Gaming Viva Pinata Help

[Mr. Waffle]

Anyone knows where the pirate sword thingy is for or is it just decoration?
I now have it for a long time in my garden but still don't know where it's for.
Anyone knows it?

 

[it s'a me M]

the ruffians won't come in your garden until you have the captain sword in your garden (the one brought from ivor barigan). i have a question: i can get petals by making pinatas visiting my garden, appearing and staying in my garden, right? well, are there other ways to get petals? thanks!

 

[artissia]

petals - they indicate how much exp you have obtained. you can also get them by breeding pinatas

 

[Mr. Waffle]

And by growing NEW plants, so from seeds you got new.
So.. if I have the pirate sword in my garden, no ruffians will appear?
Or the other way round?