plants on the other side of the fence! Just took a few bananas off one. The only smaller pup I saw was a flag so I left it.

Kenzie_POM

Hey Ya'll

Me too. Guilty however as yet uncharged. Texas though, not Florida. Took a pup from a Hampton Inn in Katy TX. Was there the next week as well. Took a bunch of plantains. About three hands. Fat ones. They looked like they wanted to skip town so...I helped them out. Took a bunch of palm seeds from Disney in Orlando. Planted them. Squirrels bug up the seeds and ate them. Oh well.

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stumpy4700

Here's the lil Fugitive from Fla.

Ahava

That is one pretty plant. I probably would have done the same to be honest. Although I would have had to convince the husband first. lol.

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raggedyredhead

OK everyone I too am a thief too. I have never stoolen in my life except for plants. For some reason I have rationalized that God will forgive me because he knows I will treat them better than anyone. I actually ran a garden center once. Boy, was that fun. I was in NYC last week and there are banana plants planted in containers. You guys are giving me ideas. OK a bit risky. Maybe just a pup. I will have to look a little closer.
Bananas in NJ.

raggedyredhead

OK everyone I too am a thief too. I have never stolen in my life except for plants. For some reason I have rationalized that God will forgive me because he knows I will treat them better than anyone. I actually ran a garden center once. Boy, was that fun. I was in NYC last week and there are banana plants planted in containers. You guys are giving me ideas. OK a bit risky. Maybe just a pup. I will have to look a little closer.
Bananas in NJ.

pharazon

Doesn't look suspiscious to me.