I really did wonder about the phrasing of the post, lol!

I do give if I think the person will appreciate it. I have given plants to a neighbor that has only left my plants to die away in the sun and never planted even them.

The neighbors across the street seemed to enjoy the plants I gave them, but it kind of killed me to see them go most of summer without watering them. Don't know if anything survived. Humm...maybe it is better not to give away plants to neighbors- so you won't have to watch them die, lol.

Couple years back a young woman and her father came by to buy the extra patio blocks. Her husband was in Iraq and they were going to surprise him with the patio for get-togethers and such. She complimented the garden and said how much she liked flowers. Naturally any room left in the back of the truck was filled with plants ;-)
CMK

I share lots of plants and seeds with neighbors, friends, GWers, etc. Last year, I was informed by the town that they were going to install a sidewalk along my section of road. I had a long border of mature perennials and grasses growing exactly where the sidewalk was going. Three local GWer's came with their DH's, and dug up carloads of plants. Sometimes during the winter I do a seed offer on the Seed Exchange forum and have shared seeds with dozens of GWers for the cost of postage. People send a bubble envelop, baggies for seeds, and some stamps. I fill the baggies and send them back - a great way to share excess seeds (having WAY more than I could ever sow myself).

This past summer, I was eager to rear Monarch butterflies but had not seen any Monarchs or their eggs in the gardens yet. A local GWer from the Butterfly forum offered to share some of her Monarch eggs (she lives near the coast and sees Monarchs way before I do). She had her DH drive some eggs over; to show my appreciation I sent him home with a box of plants.

Truth be told, I am somewhat compulsive about growing plants, especially starting plants from seed. Lots of it, I have no idea where to plant, especially trees, shrubs, and vines. It's a relief to get rid of some of them.

Ken, nice attention grabber.

Christine, I'm with you - I've given plants to neighbors who don't seem very appreciative, some who let them sit and die, and others who really appreciate it. I love sharing plants, and I wish I had someone closeby to actually swap with. My nearest swap partner is my MIL in northern WI, but then we're zone crossing, but she's had great luck with all the plants I've sent up there, so that makes me happy. At the same time, she's given me hostas that grow to maybe medium size in her yard, but in mine they get huge. LOL.

I'm impulsive in my purchases(I'm getting better at restraining myself), but also part of my plant giveaway was as a newbie I'd try anything and get rid of what I didn't like.

Either way, I don't have the heart to throw plants away. If nothing else, I post them for free on Craigslist and put them curbside for pick up. I've given away three barberry shrubs to someone who came back another time, and he told me the barberries grew in nice and full in his full sun yard. I also gave away holly shrubs that didn't do well for me. Whatever I put on Craigslist is gone in no time.

I'm happy to share my pants...err, I mean plants, Ken.

What does hoik mean?

Nope, I rarely give anything away any longer. As stated above, too tired of seeing them neglected by the taker. Now I sell everything on Craig's List. Brought in a couple of thousand last summer alone. The cash is nice - very nice.

Kevin

I have given away trunkfuls and truckloads of plants. I have become more selective however as to whom they go to. I to have given plants to people who never plant them or water them. Those people are no longer gifted plants. If time has proven the peeps will care for and appreciate them they get more.. when I have plants in need of homes. I also donate to my Garden Club and Master Gardener plant sale every spring..usually a couple hundred plants.

What I don't do is give plants to people who tour my gardens and say "I want some of that when you divide it" It's just not going to happen when it's put that way.

I don't really care if the people I give plants to kill them, it's not that big a deal with seedlings that cost next to nothing and perennials that spread rapidly. I kill some of them myself, i.e. shovel prune or compost! Plus I've got way more seedlings than I know what to do with, between winter-sowing and all the plants that sow themselves in the gardens and paths. And there are always perennials that need to be thinned or divided. These are just byproducts are having more mature gardens.

Kevin, I also sold a few perennials and grasses on Craigslist. There were at least 25-30 mature daylilies in the border where the sidewalk was going to be installed, and it was easy to make a couple hundred dollars on just those. But I still gave away a lot of plants and am thinking about donating some to a charity plant sale. It's nice to do both.

I love sharing plants with people! Unfortunately for me, I don't know very many gardenweb members who live near me, so I've never had the chance to do this except with neighbors and family members when they visit.

I love to share my plants. I've learned to "let go" and not be concerned if the receiver takes care of the plants. It helps that lately I can't remember who I gave what to when.

Sometimes people share how nicely the plants are growing in their gardens. Last summer someone gave me a photo of iris in bloom and raved about their iris. I made the appropriate those are lovely response and I have some like those. We all laughed when they told me theirs were from me.

Other times people will say that they didn't get them planted or didn't keep them watered or whatever. I reply that I'm sorry but I don't worry about the plants when they leave my gardens. I must admit I don't always offer to replace those plants.

I also go to several swaps each year and sell a few at a garage sale.

When I give an invitation to tour my garden I include "and maybe you will find something to take home". There is a tradition and expectation of trades/gifts when my friends and I tour each others' gardens.

'What I don't do is give plants to people who tour my gardens and say "I want some of that when you divide it" It's just not going to happen when it's put that way.'

hostaholic2, I apologize if I made that statement to you. Some of my friends and I trade plants so often that we may "owe" the other a trade and "I want some of that when you divide it" is just what we want to hear. It is certainly not the appropriate way to ask others for a trade.

I love sharing plants with people! Unfortunately for me, I don't know very many gardenweb members who live near me, so I've never had the chance to do this except with neighbors and family members when they visit.

===>>> and that is why you need to turn off the computer.. and join a GOOD local club ...

and spot on.. on those who beg or suggest .... its all about how well the tour goes.. and how happy you made me ... making me feel overly generous ... basically bribing you to come back .... lol ...

suggestions are welcome.. if you show up with something in advance.. that is setting the tone for a friendship .. versus a beg-a-thon ... it is disappointing when you show up with plants i already have ... but muffins are always welcome ... lol ....

its really a problem with hosta.. i grow it for ten years.. to get the 4 foot high 8 foot wide plant.. which will turn back into a babe if i dig on it... and total strangers want me to hack it up, because they ask nice .. whats that all about ... i refer them to the mail order house where i got it ...

ken

mnwsgal, I'm sure you didn't say it to me, and even if you did and were a friend who also offered plants back, I wouldn't mind. I'm referring to those people who NEVER offer a plant back or if they do at all it's snow on the mountain. I had one person tell me that I had a moral obligation to give my plants to people who wanted them because I have a lot of plants. I give hundreds of plants away every year and most of the time I'm more than happy to share but when people tell me things like that they are probably never going to get a plant from me. I find it extremely offensive.

terrene, if someone neglects a plant that I would have otherwise thrown on the compost pile it's one thing, but when I dig up and divide a plant that was not in need of division just to be nice and give them some and then they later tell me it didn't get planted I may get a little testy, especially when they suggest I should give them another one. And yes I've had these things happen. That's the time when I smile and say I don't plan to divide it for many years but it's available from xyz. I didn't mean to sound grinchy, but I do have my limits.

hostaholic, it is amazing the things people think and say and so nervy. I agree completely. I'm sure I've done my share of smiling while replying, "I'll keep that in mind." And then their request is immediately forgotten. One advantage of memory loss as I am getting older.