Yarn bombing is a form of art that uses yarn or other fibers to colorfully blanket trees and other outdoor objects.

“I was disappointed,” Hershberger said. “I know about life and death — and this isn’t life and death — but I was really sad. I know that individual people’s work has been taken and is missing, and it’s really sad.”

The incident was reported to MSU police between 7:30 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sgt. Dan Munford said. The damage was estimated at $100.

Hershberger said the vandalized portion was repaired with new segments of yarn by 2 p.m. Saturday.

Art Cameron, director of the MSU Horticulture Gardens, said although the weekend’s destruction was upsetting, he doesn’t believe vandalism is a problem on campus and hopes the garden can be remembered for more than this incident.

“I want to amuse people with the clever artists we have in this local area,” he said. “It’s pretty disturbing when you think about it, and I don’t know how else to explain it.”

Although vandals are a risk for every artist who exposes his or her work to the public, for communication senior Yuyang Tin, the destruction they believe they inflict can be the inspiration for future work.

“I think it can inspire me in some way,” she said. “The shape of something, or the broken pieces, shows me where things can be made new and replaced.”

Hershberger also shared this belief, but noted standing up to the vandals and having a positive attitude is equally as important.

“I wouldn’t do this if I wasn’t an optimist,” she said. “I know with other forms of graffiti, if you cover back up the work they’ve done, then they move on and find somewhere else (to do their thing) … The whole thing’s about relationships.”

MSU police currently have no suspects in the case.