It's pretty bad when...

you are driving through the take-out at McDonalds...then eye up their beautiful but neglected garden...and offer to pull out the weeds in exchange for a nip of this, start of that and dried-out seed heads! I start next week...lol.
Trish

Trish,
If you find something you really like, and can replace with something else you have, try offering an exchange, you might get it! Good luck!

Well,it's really bad that you pass by a house that has tons of the most beautful cockscombs you have ever seen in your life. You stop to ask for one of it's babies, or buy it, for that matter,and the answer is no! Maybe if I would 've offered pulling HER weeds, it would've worked for an exchange!Anyway she was from Greece, had brought seeds with her .Some were as big as giant hydrangeas would grow! So velvetyyyy .Hope they don't die on her for not sharing!Maybe I'll go back and take a pic cause no one sees any like that around here.Even the nurseries didn't bring in any this year! :(

The same thing happened to me a couple of years ago. There was this huge island full of nothing but Elephant ears. I had none and had been wanting some. Knowing how they multiply I had no doubt that I could get at least a start. I fully intended to pay for them. The man was not home but his wife was and was very nice but ill, told me that they had originally come from her Mother and that her husband would be back soon to help me. He showed up and very rudley told me that he was not interested in digging any up. I of course offerd to dig one and to pay him. He assured me that he liked them just the way they were and did not want any disturbed. He must have had at least 100. I thanked him for his time and wished him a good day. Secretly hoping they would all die. Lo and behold, next year there was not one. Maybe he ticked off someone else and they did him in - who knows, or maybe I'm a witch!!!

Well, I always say the worst they can do is say no! I have never had anyone actually say it though! Must be that it is harder to say no to a little ole lady that blushes when she knocks on a strangers door....Or maybe they find me so scarey looking they will give me anything to get me to leave...Either way I usually get what I want!

Trish,
Something like that happened to me too,
I hired a mason to do some work for me and he said
I had a great eye for planting.....I am now
his garden designer...funny how things happen like
that isnt it ? Go with it, nothing better than
doing something your passionate about and getting paid :-)

I have a neighbor that is much more asertive than I but I must admire her ability to get what she wants. Whenever she sees someone working in a particularly nice yard, she often stops and compliments them on whatever they have. She usually comes away with a new friend and an armful of goodies. Most people are willing to share if they have plenty. She is very generous too and will take them back something as a trade. I have given her tons of stuff and hardly ever buy anything anymore, whenever she gets something new - she usually shares with me. That's a real Bud!!!

Dicentra I think you are a genius. That's just great and what a good idea...We have a McDonalds in town that was built where an old house used to stand and they retained the beautiful roses that grew there originally. I have no idea what they are but bloomed all summer long on huge bushes. I think I'll go for a burger tomorrow :-)

I stopped in at my bank last year and asked if I could collect seed heads from their flowers.
They all know me quite well and know that I'm unique, ;), but they said yes and gave me a few funny looks as I was out there with my scissors and bags.
Wouldn't you know it? the road construction crew killed everything in that garden this summer, and now I'm the one with their flowers! I think I'll volunteer some plants for them next spring.
Birdie

Just recently since my last post ,we went thru the McD's drive-thru. Well,here they grow Lantana and we saw it had tons of dry seeds that no one will ever pick .But I just can't ask for them, but if and when there's no cars behind us ,I might just jump out to get me some!I just can't bare to see all that seed go to waste!
Another story, at Blockbuster [heaven knows why,guess cause landscaping $$ means nothing to them] but they have their Crepe Myrtles on the side where NO ONE parks there and No ONE sees back there ! Well, the trees are full of seeds ,too, and sure 'nuff ,I had to get me a little branch.

I have seen some beautiful raspberry colored daylilies at our local KFC..thinking about stopping and searching for seeds...

Azlelea...love your story...you jinxed him. LOL Remember, be careful what you wish for...I would have done the same thing. Did you ever get and EE?? I have some if you are interested.