I have a neighbour who is extremely passionate about gardening. She and her husband devote hours and hours to time working in the dirt. There is a small man-made stream that winds its way through their yard, ending at a large koi pond. There is a bridge. A path. A multitude of little gnomes and bunnies and other whimsical creatures peeking out behind green leaves and large blossoms.
The girls and I often walk past her house, just to admire the flowers and the beauty that she’s created. I am envious of her yard, though I know the amount of work behind it. And during these little walk-by visits, we’ve struck up a neighbourly friendship. I admired her flowers; she laughed and acted like it was nothing. And then she mentioned how she was overflowing with plants. She was throwing them into the compost heap.
What!?!? There are many little bare patches in my garden that would be happy to host these plants!
And some of these plants arrived today. She unloaded pots and buckets from her car and plopped them in front of me, while I stood there, amazed.
What was even more incredible is that she had taken the time to write out little notes to correspond with each plant.
“This is from the cornflower family. It grows to 2 1/2 feet. Yellow with a brown center.”
“These are a bluebell type of bulb that will get into a big bunch. Plant them all in one hole about five inches deep.”
(You’ll notice that she clipped one of her blooming bluebells so that I could see what the plant would look like.)
But what probably touched me the most was the note that she had scribbled out as she was organizing these plants for me. She knew that I’m not very confident when it comes to gardening. Many times, I had laughed over my black thumb with her while the girls danced in her driveway and tried to pet her uninterested cat, Sophie. And so maybe that’s why she thought to write this:
“Gardening isn’t brain surgery.
Plant it, water it.
If it doesn’t like where you put it, after a good trial period, move it.
If you don’t like it, give it to someone else.
Always have bone meal and Miracle Grow fertilizer.”
Thank you, Edie. I appreciate it all.
12 comments
Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz
I appreciate that. Plants come to me to DIE. I am the worst gardener ever. But I always keep trying. One time I’ll make it through a season without killing something 🙂
Tara
I remember your post about backyard gardening… I too, am very much stumbly-and-bumbly when it comes to gardening… but I’m trying! And hey, you’re practically a farmer now! You win the backayard wars by million. It’s a Coop coup! (I’m hilarious … 🙂 )
Mel
How sweet and I love her helpful note lol
Tara
Isn’t she such a sweetheart? It’s so great to find a gem in your neighbourhood.
Amy of while wearing heels
What a lovely neighborhood you live in. I am not sure why, but this post brought a little tear to my eye. I can only imagine that Edie appreciates seeing a young mother and her beautiful girls admiring her flowers. She probably smiles to think of your girls playing in her driveway with her cat. Time goes by so fast, doesn’t it? She was probably the young mom walking through her neighborhood with her kids once upon a time and now, she pays it forward, sharing some of her garden with you. I hope you have a wonderful mother’s day!
Tara
Oh Amy, you are such a sweetheart. I love that you got a little tear in your eye during my post. She’s really a darling lady, and I think that she enjoys talking about gardening things with someone who is so obviously in awe of her gardening talent.
Happy Mother’s Day, lady! 🙂
Bethany
That is so wonderful, such a cute post! I love plants and flowers, but have no knack for keeping them alive, or how to arrange them. How awesome to have a neighbor that is willing to share her talents with you!
Tara
It is pretty fantastic to have a neighbour willing to hand-deliver plants and advice right to the door. I was happily surprised! 🙂
Dani @ lifeovereasy
What a lovely gesture! Usually gardeners have lots to share, because when perennials find a good spot they really take off. But it’s really special that she took the time to write the helpful and encouraging notes. I’m sure those plans will do great with you. Good luck!
Tara
I was really taken aback by her generousity. I know that she’s a part of a gardening circle, and perhaps she’s accustomed to just digging something up and sharing it with a friend, but I come from the land of nurseries and Home Depot. I buy my plants, and then pray that the investment was worth it.
I’m so happy to have found a gardening friend in my neighbourhood. It was unexpected… and I feel very lucky!
Krista @thehappyhousie
Love it!! Great note! Those coneflowers are my absolute favourite…. they would look wonderful planted next to some ornamental grasses or even lavender… she is right – gardening is pretty easy and fun. I was obsessed (who me, obsess much) with learning about perennials when we started our first flower garden 12 years ago and am amazed every spring with the information I learned back then comes back to me… I bet you will do a fabulous job with these little plants. Now veggies, that is something I haven’t mastered yet.
Krista
Tara
Krista – are you psychic? I actually planted them next to a lavender plant. Granted, I know nothing about growing lavender or really any plant, so I’m hoping that they both just flourish on their own! 😉
Veggies are something that I’ve had medium-success with. I’m hoping that this year I get a small harvest – it would do my gardening pride a lot of good! 🙂