March 19, 2012

My New Friend, Leroy

Today was a good day.  A really good day.  I made a new friend.  He lives up the street and he likes to garden.  I've admired his garden on many walks with my dog but have never had the pleasure of meeting him.  Until today.

Leroy was walking by as I was digging up a few plants.  We chatted, learned we each love to garden and then got down to the business of exchanging plants.

He asked if I'd ever heard of oxblood lily.  Oxblood lilies?!?  Oh my, yes!  These fall blooming bulbs have been on my wish list for a long time.  They are hard to find and when found, they are pricey. 

Well, he wanted to offer some to me in return for the plants I'd shared with him.  After gushing about how much I love oxbloods he returned with a bucket full!  I planted half in the front garden today and will get these remaining bulbs in the ground as soon as it dries out.  They are forecasting storms for the next 12 hours. 


After a bit of research I learned they are native to S. America and were brought to the Central Texas area by German settlers.  They have short-lived blooms in early fall and are xeriscape friendly.  They naturalize easily and after a few years, Leroy says I should be sharing plenty of bulbs with my friends.

Thank you, Leroy.  You made my day.  I literally skipped down the driveway! Skipped!

20 comments:

  1. Lovely story Cat!

    Those are the best plants, the ones shared by other gardeners. Often it's the only way to find certain plants.

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  2. How wonderful to met a new friend... especially one who shares your love of gardening.

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  3. You crack me up, you skipper, you.

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  4. That's a great story. I love when gardeners meet. Sounds like you have a new friend to share our love of gardening.

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  5. It is really lovely to have these friends, i think gardeners are the best friends, lol. I was absent last Th-Fri to join a friend see his farm. I've known him when i offered many cycas seedlings through his blog, and since then we are now good friends. I slept in his place and we photographed waterfalls, butterflies, caught catfish, etc, etc and we ate too. About oxblood lilies, someone from the US, also found in blogs sent me small bulbs to experiment here in the dry climate, and it is now growing.

    If you are just nearby, i will also give you bulbs of blood lilies, which are a bit different than your oxblood (Rhodophiala bifida). We have some in our property too and lots of red-orange amaryllis. Maybe we should exhange our amaryllis, LOL.

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  6. That's a result. All my neighbours avoid me since I shared my artichokes with them!!!

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  7. How great to meet a new neighbor especially one that shares your passion of gardening! I look forward to seeing photos of your oxblood in the fall.

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  8. I dream of a neighborhood garden buddy to share plants with...but I am happy to have some virtual ones...oxbloods...wow!

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  9. Where are you planting them? I have one I need to get in the ground....

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  10. Nice story. I don't live in a very gardening-centric neighborhood, so I don't often have those sorts of conversations. Still, over the years, I've managed to share plants with other gardeners and that's the best!

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  11. How lucky you were to meet this gentleman and receive such a fine gift. It's nice to have a real life garden buddy to share plants with.

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  12. Fantastic! How exciting that you met a garden friend in your neighborhood. Can't wait to see your lilies when they grow.

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  13. How lucky! To have a new gardening friend AND to get some much-wanted plants.
    Now, that's what I call a good day.

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  14. Very nice - I missed getting them online this fall, and so I'll have to try again. Glad you made that connection, no only for a rare plant, but a garden compadre! They are as rare, it seems.

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  15. Always nice to meet people of like minds...especially when they come bearing gifts!

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  16. Cat, It is always nice to meet up with a kindred spirit. I look forward to seeing your new oxblood lilies in bloom next fall.

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  17. How wonderful to find a new gardening friend. And to get some oxblood lilies, too! Sounds like a fantastic day!

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  18. Hooray for you!! I've always found gardeners to be generous people. A friend and I are always swapping plants. What a treat to receive a plant that you've been wishing for. :o)

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  19. Maggie, I planted some in a sunny spot up front and I haven't decided where to put them in back yet. I read somewhere that under a deciduous tree is good...protected from worst of the sun and gets nice winter light.

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  20. Hehe, I had a visual image of you skipping, Oxbloods in hand ...

    I look forward to seeing them in bloom on your blog in the near future!

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