Now that the weather has turned warm (okay, it’s already hot here), I’m just itching to get my hands dirty in the spring soil. At the end of last summer, we had to remove our drought stricken landscaping from the front beds around our house. We’re picking out new plants this weekend to replant the beds, and I’m so excited that I feel like it’s my birthday. I’m sure that excitement will last until about 10 seconds into having to plant everything, but I’ll take what I can get.
I know that I’m not the only one who loves that “new plant feeling,” so I’m joining the Home Depot in their Spring It Forward campaign. Their Spring Black Friday sale kicks off this weekend, and they are encouraging people to take advantage of the great prices on live plants to spread some happiness to their friends, neighbors or perfect strangers.
I did a little pre-sale shopping at Home Depot yesterday and picked up something fun to surprise some neighbors on my street. I knew that I wanted something that had nice blooms, and the row of hanging baskets of white petunias pulled me in. At under $7 a basket, I could surprise several neighbors!
I headed home and printed out the gift tags from Home Depot’s Spring It Forward Facebook application. I signed them all “From a Neighbor,” because I wanted it to be a true surprise.
Emma and I headed up to the street to Chris and Jessica’s house. We don’t know them very well, but they are a sweet, young couple who are always very friendly. I think Chris was working from home, so I didn’t want to leave the basket on the front porch where he might see me. But, I wanted to put it in a place where I knew I would find it. So, I put it on the hood of his truck. Yes, I messed with a Texas man’s truck! I hope he never finds out it was me.
Further down the street, we stopped at Tom and Katie’s house. We’ve always liked them, especially because the first time we met them was when the Sheriff’s Department was shooting a snake that was laying on the brick trim above their front door. I kid you not. That was years ago, but I still think they deserved a happy plant, right?
Across the street from Tom and Katie is Allison. She’s a sweet gal (who reminds me so much of The Nester), and she always has some sort of seasonal wreath or display on her front porch. So cute! I thought she’d love a beautiful plant, too.
It’s my hope that my neighbors will pay it forward by giving a surprise spring gift to someone else. Even if they don’t give a live plant, they can go to Home Depot’s Facebook page and give a digital flower to a friend via Facebook.
Home Depot is giving away $20 gift cards to three of my readers so that they can “Spring It Forward” to their friends and neighbors! All you need to do is leave a comment below telling me to whom you’d like to give a surprise plant. This giveaway will run through March 31st.
Good luck!
Giveaway rules: Giveaway open until midnight CST on 3/31/2012. No purchase necessary. Odds of winning are based on the number of entries. One entry per person. Open to US residents, 18 and older. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by email. If winners don’t respond in one week, another winner may be randomly drawn.
Home Depot gave me a gift card in order to purchase Spring It Forward plants. The opinions represented here are my own.
I’d surprise my neighbors who are new parents!
Such a great idea! One of my neighbors that I’d surprise is a sweet older couple who watched over our house while we were gone a cruise for a week.
I would love to give a surprise plant to my best friend. She’s going through a lot with work and home life issues right now and a plant would be such a nice gift for her right now.
I would love to give a surprise plant to our new neighbors to welcome them to the neighborhood.
I would plant flowers in the yard of the elderly couple two doors down. My husband was in a life threatening car accident two days before Christmas and is still in a halo apparatus to immobilize his broken neck. Since I had to return to work, they have driven him to doctor appointments, brought him lunch, and just kept him company on so many days that I have lost count. They are on a limited budget and now that we are down to one income, so are we … to be able to have a gift card to use to brighten their front path would bring all of us some much needed rejuvenation.
I give it to my mom because she loves to garden and plants always make her smile!
I’d like to “spring it forward” to some of my own lovely neighbors. Such a great idea.
I would love to give a surprise plant to the hard-working teacher across the street, the sweet little mama next to her who barely has time to go to the bathroom, much less shop for plants, and the bachelor who lives next to her who, honestly, could use a little color in his life.
I love this idea! How fun. I have a lovely older couple across the way who i would leave it for as a surprise. I think we coukd all use a little surprise flower in our lives.
i would love to give it to my neighbor who has always been there for me:)
I work for Hospice, and I have a patient whose wife used to garden. He’s always outside digging around trying to keep the garden beautiful for her. I would give it to him.
