We have a very secure back yard with 6' to 6'-6" high cinderblock wall all around, which is covered with a creeping fig that makes the wall even higher. No one can see in our back yard, and the plant in question especially is not in anyone's view. Also, there are no deer in this neighborhood (Westchester) as it is very urban. We have an occasional raccoon or possum, but I don't see how they could have gotten to the plant, since there are no supportive branches near it for them to enable them to reach it.

I have to think it could only have been done by birds, but why would they want to steel flower stalks? I don't think a hummingbird would be able to carry off one of these spikes, as they would have been too heavy. And why would it take all three spikes?

Perhaps some animal could have suspended itself from the branch in the apple tree and ate all three of the spikes. What animal could do that - or want to? I did not think that bromeliad/tillandsia flowers were tasty. This has not happened to any other of my tillandsias, and I have a lot.

Despite our wall and urban environment, we did find what looked like coyote scat in our yard a few weeks ago - long before this happened. I was unaware that coyotes could jump over 6' walls, but there have been coyote sightings in this neighborhood, according to Nextdoor.com.

The only one I can think of right now might be crows or ravens. They sometimes are fascinated by bright objects, and would have the ability to take the flowers and carry them off. I'm not aware of flowers being their typical interest, but they sure are bright and stand out in your photo. And corvids are among the most intelligent and creative birds.

Snails or slugs. They love Aloe bloomstalks I know that. Maybe earwigs..They use those little wings to get to my suspended Hummer feeder.

Given the time frame, I suspect a 2-legged varmint. Over the years I have been amazed at what florists will pay for certain blooms for an arrangement. Now with the advent of drones, nothing outdoor is private; and a leap over a 6-foot wall is nothing if the end results in money in their pocket.

Ditto the comment on a 2-legged critter. Definitely fits with the "surgical precision."

If by 2-legged varmint you mean a human, then that is pretty much out of the question. As I said before, no one outside could know that these flowers were there, and if a human wanted to steal flowers, they would have taken these (also blooming at the same time),

It is not snails or slugs, as they would have to do a lot of climbing, and they do not like aluminum wires.

I think crows might be the culprit. I want to figure it out so that I can know how to protect other plants.

Hi Lars. Fellow Westchester-ian here. Any chance it was your spouse, and upon hearing your reaction, is playing dumb? If not, it sounds like a good application for a webcam. I would love to know what/who did it. Something also ate the first couple flowers from my Apricot Mallow a couple weeks ago. Much smaller flowers though.

I don't have a spouse - I live with my brother, and I'm sure he did nothing to the plant.

Here's another one that has not been attacked, but it is mounted on wood instead of hanging from a wire:

Squirrel? They do things just to make humans mad.