Free Peonies!

I sometimes shoot myself in the foot, just because.  A friend recently mentioned he was helping his neighbour pullout their peonies and asked if I wanted some.  I said that I would love some.  Well, he took it took heart and being the generous soul that he is, announced a couple days later that he had brought my peonies for me!  I told him that I would grab them on my way out.  He then informed me that I would need about six or so boxes to put them in.  I stopped dead in my tracks and I had a feeling then that I was in trouble. 

"How many peonies did you bring me?"

"Oh, I got you about fifty or so plants." he quite proudly told me. "They almost filled the back of my truck up - what do you drive?" 

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or groan as his generosity sunk in but he was so pleased with himself and had spent all that time putting them in his truck to bring them to me that I couldn't, in all good conscience, do anything but thank him.

I went home and changed from my work clothes into my gardening clothes, stopped at the liquor store and picked up about eight boxes.  Sure enough, the back of his truck was filled with peonies!  Totally filled with them.  I filled up the boxes, put them in the back of my van, cleaned out the back of his truck and headed home. 

I love gardening and being outside but the I also have allergies.  I discovered on the way home that peonies sent my allergies into overdrive. I had to stop a couple times and get out of my vehicle just to be able to breath!  This, despite the fact that I live only about five minutes away from where I work!! 

The first thing I did when I got home was to head straight to the computer and post "free peonies!" on our local on-line market site.  I am happy to say I now have just the right amount left to plant at the lake!