Stranded Plants in New York City Alley

A curious incident unfolded in an Upper West Side alley this week. After an affair was revealed, a man found himself and a few plant cuttings unceremoniously left behind. His partner’s disclosure resulted in a rather biting note left on the ground, which soon caught the attention of online viewers.

Left on West 83rd Street off Broadway, the plants—particularly a monstera, it seems—came with a handwritten message that aired some dirty laundry. The note read, “Please take these cuttings with you. These are the last plants my cheating husband was growing. The apartment is mine now, but these are not.” That final remark was heavily underlined, clearly indicating some strong feelings.

Now, I mean, throwing away a plant seems a bit harsh, right? Who would do that to living things? Though, I guess, a little green would be less significant than trust in a relationship.

Photos and details of the well-tended plants quickly gained over 37,000 views online. Neighbors, showing sympathy, grabbed the abandoned vegetables, but one has to wonder—were the plants themselves left to fend for themselves?

The alleged wrongdoer promised to share his perspective with the media but backed out, likely feeling a bit cautious about potential legal issues. Word has it, he and his partner are considering a divorce.

His former buddy couldn’t be reached for thoughts on the matter, but the neighborhood appeared to rally around the plight of the forsaken plants. Online reactions were filled with empathy, with one comment noting, “It’s always the plants that suffer,” while another expressed a fondness for heirloom varieties.

Someone even speculated that perhaps something of his was trapped within the leaves, remarking, “There’s no way I would bring such a cursed object into my harmonious home.”

From a glance, the plants look much like monstera and elephant ear varieties, both of which can be rather pricey even when just propagated. They belong to the Araceae family and are noted for being toxic to pets if ingested—which is something to keep in mind.

The scorned partner reportedly was scratching at a pot as the plants were tossed outside in a plastic bag. All this drama over—what? A few plants? It’s a strange world we live in.