We just moved into a new neighborhood in December, and besides the neighbor on our direct left, we haven’t met too many people – it sure would be a great, kind ice breaker to leave some spring cheeriness with a little note!
Very fun! I’d surprise our neighbor who is also my husband’s coworker and our friend.
Wow, what a fun idea! I’d start with my slightly grumpy neighbors, hoping to cheer them up. Then the couple down the street whose 8 y/o daughter LOVES flowers. finally, I think my fice-mate deserves flowers for putting up with me 5 days a week! Thanks for the chance!!!
My neighbours helped me keep my driveway and walkways clear of snow all winter long. I’d totally give them a big hanging plant as an extra thank you!
I live in a small cul-de sac and there are only three homes. I’d love to give all my neighbors a plant to make their front porch a little happier!
I’d give it to my neighbor who has such a beautiful yard. She and her husband are retired, and he has heart trouble, so Sally (the wife) does all the yard work. She is out there almost every other day making her yard look pretty. I think this would brighten her day and let her know that her hard work has paid off!
There are couple of elderly neighbors that could use some cheering up!
What a neat idea! I have wonderful neighbors to share this with!!
What an awesome thing to do for your neighbors. I love the idea..I really dont know any of my neighbors here, but I think that leaving them a basket of flowers could change that…You are so sweet and generous
brenda
I would love to surprise my next door neighbor, kathleen. she surprised me with fresh blueberries last year that were yummy!
I’d love to surprise my neighbor Meredith – she’s always doing such sweet things for everyone else, it’s time for her to get a treat
Love this idea. Lots of people I could spring it forward to.
I so would love to surprise two of my neighbors. One set is busy with work and stress of worrying about a mom (far away) who is sick. The other one is always more plants for her front but she admits that she has no green thumb and I know that type of hanging basket would be perfect for her! I can’t to start planting more and more around here (it’s still a little cold)!
I would surprise a friend who is moving to a new place!
We have some of the nicest neighbors. The couple across the street are about 80 and caring for a much older sister. They are very active and very nice,
Also the neighbors next to us are very sweet and look our for the grandkids. A pretty hanging planter of blooms would be so wonderful for them.
I would give it to my mom
I’d give it to our neighbors who have always been very nice to us.
I would give a surprise plant to my next door neighbor. She is like a grandmother to my kids and even watches them occasionally for free! Sweetest next door neighbor in the world.
My neighbor is about to have a baby any day now – I’d love to surprise her with a beautiful plant!
I would surprise our neighbors two houses down from us — the woman is really nice, and although we don’t them well, when we went abroad she came over as we were heading to the airport to give me a hug and let me know she would be praying for us to have a safe trip..
Meant a lot to me!
I would love to ‘spring it forward’ to my mother…she has been helping our little family a LOT these days.
Such a fun idea! I would love to give my sister a surprise, she and I both lost our jobs recently and she’s been keeping me in good spirits, I’d love to drop off something green on her little apartment balcony (without her knowing of course!) to share a little joy with her. I can’t say enough how much I’ve appreciated her company while we both look for jobs.
I would love to surprise my friend who watches my daughter for me every day. She does it out of the kindness of her heart and refuses to take money from me to pay for her.
I would give it to friends who just bought their first house!
Neighbors next door may be going to foreclosure. I’m sure they’d love something to brighten their day.
What a fun idea! My mother is away on a much-needed, long-overdue beach vacation, and I’d love to surprise her with some flowers for her front step when she returns.
I would love to give some flowers to my non-roommate roommate. IE.. the girl I share the other half of my duplex with. She would be so surprised!
I would surprise my grandma. She loves flowers, but isn’t able to work her yard now. I would take the kids over and plant flowers during her standing weekly hair appointment. What a surprise when she came home!
Have just moved from suburbs to city and have two wonderful neighbors whom have made us welcome. Our outdoor spaces are sparse, and they both work. What a wonderful unexpected delight flowers would create
Spring it Forward! What a great idea! I would drive about 60 miles W. to Stephenville, TX where my grandaughter is in her first year of college. I think she misses her family, and this would brighten her spring and let her know that summe/vacation is almost here.
My mom has given me so many plants and cuttings from her garden that it’d be nice to surprise her with one back!
