THANKS TO KRISSY - Good Morning, Krissy!!

Krissy was the first gardener I invited to my gardens -
She (as bella) had posted a wanted posting for perennials. I had been watching the freecycle postings and thinking about trying one. I got some puzzles for my daughter - worked easily enough. Then I saw a posting of an offer for perennials where you could come and dig them up, just fill in the holes and don't disturb the other plants. Yea, like that was going to happen in my gardens!! NOT!!! I don't even let my husband put 1 foot in my gardens!! He is quite large and trampled many a plant in his former days!! He learned early on that to just stay out was the best thing he could do for himself - or else face my wrath over the destruction of yet, another valued, cherished plant!!
So I thought about it and emailed bella. It was Krissy - And she made arrangements to come over and showed up with her dad, Mike. We had a wonderful walk through the garden, picking up lots of plants for her to take home along the way. I dug, and she helped get them into containers - we had containers all over the yard. So many, that several got left behind initially. As I got to know her, I felt greatly at ease with her in my garden. I was enjoying naming plants and answering her gardening questions. In the past I had only had family and friends here getting plants, with me doing all the digging - If you've been here, and understand the mind of a serious gardener, you know what I'm talking about. Krissy and Mike were here for a good two hours or more - there is a lot to see here. Krissy is a college student developing and adding to gardens at her folks home in Bellingham - I hope to get over to see her gardens soon. I had lived in Bellingham in the early 70's so that gave us an immediate connection. Krissy is studying to be a Social Worker - our next connection - I was a foster parent - she wants to work with veterans - my son is a Gulf War purple heart Vet. And the connections go on and on!!

So after that visit, which was my way of testing the waters, i decided to dive in and put out an offer post for perennials - at that time I was only involved with the Franklin Freecycle group. I had 12 immediate response ------ and as they say - the rest is history - I've already posted 10 plant/seed offers, have expanded to Plainville and Attleboro, and had over 1oo gardeners respond! We had our 100th gardener visit the gardens yesterday. (See separate post on this)

So if I had a gardener in here who walked through my gardens, or tried to dig up something, or just, let's face it, not Krissy, I might not be doing what this has all become today!! (I have had such an interesting array of gardeners here - I just love the ones who tell me which plants they want, by pointing at my greatest achievements!!)

KRISSY -You are an awesome, caring, considerate, respectful, thoughtful, loving, and just plan good person, who just so happens to share my passion for gardening, and seeking out the next new, unusual plant. You are a lovely young woman, and I am so proud to be able to call you my friend. I can't imagine what's it's like to be your age and have access to all that is available through the internet to expand your gardening horizons. I just don't have the patience to go through all the searches!! I have my gardening reference books, about 20 of them that I turn to - Call me old fashioned, that who I am!! But now I have Krissy - she is keeping me up on all the latest in the gardening world!!

So Krissy - thank you for offering your help, and for putting together this wonderful event. Now I call on all of you who expressed interest in helping, but were tied up on the long holiday weekend to think about getting involved in this cooperative effort and lending a hand to keep the gardens flourishing!!. (watch for future posts on cooperative gardening, and on the VIP club and preferrred gardeners)