Make a cup of tea and I’ll tell you about an interesting chat that I’ve had with several gardeners in the last while. As time goes by, we all might think about passing on certain keepsakes to family or friends. All of us want to give things to people who will enjoy them.
For many gardeners, certain plants are like prized possessions. And in conversations, sometimes gardeners will fret about who will take care of those extra-special plants? It’s a very real concern to devoted gardeners.
As with passing on china or crystal or anything else, including plants, the time to do it is earlier rather than later. Yes, we may love our plants and still hope for many gardening years ahead, but it is healthy for the plant and good for our peace of mind to divide them and share them now. We could wait ten years, but by then we and all our gardening friends will be ten years older, and they may not want to be the recipient of yet one more plant to take care of. Why not do it now, and let people enjoy the plant with eagerness?
We know of a gardener who had a beautiful yard full of interesting plants. When she passed away suddenly, her family never thought to share those special specimens with gardening friends. As her house went up for sale, the garden was untended and quickly became very overgrown, and when the house finally sold, the new people sprayed the weeds in the garden and of course, the plants were lost. They brought no joy to anyone. Heartbreaking!
So if a plant can be divided, and you know of a gardening friend who would enjoy it, pass it on! They will think of you every time they look at it, and the time will come when they can divide that plant and make another gardener happy, and so the circle goes. There is that beautiful quote from Buddha: “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” Good and wise words for all, including gardeners!
And further to that, with the plants we have in our gardens right now, enjoy them every day! Take a daily tour and see how things change every day, it is truly amazing! There is always, always something new to see and enjoy under the sun! That’s what makes gardening such an enjoyable and inspiring pursuit! And it is never the same!
Remember, the Yorkton Gardeners’ Market is now on, every Saturday beginning at 8:00 AM till noon at Melrose Avenue and Simpson Street, Yorkton. Fresh garden produce, potted plants, honey, jams, pickles, all those yummy things and more will be for sale! If you’d like more information, either as a buyer or seller, please call Glen at 783-7040 or send a note to ethelda61@hotmail.com.
Visit us at www.yorktonhort.ca, and have a great week! Be sure to wear a hat!
