Today’s adventure started with a rushed cup of coffee. Within the hour I had finished making french toast for everyone else – because I hate the stuff – jumped in the car wishing yet again that I had Google-mapped the fastest route to my destination and landed on the doorstep of a stranger that I connected with on Freecycle. And she had flowers. For me!

I have really enjoyed the Freecycle community since joining up with our local group. For those of you who might not have heard about Freecycle, I’ll let them tell you about it:

Think of it as a perpetual garage sale with notices coming straight into your inbox. You join a group for your city and then let the sharing begin! I like getting to meet new people and driving through new neighborhoods in town and definitely the sense of community that both fosters.

The nice lady I met today had a garden overflowing with perennial flowers that she felt needed cutting back, so she offered them on Freecycle to anyone with a shovel and pots to take them home. She said that the response was overwhelming, so much so that she was obliged to give smaller pieces of the plants so that everyone could have something. But between you and me, I’d don’t think she’ll ever run out of coreopsis!

We took a walk through her garden with our shovels and like all people who love gardening could hardly stop talking about our plans and favorites, the overgrown mistakes and the always present need to weed. By the end, she had gifted me with two different varieties of the aforementioned coreopsis, a variegated grass, blue salvia, shasta daisies, gaillardia, black-eyed susans, sweet william and two colors of yarrow. Not to mention, sage oregano chives and thyme.

I came home, spent several hours digging, managed some truly ridiculous tan lines, but filled my heart and garden to overflowing. All the cuttings are drooping and pitiful, shadows of their former glory, color and stature, so I’ve reinforced them with as best I could with several waterings, fertilizer and prayers. When I step back and look at the whole, I really don’t mind their sad state – it really does look like a beautiful wilting.

Ps. To find a Freecycle group near you.

Pss. Pictures coming soon.

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