As gardeners, we like to put stuff in the ground once and have it come back to entertain us year after year. It's not that we're lazy. It's just that we were accustomed to planting flowers every year on the May long weekend, a ritual we thought was necessary in order to enjoy colour through the summer. Perennials seemed too dear an investment compared to the price of a cell pack of annuals.

Now our philosophy has changed. We rather like the idea of planting something once and having it come back automatically year after year. Automation suits our busy lifestyles.

And it didn't take us long to discover that in just a few years we could divide our perennials to get free ones!

We soon became perennial fanatics, excitedly lifting plants and slicing them into pieces according to the new gardening math: one divided by three makes two for you and one for your neighbour.

Now we're addicted. We're surrendering more and more of our labour-intensive lawns to create space for our expanding collection of perennials. After all, they're free now, and we can't bear to relegate the excess to the compost pile.

Soon, we're potting up the extras and offering them to complete strangers in plant swaps and sales. This is an excellent way to find great bargains and make new friends who share a similar interest (or perhaps even obsession) with gardening. Before long we develop an entire network of suppliers: "Next year I'll trade you some of my Sum and Substance Hosta for your Marmalade Heuchera..."

The Flamborough Horticultural Society is a group of garden-loving individuals who meet monthly to learn, share information, friendship and, sometimes, plants. Our Annual Plant Sale will take place on Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Waterdown Legion, 79 Hamilton Street.

Please join us. There will be oodles of perennials, lily bulbs and concrete stepping stones. Fresh-baked treats will also be available. Come early for the best selection.

For more information, contact John Baine at 905-659-7347 or jbaine@cogeco.ca.

The next meeting of the Flamborough Horticultural Society takes place Wednesday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Strabane United Church, Brock Road, just north of 8th Concession West. Ernie Grimo from the Nut Tree Society will be sharing his knowledge and experience. Guests are welcome.

Kathy Steel is Publicity Chair for the Flamborough Horticultural Society, which meets on the third Wednesday of the month. For more information on the society, e-mail kbrunsch@cogeco.ca or call 905-659-2132.