I’d surprise my mother in law with some spring flowers!
more_virtuous(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love that Home Depot is doing this. When I had a well-paying job, I used to love to drop treats off to people. These days, my income is much smaller, and it’s hard to do anything for myself much less anyone else.
I would love to drop a pretty plant to the other single lady on my block – she’s elderly and doesn’t get out much, so I think she’d like having something to cheer her up.
I’d surprise my sweet neighbor who just lost his job and could use a pick me up.
I would love to spring it forward to my older sister, a plant would look awesome at her house!
I’d surprise my neighbor down the street who is always talking about what she wants to plant.
Such a fun idea!! I would surprise my neighbor across the street who always watches our house while we’re away and on Sundays brings us the most amazing homemade rolls ever!!!
What a great idea! I would surprise our neighbor across the street who is always gardening and helped us out when our edger broke!
I’d love to give some flowers away to neighbors. I live in an aprtment complex so our boring balconies would look great with a little color !
what a great fun idea! We did something like this for Halloween many many years ago when my 20 y o daughter was about 5. We ‘paid forward’ some Halloween decorations and Halloween candy with a note inspiring the recipient to do the same. I love this idea! Even tho I live in the heat of south Florida, as an original northerner, “springtime” always will be a new beginning and you will find a pot of daffodils at my front door, even if they are silk! Thanks for this chance to win!
I would LOVE to put one on my neighbor’s porch. Her husband has Alzheimers so she doesn’t get out much any more.
I’d surprise my dad who loves to garden and whose birthday is coming up!
I’d like to give a plant to my neighbor. We’re about to put our home on the market, and I know she is worried about who might move in next. I think a flowering plant would brighten her day.
I’d love to surprise the young family that are letting us have our daughter’s wedding on their farm. They are good friends and will get other gifts along the way but this would surely welcome spring where we are still having snow!
To my mom in law who has the greenest thumb in the planet and spends inordinate amounts of time in her beautiful garden.
I would love to give my neighbor a plant. She lost her husband not long ago and lives alone. She’s a sweet sweet person and I think a surprise plant would surely put a smile on her face!
I give a hanging, flowering plant every spring to my step-mother. She loves flowers.
My friend who lost her grandmother last week.
We have some friends down the street who are really awesome – they’re son babysits for us all the time – and they’re always there to help with our dog when we go out of town. We’re always trying to think of fun ways to pay them back for their helpfulness – this would be perfect!
I would give a plant to my neighbors across the street! She loves digging in the dirt and is outside for hours at a time!!
Danna
my friend and boss just had surgery on Monday….this would be a nice surprise to hang on her patio….jlk
I’d give the plants to my wonderful neighbors!
I would love to spring it forward for my mom, she is always helping me figure out how to decorate at my house!
I would give it to my mother-in-law who is going through the loss of her father.
This is so great! I would love to surprise my neighbors whom are more like grandparents to our family. They live in Arizona all winter and are coming back home to Idaho this weekend for the “cooler” summer air! We love them, and they do so much for us, we would love to pay it forward and give them a cheery welcome home!
I’d like to give a surprise plant to our community center.
My 84-year-old neighbor – the one who carries her bowling bag with flames on it to her bowling league game every week – needs a little floral salute. We love her!
It would be a surprise for Lorri. She is so sweet and always does nice things for others.
I would love to surprise my Mother In Law with a beautiful Spring plant!
I would love to give a plant to my boyfriend’s parents. It would be a nice way to brighten up their day. I think a beautiful plant on there porch would be nice to look at while they are rocking in their chairs.
I would surprise my friend Cheryl. She picks up two of my children everyday from school…she treats them just like her own kids!
I would give one to the neighbor across the street and next door to us. We just moved into the neighborhood last month.
I would give one to the nice lady next door to us
We have numerous neighbors who have had some really tough times in recent months. I would love to surprise some of them with some springtime encouragement!
I would love to surprise my friends and neighbors with this! So fun and a great way to get people excited for spring!
I’d love to surprise my grandson’s teacher!
someluckydog at gmail dot com
I’d like to give one to my daughter
I would give it to my Mother. She loves her garden and deserves a little reward for all she does.
