Dont you just love sharing the joys of gardening with others?

15 years ago

I have to admit that that I am not an optomistic person. I have little faith in and hope for humanity. I expect the worse so as to never be dissapointed. But something happend yesterday to give me hope and made me realize how wonderful gardening truly is.

As you may remember, I ripped out half of my patio last year to make it smaller. I had a lot of blocks left over because of this, and was going to sell them. Well this man came by and said that his daughter may like them, and that hed ask her. A few days later he and his daughter came by and she said she would like them. She was young, not much older than twenty. She said her husband was in Iraq, and that she was going to surprise him with the a patio. Her dad was helping her fix up their house, and she was going to start doing the yard. So I asked her if she was much interested in plants. She said she was; she loved watching plants come out of the ground in the spring and watching them grow, and that her mother had just given her a tomato plant.

So one thing led to another and I asked her if you would like any starts of plants. She said she didnt know much abouth growing things, but shed love to start a garden. I dug up a bunch of starts for her.

I gave her a hollyhock, rose campion, Maltese Cross, bellflower, perennial geranium, scented geranium, lupine, lily bulb, Agastaches, Joe Pye, Sipderwort, a daylily, and a few other things. Since she was new to gardening I didnt give her anything too difficult to grow or invasive. The only thing that might be slightly invasive was a Robustissima Anemone and mint (wich I directed her to put in a pot.

She was so grateful for everything I gave her. She said that she had the next few days free and was going to start planting them. I was very pleased. Ive given plants away to friends before, but they ended up not doing anything with them and just let the plants die.

Her dad, who was a veteran, actually gave us his address in case WE should need anything!

The lady said that shed be by the next day to pay me for the patio pavers. Honestly, I wasnt sure shed come back, but I said that would be fine. But she came back just a couple of hours later with the money. I only saw later that she slipped in an extra $10. I told her to come back another time and id giver her some more plants and a dogwood shrub. She said that she didnt know much about plants, and really wanted them to do well, so she asked for my phone number in case she had any questions. Wow! I didnt expect that she would care so much about keeping the plants alive. This made my day.

There was recently a post about people coming in and stealing things from yards/gardens. It seemed to just re-enforce my beliefs that humanity was, on the whole, evil. But occurences like this give me some hope for humankind.

Hope you all have a great day!

CMK

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Comments (14)

aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
15 years ago
Does your heart good to start someone off in the grand adventure of gardening doesn't it? It's what I call passing it forward. I think you made that young lady's day as well as lifted your spirits.
Annette
DYH
15 years ago
great in so many ways!

Cameron
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midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
15 years ago
Gardeners ARE the nicest people, even the newbies!!!;-))
natalie4b
15 years ago
I believe gardening brings out the best in people. It is magical to watch the plants come up after the long winter months - similar to a miracle of human birth.
I LOVE bringing bouquets of flowers to my local library, Martial Arts school where I train, neighbors, friends, our own dinner table. I love to share cuttings, seeds and divisions with friends...
I can go on and on. Better to stop myself now... and go to check on the roses :).
girlgroupgirl
15 years ago
You made a new garden friend!!
Isn't it wonderful? I have a garden friend who lives a few miles away but stops by every year to see if I have anything to swap. She would be what many of us consider "poor" - she's so dear and does not want hand outs. My husband finds her frequently in the garden, she looks so carefully as she never wants to offer anything I already have (because I'd still accept it in trade, how could you not!!).
This is a lovely person. I do not know her name. We do not need names - she's a GARDENER after all.

I'm so happy you found a new friend,

GGG
lvtgrdn
15 years ago
CMK,
It would be cool if that young lady would invite you to see her plants and patio when she gets it done. Let us know if she does. I give lots of starts of plants away, as well. It's fun to share. It keeps the plants healthy and not crowded, and sometimes makes more space to plant something new. :o)
Sue
lorna-organic
15 years ago
What a wonderful project for the young woman to keep herself occupied whilst her husband is in Iraq. I pray he comes back safe and sound, and finds his new patio and garden a peaceful haven. I've got tears in my eyes, CMK, it is an uplifting story.
Lorna
greylady_gardener
15 years ago
It is very easy to get caught up in the stories of all the awful things that shock/sadden/anger us or break our hearts, but we have to remember that we hear about these because they are news that sells papers and attract people to listen to news. The average person is someone just like us most of the time if we stop and get to know them a bit by just saying hello. I think we can get caught up in feeling the same way sometimes but we have to reach out and take a chance and do just that. Most people are good and are just feeling the same way as the stories that sensationalize the bad in the world scare us into believing that the world is generally bad, and it is sad to hear of all the things that go on........BUT I think that there are still lots (the majority) of good people in this world and we can't let the scary things ruin our life by isolating us from contact with them.
I am glad that you had such a great experience and made new friends...gardening friends especially!! :) I hope you find many more. :)
gg
gigisgarden
15 years ago
Thank you for sharing that story and thank you for sharing with this young wife...it truly brightened my day. It sounds like you both helped each other!

G
fammsimm
15 years ago
What a heart warming story. I think you've provided a scared and worried young wife with a very pleasant hobby. It will also be a wonderful Welcome Home surprise for the young soldier. I'm sure her father is equally grateful for your generosity.

Your kindness will be rewarded, I'm sure.

Marilyn
christinmk z5b eastern WA
Original Author
15 years ago
She actually said that her husband was going to be coming home sometime this fall, which is really great. Im not sure if ill ever see her again, but its nice knowing that a piece of my garden is living on through someone else and that they can be enjoying the same plants I am.
I think that the world would be a much better place if we all came together to share in our mutual intrests than warring over our diffrences.
CMK
natalie4b
15 years ago
Girlgroupgirl,
I also live in Atlanta, and would LOVE to share many of my plants with your friend. If she wants to offer something for a trade to make her feel better - that's fine. Otherwise - both of you are welcome to come over and take whatever you like. I live in Roswell.
~Natalie
lynnencfan
15 years ago
CMK - thank you so much for sharing such an uplifting story - this is one that doesn't need pictures - you painted it beautifully in words. I think most gardeners by the very nature are very caring people. We care for the plants and nurture them and it spills over into the human side. If you see her again tell her 'thank you' for her husbands service to our country from a grateful NC gardener.....

Lynne
angelcub
15 years ago
I'm glad you were able to find hope in your wonderful act of kindness to this young woman. : )

I'm with greylady - I think too much emphasis is placed on the negative in this world, especially via the news in all its media. I say turn the tube, radio, puter, whatever, off and get out in your communities and make a difference. Kind and caring people are everywhere, and there are many more that could be if they would just look beyond the negative spin of the daily/nightly news.

Diana, who's glass is always half full and no one better spill any! : )

Dont you just love sharing the joys of gardening with others?

Comments (14)

aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada

DYH

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Dont you just love sharing the joys of gardening with others?

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