Sharing Plants
“Plants are naturally intended to be shared.”
Practice
Divide with generosity. Plan for at least a 50/50 division. Give a portion large enough to be enjoyed in the first season.
Match the plant to the person. Set people up to succeed. For new gardeners, share “bulletproof” plants; for experienced ones, offer something more particular.
Divide in the right season. Early spring (when many plants are still dormant) is an opportune time; fall works for other varieties, too. Avoid dividing in the heat of summer.
Make giving easy. Pot a division, add a simple note (plant name + sunlight needs), and leave it out on the sidewalk with a friendly sign “Free Plants.”
Sharing plants is more than just sharing the organic material. It is sharing a living connection with family, friends, and neighbors. Geoff Ledgerwood’s roots are in rural Washington state. It’s there that he inherited generational wisdom about the neighborly practice of dividing plants.
Dividing plants is a practice of generational generosity for Geoff. “This has been something generational in my family. I can remember my grandmother dividing plants with her friends and family,” he shares with delight. “In my yard, I have plants that go back to my grandparents and great-grandparents. It’s a sweet legacy for me to have those growing in my yard, perpetuating a legacy not only of plants, but a legacy of family.”
Geoff shares his perspective with infectious generosity. “Plants are naturally intended to be shared.” Perennials flourish when they are divided. There is an inherent multiplication in their division. But it is not only the organic plant material that is shared. There is a generosity of rooted wisdom that is passed on in sharing plants. “There’s toil when it comes to growing things.” Geoff shares humbly. “I’ve killed more things than I’ve ever kept alive,” Geoff says with both a levity and reality that echoes anyone who has had their hands in the dirt for any length of time. “There’s a shared struggle, and when you’ve had some success, you want to share that wisdom with others.” He hints at a universal truth of conversation and connection. “Plants keep you in conversation with people.” Those things that require our care connect us to others. “Plants, pets, and kids are always conversation starters.” Geoff jokes.
The specificity of the plant determines when digging it and dividing it is most beneficial. “Generally speaking, what blooms in the spring you plant in the fall, and what blooms in late summer you plant in spring.” Geoff’s generational wisdom is seen in his selection of what plants to divide and share with different audiences. “There are some plants you might not be ready for. Begin with bulletproof plants that are easy to grow and share.” With time and experience, there’s the opportunity to grow into tending and sharing 201 and 301 horticultures.
Where to begin in sharing plants with neighbors? Geoff suggests, “Dig up and divide plants and put them in some old pots with a sign that says free plants next to your street. People will come take them and come back around when they see you working in the yard to talk more.” Where could the practice of dividing and sharing plants lead? “There are yards full of flowers down my grandparents’ street in their neighbors’ yards that were divided and shared with them.” Geoff shares with a nostalgic tone in his voice. “My mom always said, ‘Even if you don’t like a flower, it’s always beautiful.” The practice of dividing and sharing plants is like a flower; it’s always beautiful.
Thank you to Geoff Ledgerwood for his winsome perspective on both people and plants and his contribution to this article.
