My boyfriend and I been renting the ground floor of this house for three years. As my passion for gardening grew, and my collection of outside plants grew, my neighbors started appreciating me more. We felt like we had the plague for a while because no one would talk to us. But once the masses of tulips I had planted started to bloom, my neighbor across the street and next door started to compliment me and actually converse with me. I was overjoyed!

I've had three different children compliment me on my garden as the walked or rode by. I usually reward them by asking if they want some. Only two have taken me up on my offer but when I did give them some yellow and red tulips, that wonderous look on their faces was priceless.

There is someone down the block that has a great garden out front that is very diverse and colorful. I've never seen the gardener outside but I sneak peeks all the time... Then I try to find pictures of what I see in their garden and if it matches my conditions, I go get some!

So what about all of you? I would assume it's rarer in NY, I've come to the realization that we're not as friendly as others in New England! But every trip to the nursery, I always strike up a conversation with someone. I just can't help it. :)

I would have to say while there are not many houses on our street- they all have nice yards- all different and I notice easy maintance. Ours however is the most colorful and has the most plants and its growing as my daughter Alexis is into Roses. We get alot of compliments on our yard, even from strangers walking by. ;-D I think people really appreciate the effort my kids and I put into our yard. :-)

I find conversations to be real resourceful or a great way to learn about one's neighbor or people that live in our community.

At the nurseries I'm always striking up a conversation with people, and if they are buying a dud, I'll quietly talk to them about it. I don't want the nursery to lose business so I always point out a winner for them to buy. I've made people follow me to less known nurseries to get just the right plant too.

Here at my own garden, strangers come by all the time. One time I had a tour and put the "open garden" sign out front. A number of people who live in the area came then also. This year I had a plant sale out of my driveway to raise money for our Marching Band. So many people wanted tours and the garden was not even close to full bloom then.

Another BOLD thing I do is ask for a piece of something if I'm visiting a garden and they have tons of it. Especially if it's something that grows from a pinch. This way when I see it in my own garden I'm always thinking of the person that gave it to me.

Melanie

New Englanders have a reputation for frostiness, but per'aps 'cause I'm a "native" I don't see that way, 'tall. I grew up in very small towns, knew most by name, and believe that's made me "outgoing" to the point of courageousness, lol.

There a "pocket garden" I pass on my way to and from work. It's SPECATACULAR from earliest spring to first snowfall. I always look/study it carefully. One day, I saw the owner out in the yard. I pulled over instantly, hopped out of the car, and approached her with a friendly wave. When I was within earshot I told her her garden was beautiful. The nervousness melted away and she beamed... . She told me about every plant and how she'd come to their selection. I never pass her home that I don't think about her... and how gracious she was!

My neighbors live farther away (bigger lots in a rural setting), and many are no longer capable of walking from their homes to mine to enjoy our gardens. But everyone of them knows they're WELCOME ANYTIME, and the circular driveway permits "easy access". I frequently call them to tell them something lovely is in bloom and they should stop by. More than once I've returned home to find one strolling the paths trailed by the cats. I wave, exchange pleasantries, and thank my lucky stars they feel welcome and I have such terrific neighbors. I share divisions with anyone interested enough to ask about a plant.

Anyone who wants to look is welcome here; I believe the real joy of gardening is sharing it with like-minded people or "hooking" someone by giving them something lovely and bullet-proof. I echo the words of mamasalvo!

"Kindness is the rare coin that returns the spendthrift twofold, but leaves the miser penniless" . :)

But then I went to the Orchid show at Rockerfeller Center, expecting the same... Boy was I wrong! Besides the masses and masses of people all crowding around, no one was really that friendly. The only people I talked to were the vendors to ask for a price. But the people on the Orchid forum here are very nice and generous to a fault.

As far as my neighbor, I've considered leaving a note in their mailbox to tell them how admire their garden. I like handwritten notes in this high-tech world. I guess it's between bold and shy...

Chantel, that's something else I do too... ask for or give opinions on plants at the local nursery. Just last weekend, I found a new nursery (thanks to someone on the forums!) and wound up talking to a woman about combining million bells and coleus in containers. She seemed very unsure of what to combine in pots, so I told her about the combinations that I've done and how they worked.

Melanie

This is why I love the internet. :D