Lilac thieves: Calgarians confess to stealing the lavender blooms

I have a confession to make.I'm a lilac thief.And I'm not alone.

I picked up the habit from my motherafew years ago, when I wasvisiting herinVancouver.

She was driving us to lunchandhaddetoured througha residential neighbourhood to avoid traffic.Suddenly, shemade a sharp left turn and gunned it down a backalley. My motherwas heading toward the most glorious lilac bush awild mess of deep purple,spilling overa fence into the lane.

She pulled the car over, casually reached into herglove compartment and pulledout a pair ofgarden clippers.Apparently, she always drovearound with scissors during lilac season.

Mom proceeded to snip a few lush blooms from the bush. She didn't even bat an eye.

When people come and cut them, I love it because I have an absolutely unlimited supply.- Rob Maciak

I, on the other hand, get extremely nervous (and sweaty)when I steal lilacs and only do it underthecloak of darkness.

Jess Shanahan also gets anxious when she does it.

"You almost have to look for theones that droop into the back alley, along a bike path. I wouldn't really go into the front yard of someone's place," she said.

Rob Maciak has seven massive lilac bushes lining his house."My roommate has pruned them like crazy. He has done all but try and kill them and they still grow," Maciak toldtold the Calgary Eyeopener on Friday morning.

"When people come and cut them, I love it because I have an absolutely unlimited supply."

"Well I think officially I couldn't condone thieving lilacs," saidJennifer Rempel, the executive director of the Lilac Festival.

"But I would suggest coming to the Fourth Streetarea where they grow wild in the bushes and the streets and go walk down a side street and pick some lilacs," said Rempel.

But if you are caught stealing lilacs from public property, youcould face a fine up to $200. Under the City of Calgary'sParks andPathways Bylaw,you're not allowed to cut or disturb any vegetation in city parks.