Yesterday, just as I was getting fed up with weeding, we had a visit from an old friend. So, down with the tools, off with the gloves and a stroll round the garden. It is very nice to look at the place through the eyes of someone else, especially a REAL plant and garden expert. What was even nicer, from my point of view at least, was that he came to ask if we had any tall perennial decorative grasses. I was able (with difficulty) to dig him up a dozen different ones. Does it give anyone else as much pleasure to be able to share one's garden bounty with others?
Oh yes Eric!! There's nothing better than taking someone around your garden and picking out plants for them or bringing on seedlings to share. It costs nothing and yet it gives both parties so much pleasure. :-D
Just be careful what you share. I have warned people about Crocosmia "Montebretia" but they want it anyway. Also I will not share a certain variety of Campanula as it is also invasive. But I still feel guilty whenever I throw out a plant. Other than that it it wonderful to share the garden! We call my mother's garden the "Purloined Garden" as she just helps herself. But she does share in her own way. When she goes walking she shakes seed pods all over the neighborhood! muddy
Haha - love the idea of spreading the pods along the way as she walks. Maybe I should do that with some of the bazillion bluebell seeds I have. I love sharing, but I know what you mean about not wanting to end up giving someone something that will take over.
There is a plant in Britain, nicknamed Miss Wilmott's Ghost. She used to sprinkle the seeds in all the gardens she visited. It sprang up after she had gone, hence the name. It is actually a biennial thistle, Eryngium giganteum. Personally I reckon there are a lot of plants which other people want, but which would drive me nuts to find someone had sowed the seeds of, in my garden. Which brings me to another point, rather neatly I thought. How does one turn down, without hurting the donor's feelings, a plant you do not want at any cost? It may be their pride and joy, but your pet hate. I can give an example. Comfrey, Symphytum species. This is a plant we have been trying to weed out for 12 years without much success, yet the number of people who want to give us a pice is legion. Well two or three anyway.
We have Johnny Appleseed here in the States...he spread apple seeds where ever he wandered. The first of our environmentalists perhaps? I also heard tale of a lady up in New England who did the same with Lupine seeds. Hopefully they just did this along the countryside and not in peoples' gardens!
Eric I sometimes have the same problem with friends. I simply tell them that I already have the plant in my garden and that, although I love it, I have to keep giving some of it away to others too. I then go on to enthuse about said plant for a couple of minutes before changing the subject. Very difficult at times I must admit.
