Sharing with Linda

When Linda and I first met, she did not garden. She lived in a high rise apartment with a balcony that did not lend itself to gardening and she traveled a lot. She was always sufficiently interested and polite when I tried to drag her through my garden but there was no connection to plants. Then Linda got a house. The house came with a yard. Suddenly, Linda was almost a more avid gardener than I was. And she learned fast!

The benefits for me were huge. Now my best friend is interested in my main hobby which opens up whole new topics of very long conversations! The excitement of suitcases full of dirt when we travel back and forth because what gardeners do not share plants?!

Here are some of the beauties that Linda has shared with me over the years and have managed to survive in my zone 3 garden.

Alpine Columbine, blooming in my bird sanctuary garden.

 

Lungwort blooming with the Alpine Columbine.

 

Linda's Mom's pinks, blooming in my sun circles. I have a lot of plants named Linda's...

 

Spiderwort, blooming in my slide sun garden. She also sent me 'Sweet Kate' but I was not able to help it survive the first winter. I have tried 'Sweet Kate' since and it did not come back the following year. I am not very good about protecting things. They either survive our winters on their own or they don't. I don't think 'Sweet Kate' likes -38!