Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Giving and Getting


I've been finding Craigslist a helpful resource for trading plants. Last week I gifted overgrown monarda to three happy gardeners. My neighbors are not gardeners and I welcomed the camaraderie. A woman (in very cute green shorts) generously brought me heliopsis. One man has promised me hostas and grasses in the fall. Another man traipsed all the way across town and lingered, surveying the entire yard. I believe we could've chatted all afternoon, covering each plant.

Today I became the giftee (?) and eagerly accepted yarrow, allium and surprise lilies from a stranger in south Indy (does a gardener ever refuse free plants?). But gardeners tend not to be strangers long and it was fun to poke around in someone else's hard work. All I've met are planning to keep in touch and continue trading when our gardens get out of hand. 

So Matt and I enjoyed our afternoon, digging in "new" plants. When we were finished Matt was so muddy he looked like a chocolate bunny. After baths, we rewarded ourselves with cookies.

3 comments:

amy wolgemuth bordoni said...

sure wish I lived close enough to share in the garden share...

camillaknits said...

I'm sure I'd have nothing to contribute but itchy plants, though we're taking the 'green' approach to the yard this year (the mowers are both broken in some form or other) and I've decided to call it a hayfield, rather than a lawn this year... we could probably use a goat or four.
The belts you're turning out are lovely... please bring one with you on your next trip to Franklin. I have to fondle one!

Stacy said...

I LOVE craigslist! Ever since I figured out they have a rss feed and could subscribe in my feed reader - I am addicted. I have gotten a free plant too (and free manure for my garden and a great deal on a compost bin) so far - not quite to the point where I can trade something in return sadly - nothing in my yard is quite getting carried away that they need split - just started planting everything a year ago when we moved in. But once something does get out of hand I will definitely share it on craigslist in hopes for a tradeout! :)