Guide for Newcomers to the South, Part 9

We Southern gardeners have a tradition here in the South of freely sharing our seeds, bulbs, and seedlings with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. Every year I have an abundance of seeds to give away and I can't help but notice the difference in reactions from Southerners and non-Southerners. Southerners pretty much take the seeds with a smile and sometimes ask "Do you have enough so I can give some to my sister, too?" On the other hand if ask a Yankee "Do you want any flower seeds? I have seeds for marigolds, zinnias, poppies both red and pink" I get a suspicious look. I often have to repeat myself, several times. Then the suspicious Yankee if he or she wants any asks "How much do you want for them?" Most Yankees have trouble understanding that my flowers made more seeds than I can use so I want to share with others. I've learned to say "Well, I have too many to use and I didn't want to throw them out. So do you want any?" Like any Southerner would throw seeds in the trash.

I always put the seeds in individual sandwich bags with a little piece of paper that has a photograph of the flower and directions on how to plant them. When I'm done fixing the seeds up in bags, I usually have at least two huge brown grocery bags full. So to me the funniest reaction I get is when they see the sandwich bag full of seeds sometimes I get asked "How much of these can I take?" I usually tell to take them all and if they look overwhelmed, I suggest that they share the seeds with their neighbors. Other non-Southerners look surprised, but usually go with the flow and take the seeds; it is just the Yankees that have trouble with the concept of free seeds.

The older generation of country Southerners believes a rose bush will grow better if you steal a clipping of it when the owner isn't looking. Yes, I said steal. It is an accepted practice here. So don't get bent out of shape about it if a little old lady snips off a piece of your rosebush. It is a compliment, she loved your rose bush so much she wanted one or two in her yard. I personally have followed this practice and stole a clipping from a white rose bush. It looks beautiful in my yard.