bumpety bump!

Many good points here. It really is about using caution and good judgement. Anyone who propagates a large variety of plants knows that it isn't harmful to take seed, and often it is really the only way to ensure that seed will germinate. Most people who have trade secrets and are engaged in breeding for commercial purposes, patents, etc. will take precautions and guard their materials. I am much more careful with genetic material that I feel is valuable for my hybridization programs than the "general" garden plants I grow. I would never plant special material in conspicuous places where passersby had easy access. There have been notable cases of people stealing pollen from private property of specialists, and that can be serious (See link below). Many of the plants sold by garden centers and nurseries etc. are propagated illegally. In many cases they even use the name of the protected cultivar when it is a seedling. They aren't physically going onto property, but it's the equivalent of making a copy of Photoshop and then selling it with the brand name attached. They could easily be sued, but most people don't bother. I would never take something from property where someone has erected a residence though. Besides ethical and legal concerns, there are too many shotgun-weilding crazies in good-ole TN. ;-) I even worry sometimes about going for a walk in the woods these days (especially with my daughter!). I do it anyway, but do you know that there are literally places in Davidson County where people still hunt or have target practice with guns? Scary. Digging something up (in some cases, even divisions) is a totally different story though. I draw the line there, and it is essential to go through proper channels for so many reasons. In some cases it is very simple. In Tennessee, permits for collecting on public lands (particularly some rare or threatened species) are fairly easy to obtain. There are simple restrictions and seasons. I believe that the fact they don't bother offering permits for collecting common species on public lands is that it simply isn't necessary, and in most cases they don't care. A simple and pseudo-legal solution would be to get a permit to collect ginseng from public lands and then collect other non-regulated things while there. National/state parks and other areas where it is expressly prohibited are exceptions. It is true, however, that those with a bit of an adventurous spirit and explorer's mindset will end up with lots of cool things in their gardens. And it doesn't stop with plants. You wouldn't have people like George Soros or Bill Gates if all people were averse to risks. Here is a link that might be useful: Invasion of the pollen snatchers

Thanks!

Forgot one important thing: If you decide to stay around the National Mall to visit or revisit museums, memorials, etc., check out the Washington Post's website to get some restaurant suggestions. The cafe at the National American Indian Museum is nice, I have heard, and Old Ebbitt Grill is a tourist draw, being across from the White House. But if you do a little research beforehand, you can find some other spots, even if they're a Metro ride away. Don't get sucked into going to the oh-so-ick Subway sandwich shops (I write that even as I must admit that I go there frequently, since it's across from my office building and open late). The Cosi sandwich shops are OK. Many of the museum cafes are nice, but they are expensive (they have a captive audience). But there's nothing worse than walking around the National Mall, then being really hungry and all you see are hot dog carts.