Thought I'd repost this as a reminder so you won't forget to bring a lunch and something to drink, mark the plants you are bringing with their names, have some boxes to take your plants home in, a note pad for taking notes on culture, as well as good plant swapping etiquette. Hints, Etiquette, and Other Stuff Posted by castro_gardener 8b (My Page) on Thu, Feb 19, 09 at 10:14 Hello All ! Just a few reminders that will help us all have a nicer swap experience. After 10 years of hostessing and attending these swaps I've learned a lot from others. When you arrive, please seek out the hostess if we don't greet you first. Especially if you haven't been before. Any of us will help you with any questions you might have. Get a name tag, sign up for door prizes, and if we have one, sign the list for future notifications of swaps. Don't forget to bring a sack lunch. We'll need sustenance for continued swapping ! We will have door prizes. If you'd like to donate to our stash, please bring a new or gently used gardening item. We usually include things like fertilizer, gloves, tools, outdoor decorations, books, etc. Garden Junk and Garden Art is also welcome for trading. Hoses, trellises, rusty buckets, signs, you name it ! We've had people bring homemade soap, mosaic pots, and other great items. We welcome donations to help pay for the rental of the pavilion. Although it is voluntary, please consider that you're leaving the swap with plants that would have cost so much more at a nursery. A few dollars in the jar will go far to help us rent this nice pavilion in the fall. You may consider bringing cardboard boxes to haul home your booty. You may end up taking home more than you bring, and it's not always easy to get it all back in your car. Packing in boxes will allow you to stack them and keep your plants safe. Bring something to use for labeling the plants you receive. Old window blinds are excellent for this purpose ! They last forever and they're kept out of landfills. On that note, please label your plants for others. It saves a lot of time at the swap. You don't have to tell everyone what each plant is, since they already have names on them. Another helpful hint, which takes more time, but is great to have: consider putting a notebook together of your plants. Add pictures and descriptions of each plant you bring. Over time, you can add to it as you accumulate different types of plants. This also saves time at the swap. Others can view your notebook to see what a certain plant will look like. While swapping, please don't take plants off other's tables without asking. They may be across the room promising that same plant to someone else. Please find the owner and ask permission. Everyone's different, of course, and may bid you take whatever you like. But it's good to err on the side of caution, and ask anyway. Plants under the tables are not for swapping. This is where we place the plants we're taking home. Some plants are special and rare and the swapper may want something special in return. This is understandable. On the other hand, some of us don't always need something in return. Please consider everyone's feelings while swapping. Last but not least, have a good time. Make new friends ! I've met really great folks at the swaps and we're still swapping 10 years later !! If you can't make the San Antonio swap, consider the swap just up the road in Buda in April. I'll be there, too. patty

I might be able to make it depending on when the reschedule is. I would love some seeds anyone has to give away for plants that like full sun and aren't overly large. I've really been wanting some salvias and sedum

Just a couple of weeks until the swap. Here is the usual info and map link. Here is the basic outline for our swap. The swap usually starts at 9am sharp and we usually do door prizes and a potluck lunch around noon. It's usually all over by 1:30 or 2 depending on weather and how many people come. As for what to bring, the options are wide open. Plants of course, either divisions of your perennials, or cuttings you started or seeds you collected and labeled. Sometimes people bring whole plants they decided they didn't like anymore or didn't have room for. Also, if making new plants is not your thing, you can bring gardening related items, books, terra cotta pots, tools, etc... People are generally very generous and eager to make newbies feel welcome so there are no hard and fast rules about what you can bring. Also, most gardeners just don't want to take any of their own stuff back home so they are often not expecting an "even trade". Please do not take an item from someone's area without asking. A good idea is to bring an extra box to put under your table for the plants you have swapped and are taking home. Items under the tables are off limits. Also, we do have a donation jar if you want to help with the pavilion rental fee. There is also a list of things you may find useful to bring: camp chair or stool card table (there are no tables provided at the Buda pavilion) extra plant labels and marker extra plastic pots - usually someone needs these plastic bags for transporting goodies plastic nursery trays for transporting goodies gardening item to donate for door prize (optional) Your favorite food or drink for the potluck. Drinking water rain jacket (for some reason our swap usually causes a shower! Here is a link that might be useful: Buda City Park

"Well folks! Had a lot of you ask if we can get together and have a swap before the SA Festival one. YEP! Over at Vivians Saturday morning on May 22nd. She has been gracious enough one time to host a swap and she is doing it again!" Plant Swap and You are very welcome to come!! Started out as a Bloomin' Buds activity, but got posted on craigs list and has now opened itself up so - more plants!! 22 May - About 9:30/10 am 'til everyone is done. For trading newbies: Everything may be traded as long as plants are healthy and have true leaves started. Labeled cuttings with care instructions, rooted cuttings, Seeds (especially rare types) are welcome. Bare root is acceptable for appropriate plants. Please label plants/seeds if you know what they are. If you have no plants to trade: Probably no cash, but you can trade potting soil, mulch, anything a gardener might want or need. For instance, I am laying garden walks, so I am quite willing to trade for bricks, flagstones and 2"x4's!! We also welcome shares for new arrivals to the area who have no plants to trade. btw: My neighbor is having a garage sale the same day. Vivian Nelson 7001 Spring Leaf 78249