Selfish Selfies

Native to Western Australia, the beautiful paper daisies are rarely seen outside the state but this year the Australian Botanic Garden has a sprawling display of white, pink and yellow paper daisies that will draw thousands of people to the gardens for spring.

But the incredible paper daisy display at Mount Annan has been trampled by visitors taking “selfish selfies”. The gardens had became an internet sensation with the start of spring and the proud as punch horticulturists posting the perfect fields of daisies on social media. But visitors in their thousands have flocked to the gardens and decided that their own social media accounts/feeds were more important than the display and have trampled plants everywhere.

Heading out to the Botanical Gardens, I wasn’t entirely sure what I would see and or find to be honest. The reports had been in the media for about a week that the plants were being trampled by social media enthusiasts and influencers. But after arriving I quickly found out that people just don’t care!

Let me just say… Signs are posted throughout “please don’t stand on us” and there is signage marked on the concrete “sit here to give you the perfect photo”, but people disregard these signs and trample the display anyway. I fail to see how people couldn’t see the signs as they are every few metres and sections that have been trampled have signage saying “We are glad you love our plants, but please leave them for others to enjoy”.

I always find it difficult to work out what I am trying to achieve in this documentary, and the need to often hold my tongue. But it is becoming harder and harder to do so, and the anger and disappointment is often so very hard to dismiss. I watch, observe and photograph because that is part of the process, but I do struggle with it.

Over the time I observe the flock of sheep mentality, one goes in… they all go in. I capture their photos and I found myself shaking my head and then after a while saying “can’t you read?” pointing at the signs. Sometimes that was enough for them to step back out and continue on but for many it’s ignoring me and the signs and continuing to photograph/video each other.

In the time I was there I watched a variety of groups come in and photograph the daisies and climb in and out of the display. I was surprised in many ways the gardens did not have a ranger present to watch over the display on this beautiful spring Saturday afternoon. But should they have to? and why don’t more people speak up?

Whilst the selfish selfie takers will claim ignorance to ignore the signs and destroy the display… the question becomes… Is it ok for the general public to claim ingnorance by not having the courage to condemn the behaviour?