Lakeland, Florida. - Lakeland College has one of the most diverse collections of rare flowers in the country, but someone has stolen some rare flowers.
Florida Southern College's Ruth Rose Garden is one of the most beautiful places on campus.
"I was really tested, so it's nice to be able to click here and see flowers and birds and everything in my class," Don Stanczyk said.
200 species of roses are kept in the park. It is the most genetically diverse group in the southeastern United States.
d says Malcolm Manners, professor of horticulture at Florida Southern College.
Dr. Malcolm Manners was once called "the world's greatest teacher." He said the roses grown in the garden were part of a school project to treat a disease known as rose mosaic, and he then introduced them to nurseries around the world.
The garden has supplied flowers to nurseries in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, South Africa and Great Britain.
On the eve of the amazing spring flowers, Dr. Manners makes an ugly discovery. Someone walked through the garden and cut down about 100 rare crocus flower bushes and pullitch kinderbushes in the garden.
"This is the first time I've ever seen an entire bush completely cut down, so it won't flower this spring," Manners said.
The horticulture professor estimated that about $2,500 worth of flower vouchers were stolen. It is believed that the rose thief wants to take advantage of the unique plant.
"We don't think they took it for ornamental floristry. The buds would be too small. They would probably propagate it from cuttings and make new plants, maybe for sale," Manners said.
Polish children will have a year to bloom again.
