This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden at the University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum was vandalized Saturday night, according to a statement posted on Instagram and Facebook by MBGNA director Tony Kolenic. At approximately 6:14 a.m. this morning, MBGNA reported to the University’s Division of Public Safety and Security that about 250 peony plants, one-third of the 800 peonies in the garden, had most of their flowers cut off. Thousands of flowers were left on the ground and about 100 paper signs were spread throughout the area.
In his statement, Kolenic wrote the vandalization was disrespectful to both the garden and the broader community.
“As someone who has spent my ca