greene said:This conversation is going downhill. If the OP wants to steal cuttings and has no qualms, even though it is illegal, let's not keep up this chit-chat.
No means no. We learn that while we are at our mother's knee.
Public parks allow public access but they do not belong to the public.
Our local botanical gardens (2) have plant sales regularly so people can purchase plants rather than steal them. It is the right thing to do. It is the honest thing to do.
I will leave y'all to finish this discussion. 
Well, it's certainly gone downhill now that you've descended into ad hominem, hasn't it? It was actually a very interesting and friendly discussion until this post. I've stolen nothing, nor have I advocated stealing. Nor am I the topic of this discussion. Nor should this be an emotional issue for you. It's a friendly conversation.
I won't respond to your insults in kind, but I will say that you lack an understanding of how the government is supposed to function in this society if you think that public parks belong to anyone other than the community.
Another poster asked a very good question. Would it be stealing to take a seed from a public park? According to your dogmatic view of the world unsupported by fact or argument, it would have to be. That alone should give you great pause and induce you to actually think through your viewpoint. If you stick to your guns and assert that picking up a seed off the ground is theft, you will at least have consistently to lean on, however ludicrous the contention. What if the willow tree next to the pond in my town dropped a branch? Would it be stealing to pick it up and stick in the ground? Rather than attacking me personally, have a consistent and logical argument. Challenge your own narrow assumptions.
Planting more trees, shrubs, and other plants is actually a very positive activity that contributes to the beautification of your area and helps the environment. Now, I'm not going to repeat the nuance and distinctions I've already made between private and public property, responsible and irresponsible usage of said public property, etc--which you completely ignored in your rush to brand me a thief--but in those distinctions lies the answer to your misconceptions.
Lastly, I just want to say that although I disagree with you on one very small and largely insignificant issue, I love you and wish you happy gardening and a Merry Christmas. I don't question your character or intentions, which I believe to be good.
