Cornell Plantations is offering a $200 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual, or individuals, responsible for the theft of two container plantings from Cornell Plantations' patio on the evenings of July 16 and July 18. The theft was reported by Cornell Plantations staff.

The container plantings in large, terra cotta pots are an integral part of Plantations' collections and are valuable natural resources both to the Cornell and Ithaca communities. One pot contained a plant called Moses in the Cradle (Phoeas spp.). The other contained various cactus and succulents, some of which had been raised from seed and nurtured at Plantations for the past four years as they matured.

Plantations director Don Rakow commented: "These container plantings were carefully designed as part of an overall collection, which has been marred by the removal of these individual containers. We are deeply disturbed by these acts."

Anyone with information relating to this incident is urged to contact Cornell Police at (607) 255-1111.