Nik Rajkovic / news@whmi.com

Officials with the University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens report vandals snipped thousands of peonies just as they reached full bloom.

The alleged vandals struck the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden sometime Saturday night or early Sunday morning, leaving the trails littered with petals and blooms.

Tony Kolenic, the director of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, delivered a statement and showed some of the damage from the garden in a social media post linked below.

"These peonies are not just plants, they are living beings," Kolenic said. They’ve been nurtured over generations and bring joy, community and connection to the natural world for so many people every season."

"What happened here was an act of disregard not just for the garden, but for the community that cherishes it."

Investigators have not identified a suspect and no one has taken credit for the incident, though "some papers were left behind," UM police said.

The university released a photograph of one of those papers, which reads in part, "Palestinian lives deserve to be cared for. More than these flowers."

The garden, inside the Nichols Arboretum, is considered one of the world’s "premier collections" of peonies. The garden is home to more than 10,000 flowers and 800 different types of peonies.

The good news, according to Kolenic, is the vandals only caused short-term damage.

"And yet, this resilient garden endures. The roots remain strong, and the garden will bloom again. And we will continue to honor this space and all that it means to those who find peace and joy here," he added.

Photos courtesy of U of M's Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum.