By Mike Finney

DOVER — Each spring, Dover is awakened by the colorful sights and aromatic smells of flowers — particularly the stunning beds of tulips — diligently planted by the Department of Public Works’ Ground Maintenance Division from October through January.

Just as the weather warms every year, Dover gets taken over by the beauty of more than 30,000 tulips blooming in flower beds throughout the city.

That’s why it’s so frustrating for Kay Sass, Dover’s public affairs and emergency management coordinator, to discover that there are some individuals who have been digging up and removing tulip buds from planters on Loockerman Street and elsewhere throughout the city.

“It’s just frustrating the amount of time, effort and money that goes into this for everyone to enjoy,” Ms. Sass said. “It’s just ridiculous that we have to worry about people digging them up, while they’re still in bloom. We do give away a lot of the (tulip) bulbs at the end of the year, … at the end of the season.

“But we also have staff that evaluate, ‘Are these bulbs able to get another year’s worth of use out of them?’ And, if they are, we’ll try to salvage some of the bulbs and reuse them as a way to cut costs but still to be able to provide beautiful beds for everyone.”

She added, “It’s just very frustrating that people are just going through and helping themselves, when our intention is to share anyway. Be patient. Let’s let them bloom and let everybody enjoy them.”

Many of the tulips travel quite far to get to Dover — all the way from Holland, the tulip capital of the world.

Several residents commented on the city’s Facebook page, wondering how people could be so inconsiderate and dig up plants that have been sown for everyone to see and enjoy.

“So disappointing to know this is occurring,” Ann Skeans wrote. “Shame on the guilty party. Many thanks to City for funding and workers’ efforts to make The City of Dover beautiful.”

Sandhya Higgins wrote, “So are these greedy folks going to be arrested for vandalism or stealing? This is unacceptable behavior. What is wrong with people?”

Along with the thousands of tulips — in shades of red, pink, purple and yellow — the city hangs planters all around Loockerman Street and fills garden beds with petunias, marigolds, geraniums and other flowers.

Ms. Sass isn’t exactly sure when the tulip tradition began in Dover. She just knows it’s been more than 20 years since she moved to the city and that she always remembers and looks forward to them blooming.

“The tulips are always something everybody looks forward to,” she said. “You know, this is a little sense of normalcy when people see our flowers, and everybody tends to come out, take pictures and enjoy them.

“It’s just a highlight of Dover, and it’s just very frustrating when people dig them up. Please, just let everybody enjoy them. That’s all we ask.”