I would love to get a little sumpin’ sumpin’ for our neighbor who has just returned home from a 6-week hospital stay. Only 34 years old and 6 weeks ago she was at death’s door. She has a long and arduous road of rehab ahead of her and I think being greeted by some happy flower faces would go a long way! Thanks for the opportunity!
My pastor’s wife, she has been such a blessing to me!
i would love to give some flowers to my mom and my best friend! along with lots of other people that i know would love to have their day brightened with some fresh flowers!
I would love to give flowers to my mother-in-law. She loves gardening and taking care of her yard, so I know she would love them!
i would definitely give it to my mom and dad to brighten their day!!! my mom loves to watch the birds on her porch and is now mostly confined to a wheelchair so i think it would make her smile!!
I’d gift my next door neighbor who not only cleans house for me but from the first day I moved there, she put up my trash can on trash day before I got home from work. She does it every week like clockwork. She’s terrific.
I’d pick out something bright and cheery and give it to my mom.
Both of my grandparent’s have passed away so we moved into their home. They lived in a beautiful older subdivision with lots of trees. Many of her neighbors have lived here for years. They loved my grandparents. I would love to be able to give some of our neighbors a gift to show them that we will do our best to be as neighborly as my grandparent’s were.
They were one of the first to build their home here, and back then neighbors really helped each other and watched out for each others children and home. I really wish it was that way still. It would be nice to share some of that friendliness that my grandparents instilled in me to some of our neighbors!
I’d love to surprise my neighbors. There is a nice elderly couple on the street and this would brighten their day.
I love this giveaway! I’d love to surprise my next door neighbor. She’s my new walking buddy!
We just moved – what a great way to make ourselves part of this neighborhood!!! This is an awesome idea
I’d give the surprise plant to my parents.
I would like to surprise my neighbors who are an older couple and are newly weds.
I’d surprise my neighbors – one who is a single elderly man and the others who just had a baby two weeks ago. I think they’d both love some flowers!
I’d love to surprise my mom (she lives just a few blocks away)! She surprised me one year and hung the plant right on a hook on my porch and I’d love to return the surprise to her
We have several elderly couples in our neighborhood that could probably use a happy new plant!
I’d surprise my soon-to-be married friend with some bright flowers for her new home.
There are so many that I would love to share with. This is such a sweet and unique give away! My friend and I were just standing in front of her house yesterday talking about GOd’s gift of nature and the colors of spring time. I would love to give her one.
I’d give it to my good friend down the street who is going through a rough time.
I will give a plant to a friend of mine who is due to have her first child in June.
I would love to surprise the Care Pastor at my church. He does so much for everyone else. He deserves it!
I put one at my moms grave, since I lost her 6 months ago.. she is smiling in heaven, she really enjoyed gardening <3
Myself
I would buy my neighbor who lives up the road is like a Grandma to me. Papa passed away over the summer and I know she still hurts. I would love to do something to make her smile if only for a little bit.
It is hard times for a lot of people right now. A basket of flowers would brighten their day. I would “Spring It Forward” to my hardworking neighbors that never seem to let anything break their spirit.
I would love to give a surprise plant to our new neighbors! What a great idea.
To my neighbor Annette across the street, who plays “grandmother” to my 2 dogs, she comes and takes them out for potty time when I am at work.
To my friend Martha, who helped us find our awesome home, who helps so often in so many little ways.
To my other neighbor Janet, brought us cookies at christmas time, and who I know is there even if we don’t see each other too often.
We had new neighbors move in about two weeks ago – would love to gift them with this as a welcome to the neighborhood!
I would surprise the young mother whose Navy husband is at sea and won’t be back home (to stay) for 5 years…. and the elderly woman up the street who always seems so sad and lonely.
The elderly couple across the street from me. He is almost 87 and still enjoys tending his flower beds and garden. My daughter likes to get and plant flowers and bulbs randomly every year in his flower beds to surprise him. He loves it. Second would be the crossing guard who stands on the corner near my home each school day in all types of weather making sure the children cross safely. Third would go to my daughter for all her help.
I would love to gift a plant to my next-door neighbors. They are both in the Air Force and are sadly being moved many states away in a few months. They are cool people and their daughters are all so nice with my little kids; we will miss them dearly.
my neighbor who got a new job!
