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Is it cheeky to ask for plant updates after I give them away?

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  • If you know the person you have given the plant to, then it is simple enough to bring it up in any conversation.  Same applies if the plant goes to a member of your garden group - a natural question to ask.
    However, as mentioned if you give a plant, even one which has memories for you, you have passed it on and can only hope that it will be well looked after and thrive. As @Fire suggests, a little note detailing the care may be helpful to the new owner but I don't think you can realistically do more than that. 
    It's always nice to give plants ( or anything else) but you can't really dictate what happens after the handover.
    I'm sure your Mum is pleased that you are giving her much loved plants a chance  :)

  • Thanks everyone, I really like the idea of giving some tips with the plants. As most will be going to good friends of my mum I’m hoping they will be a way for me to keep in touch with some of them.

    unfortunately because of Brexit rules I can no longer take cuttings home with me to France, which would have been my preferred option. 

    Perhaps using the idea of putting labels on each pot, which includes my e-mail address will be a nice way to occasionally get news of both the plants and the people who are adopting them.
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • So sorry. But as they say ignorance is bliss. If they are doing well I am sure they will let you know. My son and daughter kill everything I give them so have given up asking.
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    It might be worth including a card or something with the plant and put growing tips and plant details on there. You could then add 'If you'd like to share updates of the plant's progress then I'd love to see them. You can share photos with me via...'
    Make it an optional thing but in a way that motivates people to look after the plant share if it does well.

    I think this is a good idea. You could even include a ‘ lolly stick’ type label with ‘in memory of ....’ so that the new owners will think of your mum when they see the plant in the future. And then give and forget. Maybe nicer to just imagine the cuttings going from strength to strength, and bringing joy to their new owners. 

    We decorated the tables at my daughters wedding with polystyrene boxes of violas, wrapped in tissue paper. All looked lovely, and I’m sure less expensive than cut flower arrangements. Before the end of the reception, we invited the guests to take them with them to plant at home. My daughter said one of her happiest memories was seeing so many of the guests making their way out at the end of the evening, carrying the boxes with the little nodding flower heads. 

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited September 2023
    I think a label saying "in memory....  " and adding your email address are both excellent ideas.
    ---
    At my dad's funeral reception we had large bowls by the door with small seed packets of forgetmenots and sunflowers - my dad's fav plants. It was lovely to think of his friends and family growing the seeds in memory of him. We gave all the flowers away to the guests too - some managed to root cuttings from the flowers, which is extra-lovely.

    This type of thing. ⬇️ You can cheaply get packets personalised for any occasion - thank yous, birthdays, weddings; Lots of options on Ebay or Etsy etc. You can, of course, get just the packets printed easily and fill them with your own seeds - whatever you want. But sunflowers and fgmns seeds seems readily available in the below packets.

     



  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It seems to me that it is putting a lot of pressure on the recipient. I'm reasonably good with plants but I would feel very uncomfortable receiving a gift with such a label.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • The lady who lived here before me planted pinks in pots and the scent when I came to view the house was fabulous. I stress myself to bits trying to give them the best care possible because Rosie passed away shortly after she left and I'd like to keep them going in her memory.
    She also left a rose which my neighbour  o:) always admired, me not so much, so when the time came for it to go I gave it to said neighbour. We chat about how it's doing and it always starts her reminiscing about her old friend. It's lovely to pass plants on but do it more in hope than expectation is my advice. 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    B3 said:
    It seems to me that it is putting a lot of pressure on the recipient. I'm reasonably good with plants but I would feel very uncomfortable receiving a gift with such a label.

    It's fine to check out before hand if the friends would be happy with it
  • Nice envelopes FIRE, I did see something similar but gave out small candles in her favorite scents.

    The plants are thankfully all going to people who have asked for them, so I’m happy to know they all want to remember mum in this way. A few of the pots have annuals around the edges, so I’m planning to replace then with some small succulents. The large pots of the hydrangeas (12 counted today!), will be delivered with a care label.As they are all large, not just cuttings I think there will be less risk of easily “forgetting “ them.

     Local council said today they will clear her garden after I give the keys back, so I assume that means they will just pull out anything I don’t re home.
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Great good luck with the project. I would say not to rush it. Go gently x
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