BY SCOTT STIFFLER | Veteran block beautifiers Sidney and Sandy Gecker took swift action in response to the destruction of a sidewalk tree pit planting on West 21st Street — but they have no desire to become constant gardeners.
“Where have all the flowers gone?” asked the Pete Seeger song — and, more recently, a sign wrapped with string around the tree shading the Gecker’s brownstone. Their request for the return of sixteen flowers, planted in four garden boxes by the couple, ended with “Helpful information regarding this incident will be appreciated. If returned, there will be no questions asked.”
That polite sign failed to reform, or at least shame, the guilty party. Nearly a week after the appeal was posted, the Geckers — who had already visited the 10th Precinct to file a report — were contemplating whether their next move would be replacement or resignation.
“Maybe we should just put in pebbles or stones,” remarked Sidney, with Sandy adding, “It’s a dilemma. What do we do? We like to put flowers in there — but to have this happen, it just hurts.”
Theft or vandalism on the block — which is filled with the often costly beautification efforts of its residents — is not unheard of, according to Sandy, who estimates the pre-theft cost of their project at $100. “I hear from time to time that flowers have been taken out,” she says, “but never to this extent.”
Whether it was an act of mischief or malicious intent, the theft hit home in more ways than one. “We put that tree in,” noted Sandy. “It has far-reaching roots.” So too do the Geckers — who have lived on 21st Street since 1977, and were among the block association’s original founders.
A few days after Chelsea Now came knocking on their door, the Geckers decided to replant (even though the sign had also disappeared by that point). A visit to the nearby Home Depot yielded some good advice, more flowers and two new planting boxes now firmly anchored to the tree pit.
The next morning, those flowers were gone — this time, removed by Sandy because they reacted badly to a sticky material placed around the area to deter theft. Several days later, new flowers had been planted once again — putting, hope the Geckers, a final and lasting bloom on the matter.
