Having decorations and a beautiful space helps mental and physical balance. That’s why much of architecture focuses on creating visually pleasing spaces and on using natural elements to beautify a place. However, a college in Texas made a controversial decision after ordering the removal and disposal of several agave plants that had been on campus for decades because their leaves were “dangerous,” as they poked passersby. This sparked criticism from professors, workers, students, and botany enthusiasts.
Redditor Cookiedestryr shared several images on r/mildlyinfuriating of various agave plants that had already been uprooted and were ready to be thrown away. According to OP, the reason this college in Texas uprooted several decades-old agave was that people allegedly reported that the leaves, with their stiff, sharp tips, poked them when they walked by. But the most ridiculous thing about this situation is that this college is an institution dedicated to agriculture, where one would expect them to know about plant and crop management.
“No mas tequila…(No more tequila),” said RJNieder
Jokes aside, most comments and OP found it outrageous that the response was to completely remove specimens that could have educational, ornamental, or even productive value. Especially since many explained that agave is an easy-to-maintain species, they could have just cut the leaves so that they would no longer “hurt” people.
“It was probably an order from higher up. I’ve known people who worked at those sorts of places, and the people actually doing the ag stuff weren’t always the biggest fans of the administrators, who I got the feeling just didn’t care,” commented Low_Pickle_112.
This last comment was just a theory, but the OP came out and said that the Redditor had hit the nail on the head. According to the OP, the supervisor had been suspended before for pulling and pruning plants without permission. This did not sit well with the plant-loving community, which comprises most of the college’s workers and students. Apparently, they were more concerned about the workers who were forced to pull up the agaves, including the OP, who were only following orders.
This case is a significant loss, which is why more users encouraged the OP to try to recover the plants. Fortunately, OP is also a plant lover and said they would try to save at least some of the agaves, as there are several large and heavy specimens, so it won’t be easy to move. Let’s hope these agaves can be replanted in an area where they will be protected.
