A Merritt woman says disrespectful teenagers are continually uprooting and destroying a crop of sunflowers that lines her property.

On Aug. 17 at about noon, Beth Goulet says she discovered severed sunflowers strewn across the road and some completely uprooted stalks.

The sunflowers, some as tall as 11-feet, are constantly being destroyed at Goulet's Coldwater Avenue residence, usually at night and on the weekends, according to Goulet.

“They were ripped out in broad daylight,” says Goulet, who has been planting the flowers with several of her school-aged grandchildren.

“They don't understand why anyone would destroy the sunflowers.”
Goulet says the damage is being caused by teenagers.

“We have been sitting right out in our yard, and having teenage girls and a few young guys grab and rip at the sunflowers. I just find this is sad that the teens of today feel the need to ruin and wreck other people's property.”

Goulet says she has contacted the RCMP regarding the matter.

“I have been trying to ignore the pulling out of our sunflowers, as I have to say I do feel violated, and my grandchildren are hurt, and I doubt it will stop. Now, I do a morning walkabout and pick up the night-before casualties.”

Merritt RCMP say they have not received reports of other similar incidents in Merritt.