I would surprise both neighbors and friends/family!! We don’t know our neighbors that well, but this would be a great to start getting to know them!
I would like to surprise my co-worker who lost her beloved doggie a month ago..she’s still down and this would thrill her!
I would love to surprise my neighbor! He is a sweet single dad with 4 kid! We are new to the neighborhood and hey just made us cookies!
We’re about to move into our new house, so I think it’d be a good way to meet a new neighbor.
This is so hard to choose. I live in a small community and several friends and neighbors are going thru though times. I think I would choose a lady that lives down the block. I dont even know her name but I bring her food after I volunteer at the food shelf. She is very sweet and she has several planters in her yard that are empty every year. It was be so nice to see them full…
Thanks for the opportunity to win…
My neighbor has been out of work, finally found a job, and then was hospitalized with blood clots. No insurance so his wife has been caring for him round the clock at home. Would love to surprise them with this.
LOVE the spring it forward idea! I am going to pick up some goodies tomorrow! thanks for letting us know about it!
I’d give a flower to my mom
My future mother in law…she loves her garden and flowers.
I’d surprise my mom. She loves her flowers.
What a great idea! I live in an apartment complex and the guy who lives below me is divorced and doesn’t get to see his kid very much ( I think just two weeks each summer). I would totally get a plant for him. I think I would get a plant for the church too!
My mom, I always give her one on Mother’s Day.
I’d love to be able to surprise my mom & dad with a plant! They’re elderly & love having a garden. It brings them such joy & happiness to grow flowers. Last year between the weather & animals, they lost all their flowers & were sick about it. If I could surprise them with a new plant at the beginning of the season…it might just inspire them to plant again!
How sweet! I would give one to my mother in law. She loves flowers and is very sweet and deserving of some
I’d give a plant to my sister, who is my neighbor and best friend.
This would be so fun to give my neighbor a cute plant! Maybe along with a plate of deliscious cookies!
I would surprise my daughter in Idaho. She and her family have been going through so much (jobs & health). They have previously been fined by local association for yard not containing the correct plants, or being a certain way – as well as frowned upon because they have never been able to afford hiring Yard Folks and thus up keep their own yard & work. I know she (and family) would totally enjoy a surprise like this plus they would be SO PROUD to display a plant that would have even the Association GREEN with envy.
ooh! Surprise plant for my mother-in-law would score some major points!
I would surprise our friends that just bought their first house.
This is an excellent idea. There is a gentleman in my neighborhood whose yard I have always admired. Last summer I noticed that he did not have any plants out as usual. I thought to myself that something must be wrong and I wanted to knock on the door to see if he was o.k. I wanted to, but I did not. Well just recently I have seen someone building a ramp for a wheel chair to the front entrance. I now know that he was not able to attend to his yard as he had in the past. I would love to drop a couple of plants by and take care of them for him so that he can still enjoy flowers blooming in his yard all spring and summer long. Even if I don’t win the gift cards, I am going to still bless him with blooms. Thank you for sharing your gift with others!
I would like to surprise my Mom. She loves flowers.
This is such a fabulous idea! I would love to give a plant to my mother, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law.
What a sweet idea! I would love to give something to our good friends and neighbors who are always so hospitable, kind and gracious.
We recently purchased our first home. Our neighbor saw that we were struggling starting our second hand law mower. When we returned home from work the following day our grass had been cut. We are thankful for the kindness they showed us.
I would love to give a plant to my dgtr!
I’ve just begun to read your blog daily, and I love it! Thanks for sharing.
I’d live to get something pretty for my husband’s aunt. Her husband had a devastating stroke a week ago (at a very active, healthy 67!). She needs some sunshine. ~ Pam
One set of neighbors just had their first baby….I’d give them one. I’d also give one to my parents…they are elderly and not in the best of health…and love flowers!
I have a Neighbor who is the sweetest lady. She makes my husband and I homemade candy (Pralines and Carmel are my favorite), not only that she is always looking out for us reminding my husband about trash day, or sign for packages when we needed, and she always sends my daughter little treats like Knitted hats and gloves. We adore her and Id Love to Spring it Forward and give her a nice spring treat!
I would spring it forward to the people right across the street from me. Then I could see the beautiful plant and enjoy it to! Thanks.