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The Plant Exchange

Gardening Broken back story

15 years ago

Someone was concerned abuout me being new on the trades, here's my story,

Watch out for your plant stakes!!!

I use to have a dahlia farm and use to trade heavily on Garden Web back then, 8 years ago we were working out in one of the fields in October and I( squatted on a plant stake directly on my tail bone and broke it in 5 places and raked my back bone to the left severly all the way to my head, I was history, all most died, was in a 1/2 coma for years, It was really bad, the worst it could have been, My organs were all shutting down to kill me to get me off this planet.

I had to relearn how to walk again 3 times. Severe severe pain for a good 6 years

It's like a black cloud over your life, your thoughts.

My memory was lacking as I was coming out of the worst of it, I have sat for hours and reread every garden book and notes I ever took.

I still have this wierd phobia with the dahlias, can't look at any of it yet, soon though!

I did no surgery, all alternative medicine, cranial work, soft tissue work, and a singing instructor that works on spinal injured people by singing scales,

And I'm going back to 100% normal health slowly!!!

this is the first year I can really garden- 8 years later!

I completely forgot about the plant trade till a few days ago!!!!

I just got back on the plant trade here,

I have lots of Daylilis as well, which took a beating after 8 years of neglect, so next year I will be able to trade them.

I completely understand your concern, I remember women every so often sending lousy packages of nothingness, like wilted cuttings.

I will definately be generous, everything is rooted and will get dug up that same day I ship, and I pack roots in wet towels and plastic bags,

except for the crocosmia. they are large bloomable bulbs.

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Comments (8)

sandy2_gw
15 years ago
Unbelievable! I recognize your name - probably traded with you since I haven't been on the gardenweb that much the past few years. Glad to hear you are doing better! Take care!

Sandy
gardendee
15 years ago
Welcome back, dahliaqueen!
I am a newbie here but I look forward to trading with you in the future and reading about your accumulated gardening wisdom.
I always loved gardening. My father gardened his heart out and I used to follow him around asking all kinds of questions. Even when I was a poor college student living in a high rise condo abroad, I managed to buy a few pots of plants and propagated a lot of them.
As they say,"You can take the gardener out of the garden but you can't take the garden out of the gardener."
Godspeed and take care.

Dee
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knotz
15 years ago
So happy your are pulling though!!...We never traded but I want to wish you all the luck in the world!!!!

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Pat
15 years ago
Welcome back, Colleen. I'm so sorry to hear what you went through and delighted to see you back. I did trade with you years ago and you were a very generous trader.

I will be happy to work out a trade with you for next year if you get in the mood again. I haven't traded for any new dahlias in a couple of years now and have often thought about that great trader with the dahlia business that I once got such nice tubers from.

Be well! - Pat
gardenpaw
15 years ago
Hi Colleen,
We have never traded but I just want to wish you well.
Bless your heart you have had a really hard time of it.
Im so glad to hear you are doing better, you will be in my
thoughts and prayers, and when you feel like trading again
I`d love to trade with you!
Karen
jaceysgranny
15 years ago
Congratulations on you rise back to the land of the living. That's a great feat on it's on. Welcome back to GW and hopefully we'll do some trading or have some fun together on the forums soon.

Nancy
pfllh
15 years ago
I remember your name but it was a looong time ago I believe we traded.
Are you going to do any of the crocosmia bulbs now?
I can't imagine what you've been through. I'm so sorry you had to endure all of that. Here's hoping you are well on your way back with no problems.
Take care
Lynn
paxfleur
15 years ago
Hi Colleen -- Welcome back to everything -- life, gardening, family, love, and hope =) You are living proof that with preserverance and will, anything is possible. I would be more than happy to trade with you whenever you're ready. Take care and keep hope that there is always a better tomorrow.

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