It’s shear madness.
A vandal beheaded a bed of blooms in an Instagram-famous Monterey County valley known for its breathtaking flowers.
The mysterious attack in Garrapata State Park’s Calla Lily Valley targeted the area’s gorgeous calla lilies, which have attracted hordes of visitors during their viral spring bloom.
California State Parks Chief Ranger Mike Dippel told SFGATE that he began receiving troubling calls about the lily corpses on Monday morning.
“It looks like somebody took scissors or some sort of gardening tool and got rid of the flowering parts of all the lilies,” Dippel told the outlet.
“They didn’t dig into the ground and rip the whole plant out. They just cut the tops off, if that makes sense.”
Park officials remain in the dark about who committed the callous act or when it occurred. While the motive remains a mystery, Dippel had a few theories.
“I can’t speculate, but the calla lily is a non-native plant to the region, and there are some folks that probably don’t like that it’s here,” he said.
“And the other aspect is that the place has really exploded on social media.”
Disappointed fans turned to social media to post before-and-after photos of the valley and clips of the aftermath.
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One visitor, who wanted to surprise his girlfriend with the beautiful views after a hike through the state park, posted a video on Reddit showing the valley in ruins.
“Shame, dude. Big Shame. All chopped off—I don’t know if it’s locals or influencers. Who the hell knows?” he can be heard saying in the background. “I guess we can’t have nice things anymore,”
Fortunately, the plants will survive and bloom again next season.
Meanwhile, California is enjoying a stunning floral display in other parts of the state as the annual wildflower explosion has painted hillsides a kaleidoscope of color.
After a soaking wet winter, desert landscapes from San Diego to the Mojave are poised for a vibrant wildflower season — and buzzing with the possibility of a super bloom.
