110
12 days ago
Mystery unfolds around Big Sur's destroyed Calla Lily Valley
Summary
Big Sur’s rugged cliffs and postcard views have long lured camera-toting crowds to landmarks like Bixby Bridge and Pfeiffer Beach.
But visitors and road-trippers along Highway 1 have been met with a jarring sight at one of the area's viral spots in recent days.
The famed Calla Lily Valley, where elegant white blooms typically carpet a strip of land leading from the Highway to Garrapata State Park each spring, has been devastated.
Sometime between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon last week, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, the flowers appear to have been cut down, and the surrounding greenery trampled, leaving a stark, unsettling scene.
Reports of the damage started circulating on social media last week. Since then, some have mused whether the alleged vandalism was a protest against the rise in visitors to Big Sur or the banality of social media-driven tourism.
The incident also comes after publicized acts of vandalism at state and national parks, including incidents at California’s Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Joshua Tree National Park, and Yosemite National Park.
Social media sleuths, on the other hand, have offered less existential reasons for the plants' sudden removal.
While some on social media blamed wild animals, many suspected that the ornamental plant, popular for weddings, funerals, and other gatherings, may have been deliberately cut by humans.
One Facebook poster said they suspect "Bridezilla," while others suggested checking the local flea markets and flower nurseries for the missing blooms.
Related: See early wildflower blooms in the Coachella Valley
While it is not uncommon to spot someone snipping a bunch of pampas grass or clipping branches from acacia trees that grow along rural roadsides in the Central Coast, cutting down natural scenery and removing plants at state parks is strictly prohibited and is protected by federal, state, and park laws.
As some sightseers lament the temporary loss of the Calla Lilly Valley—the plants do not appear to be ripped out so they should regrow—others thanked the self-appointed landscapers for removing the invasive plant species, which is native to South Africa, but now grows wild along the coast of California and in the San Francisco Bay are.
As for now, the mystery of the missing Big Sur calla lilies continues.
A chief ranger for the California State Parks told NBC Bay Area he did not know why someone removed the plants, but warned it is illegal to damage them and reminded visitors to stay on the trails while visiting the park.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Viral Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur trampled, people wonder why
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But visitors and road-trippers along Highway 1 have been met with a jarring sight at one of the area's viral spots in recent days.
The famed Calla Lily Valley, where elegant white blooms typically carpet a strip of land leading from the Highway to Garrapata State Park each spring, has been devastated.
Sometime between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon last week, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, the flowers appear to have been cut down, and the surrounding greenery trampled, leaving a stark, unsettling scene.
Reports of the damage started circulating on social media last week. Since then, some have mused whether the alleged vandalism was a protest against the rise in visitors to Big Sur or the banality of social media-driven tourism.
The incident also comes after publicized acts of vandalism at state and national parks, including incidents at California’s Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Joshua Tree National Park, and Yosemite National Park.
Social media sleuths, on the other hand, have offered less existential reasons for the plants' sudden removal.
While some on social media blamed wild animals, many suspected that the ornamental plant, popular for weddings, funerals, and other gatherings, may have been deliberately cut by humans.
One Facebook poster said they suspect "Bridezilla," while others suggested checking the local flea markets and flower nurseries for the missing blooms.
Related: See early wildflower blooms in the Coachella Valley
While it is not uncommon to spot someone snipping a bunch of pampas grass or clipping branches from acacia trees that grow along rural roadsides in the Central Coast, cutting down natural scenery and removing plants at state parks is strictly prohibited and is protected by federal, state, and park laws.
As some sightseers lament the temporary loss of the Calla Lilly Valley—the plants do not appear to be ripped out so they should regrow—others thanked the self-appointed landscapers for removing the invasive plant species, which is native to South Africa, but now grows wild along the coast of California and in the San Francisco Bay are.
As for now, the mystery of the missing Big Sur calla lilies continues.
A chief ranger for the California State Parks told NBC Bay Area he did not know why someone removed the plants, but warned it is illegal to damage them and reminded visitors to stay on the trails while visiting the park.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Viral Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur trampled, people wonder why
Here's how to watch Team USA play Brazil during the first round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
It’s been a month since the trade deadline, so let's check in on how some of the bigger names are performing on their new teams.
The U.S. will compete against Italy in sled hockey at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan Cortina this Saturday — here's how to tune in.
Knocking on the door of WrestleMania 42, Drew McIntyre defends his Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes this Friday on "SmackDown."
The U.S. will compete against South Korea in wheelchair curling at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan Cortina this Saturday — here's how to tune in.
More than 32,000 5-star reviewers say they're waking up with clearer skin and a lot less frizz.
Our style pro reveals all of her evening essentials, including her favorite robes and her go-to, under-the-radar skin care brand.
As we do with all the big cards, we asked the burning questions heading into the weekend — here is the UFC 326 roundtable!
We love a good package deal, and these manly markdowns — starting at $9 for two — certainly deliver.
Chicago will receive a 2026 second-round draft pick, while Buffalo will also acquire a 2026 fifth-rounder.
AI Description
The article discusses the destruction of Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur, a popular natural landmark. The devastation of the area's flowers and greenery has sparked a mystery regarding the cause.