At 6 a.m. Thursday April 29, I called 911 to report vandalism at Focal Point Gardens on Route 111 in Arundel. Every tire on every vehicle had been slashed. I didn’t know it then but radiators had been punctured and coolant systems destroyed. And then we smelled diesel fuel.

All the trees and large shrubs had been doused with diesel fuel. Our sunny and warm spring turned upside down starting that morning.

Thanks to Arundel Auto, all my vehicles are repaired and back on the road. Thanks to Paul Cotton and Jane Hendrick, the garden center has been cleaned up and new materials are arriving daily. Thanks to my landscape crew Andy, David, Jackie and Delia, and my subs Kevin Allen of Ambidextrous, Inc. Landscaping and George Burr of Burr Excavating, spring clean-ups and new installations are proceeding. Thanks to Steve Bryant of Bryant Tree Services for cutting and chipping the affected trees and shrubs. Thanks to Bentley Warren of Bentley Warren Trucking and Bentley’s Saloon, the contaminated root balls have been trucked to a hazardous waste site. Thanks to Greg O’Brien of Department of Environmental Protection for helping deal with the contaminated mess so quickly.

I would not be operating without the support of these people.

I also need to thank all of my landscaping clients and garden center customers who have been understanding and unbelievably supportive. People who previously had no idea we even existed have been driving here to tell us the reason they are here is because they heard about the vandalism and wanted to help.

I appreciate every call, e-mail and visit. We never had to close our doors due to the extraordinary help. We will continue to grow thanks to the continued support of my existing customers, and every new customer. Thank you.

Rosemary N. Whitney

Focal Point Gardens