"Free" Seeds


  


"Free Seeds"

A couple of weeks ago, a woman in the next town offered free flower seeds on freecycle.org,a great swapping resource probably available everywhere. "Free" being one of my very favorite words, I headed off to her place to pick them up. But this turned out to be no ordinary rural Maine home. The impeccably landscaped grounds reminded me of favorite places from my childhood: the Bayard Cutting Aboretum, the Vanderbilt Estate, places on Long Island that had opened their grounds to the public. First mistake: she asked if I'd like to take a look around, and I said, "you bet!".

On we walked, chatting about plants, mulch, lawns, sun and shade, all of the really fascinating subjects gardeners obsess about. I noticed a whole area of pots of what looked like tiger lilies,post bloom. She said these were her real passion. "Really?" I said,thinking- who could care that much about a bunch of stupid tiger lilies? "How interesting", I said, in the words my mother had carefully imbued in us when responding to a complete nutcase. (Mistake#2). She proceeded to explain the cross-pollination process and seed collecting he was doing to achieve new hybrids in shape and color. She suggested I go online to The Lily Auction (lilyauction.com)to see what she was talking about. And there's mistake #3: I went online. Wow, I couldn't believe the incredible shapes, colors and varieties there! I mean, white with purple streaks and a lime green throat?

Those seeds, needless to say, have ended up being the most expensive "free" seeds I ever got, but I can't wait till next summer, to see my own lilies come into bloom.

Uh, one thing: if you do place an order for lilies, you might want to write down a general description of each "goodie" you order, so that when they come,you'll plant them according to the plan you've made. (you DID make a plan, right?) When your order arrives, each plant is labeled with the variety name you chose; but what the heck color is "Big Kiss"??? Or"Goblin Moon", or "Denali"?
Not doing this (who, me?) makes the anticipation even more charged- what WILL these things look like when they come into bloom? I'll let you know.....

                                                           


Posted by The Dirt Cheap Gardener at 9/28/2009 3:55 PM
Categories: Gardening,Seed Gardeing
Tags: garden planning gardening seeds
 

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