Kicked to the Curb

July 22, 2017

Kathy invited all of her friends to help dig and divide her day lilies. Invite them, and they will come. In spite of the heat and humidity, our reward was free day lilies.
Avid gardeners cannot bear the thought of tossing viable plants. I currently have baby Redbud trees popping up all around the garden. I don't have the heart to toss them. I gave thought to asking my local forestry office if they would accept donations. The parent plant, gifted to me by a local Master Gardener's husband, thrives in my garden, offering up a purple haze every spring.
Another outlet for sharing plants is the Market Bulletin (http://agr.georgia.gov/market-bulletin.aspx). It has been years since I subscribed. Back in the day, the publication was free, and anyone could post a free ad. Many were advertising plants, some of which were not found in garden centers, like pass-a-long plants. They now charge $10 to subscribe--hard copy or online. Ads still include flowers and ornamentals (seeking or for sale), with the caveat that advertisers must have a permit to sell officially protected plants plants. Guidelines are posted online.
The day I saw two half-dead yuccas uprooted in the ditch, I had no choice but to rescue them. Clearly, the perp who kicked them to the curb is not a gardener. I brought them home to recover. My reward: free plant brightens my front entrance.
Lesson learned: when something (or someone) is discarded, it can revive and thrive given the right conditions.
Pictured: Adam's Needle (Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard')
~LowTide Explorer, Carolyn Fjeran

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