Is the Nuns Orchid a perennial? If so I would like to trade for one. I have Ginger Butterfly, and several others, but do not know their names. I have canna Tropicana and Canna-Striata. Please ck my list, to see if I might have something else that you might be interested in. Thanks, djune/Donna

I don't know if Travis is considering one - I planned to get in touch - since I've got a Dahlia Tuber he wanted. Found a Swap hosted by a progressive group that encourages a stronger, organic, local Food economy. It's a very informal group, and Guests would be welcome. Julie M. Potluck Celebration and Seed/Garden Swap! Portland Peak Oil: Potluck Celebration and Seed/Garden Swap Wednesday, March 29, 7pm St. Francis Church Dining Hall 1182 SE Pine, Portland Every time there's a fifth Wednesday, Portland Peak Oil throws a party! Let's take a break from speakers, films and workshops and just have an evening where we relax and get to know each other better. This time we'll do potluck (local foods) and have a seed and garden supply swap. Remember to bring a dish and garden supplies/seeds to trade! Join us for a fun family evening. Free and open to the public. http://www.portlandpeakoil.org

I mix my gardens - herbs, veggies, fruits, etc. side-by-side so I do exactly what you are suggesting. A couple of suggestions: 1.) DO NOT plant toxic medicinal herbs in with edibles. Keep those in areas where mistakes won't happen. Even if you are sure where everything is, others might go to the gardens and not know any better. I realized this when my youngest child (a budding gardener) got old enough to go to the gardens himself and pick lettuce, spinach, purslane, and manner of other edible stuff from the garden to munch. I plant various blooming plants in certain areas to attract pollinators plus they're pretty. That year I had some foxglove planted in one of those areas. Nothing bad happened, but I had to do some special instruction and ban picking anything from that garden bed. I no longer plant anything that "dangerous" near to the edibles. 2.) Plant your asparagus where you can mow the bed. We mow ours in the spring before anything sprouts. Clears all of last year's debris - necessary. 3.) Check the plant's needs. Not everybody likes the same soil. Blueberries are a prime example. I have to put them in a special bed and amend the soil because they love high acid soils. That is not what I have. See what sun, water, soil ph, richness of soil, etc. requirements they have. Put like needs together. 4.) I often have small areas in the veggie bed where I start perennials like coneflowers. It's a bit of a nursery. But I have to end up moving them before working the beds the next spring. It takes effort and can hold up working the soil. If I was smart, I would just have set areas for this but that never seems to happen and probably never will. 5.) Check out companion plantings. Sources like Carrots Love Tomatoes can give you great advice on what to plant together and what not. 6.) Blooming herbs, perennial or not can attract many beneficial pollinators to your garden. Pollination by insect is requirement for success with many foodstuffs. I have calendula, marigolds (tagetes), marshamallow, borage, chamomile, and other blooming plants always next to or intermixed with the fruits/veggies. 7.) Raspberries sprawl. Best to have them not intermixed. Have a dedicated area. But be sure to encourage some wild rubus species that grows around you which you enjoy to a wild corner of your property. They often out preform the specially bred cultivars I've bought and planted. Of note, wild raspberry leaves do make a nice tea. Raspberry leaf tea is often drank medicinally for women's issues. 8.) I would plant some pole or runner beans by your arches. Some like "scarlet emperor" and hyacinth beans are quite ornamental. Some peas are as well. I like "dwarf grey sugar" for its pretty blossoms and edible pods. 9.) Encourage your youngling helpers to suggest some additions to the garden. It makes it more fun for them. Many vendors sell "kids" collections of seeds if you need some suggestions. FataMorgana

I didn't think anyone could beat sguanzon but I got sunnysmiles51 seeds today 105 wants sent wow and she also sent seeds for everyone. I also got three shy acres seeds today everyones bags are bursting I am only waiting on 3 more queen of diamonds ilovefarac mkruby I'm not sure whats up with mkruby I'm going to try e-mailing her one more time before we get all the seeds in if I don't hear from her I will cross reference her seeds to everones lists like I'm doing with gardenwitches seeds.Patty