Hi Deborah!
Yes its still a go! Let's meet at 10:00 at McAlpine Park - (I checked, no permit required for a small group.) Bring anything you have to swap and something for a pot luck lunch. Most everyone (including myself) who has shown interest seems to be fairly new to Charlotte - I'm hoping Dottie will be able to answer lots of questions! I have a few little goodies for door prizes.

I started lots of seeds this year, but when I put them outside to harden off, the *$%^# squirrels got into them and dug them out of the trays and they are all mixed up now. (I have been thinking dark, dark thoughts about squirrels. I used to think they were so cute!) Anyway, I have a lot of hellebore seedlings, daylillies, liriope, and some cool looking arums that may or may not be weeds.

Anyway,I will start a sign up for lunch thread on the exchanges forum.

Our first annual (bi-annual?) swap should be fun!

Eliz.

Thanks Eliz - sounds like a good time. I have quite a few seedlings too.

were is McAlpine park located I know I've been by
it but can not remeber it's location
Thanks

Blueangel

should be good to meet some gardeners from the area

Blue Angel..it's on Monroe Rd. north of the intersection of Sardis Road North. Its entrance is right by a train overpass. IMMEDIATELY PAST THE BRIDGE if you're heading north.
Closest intersection with streetlight is Covedale Drive/Monroe Rd.
The location is called McAlpine Creek Greenway Park.

If anyone is coming south on Monroe (from Charlotte and points north)it's about a mile past Village Lake Drive (which connects Monroe to Independence) on the left.

Anyone coming via 485..get off the Matthews exit and head north on Monroe (East John St) Rd. After you pass the intersection with Sardis Rd. N. you go about a mile and pass under a train overpass and turn right into the park.

I'm not going to be able to make it. My dad and brother are coming Friday night for a visit on their way down to the Masters in GA next week. Maybe I can sneak over for an hour or so. I really wanted to come.

I just started a new job and they scheduled me for the weekend so I can't come now either. :(

Sigh.. well I'm new in town so I didn't have much to trade anyhow--but maybe we could do it again in the fall??
Just a thought. Mary

Eliz..might just be you and I . I'll be driving a silver BMW X-5.
Going to bring you one of my favorite plants(per.) and don't know what else right now.
I fell (well, missed the last step) onto a sidewalk. Small scrape but it messed up my knee pretty good and I haven't been able to finish my planting. Missing these cooler day opportunities.
See you tomorrow.

I will be there with all the seedlings the squirrels didn't destroy , some helebores, some of those cool arums, and some sandwiches! (and a few other odds and ends) HOpefully, I will have more to bring next time! And I think a Fall swap is a great idea! I should have a lot more to bring by then.

Sorry to hear about your fall Dottie, be careful out there!

Elizabeth

I'm going to want some hellebores. Deer don't fuss with them I hear.
Also, if anyone wants to bring some first year foxgloves I could use them too.

Wish I could squat but the knee say's 'no way'. Otherwise I'd dig up some native sysirinchiums (sp). Sweet little blue flowers.

Oh ..anyone have a young sassafras to swap?
I might bring a couple of red twig dogwoods that have variagated foliage and some other landscape shrubs I just haven't had the site to plant in.
D.

I went out and found a few other things to bring - crocosmia, purple oxalis (the pretty kind, not the weed) and some more helebores. I was kind of hoping for some Homestead Purple Verbena (roots at the nodes) and some poppy seeds (the mauve opium type) I have a lot of double orange daylillies. Does anyone want some?
Eliz.

Blueangel, sorry you missed it. Hotroses is from Oregon too and a really great gardener and cook.
Great food, great company and gobs of plants and seedlings I've been dying to try.

What a great day for a "gardeners get together"! I went home and planted all my new goodies and collapsed in a heap! Fun time - it was so good to finally meet other garden webbers in person! Let's do in all over again in late September or early October! I should have a lot more to divide and bring to swap my then! BTW - Dottie, you outdid yourself with lunch! McALpine park is a perfect place - easy to find and lots of space.

I guess I showed up to late
did not see any one on any of the three lots
that looked as though they were trading plants
it was about 12:30 quarter to one

Blueangel

Aw darn..I just missed meeting you by a few minutes. I wanted to get home and start planting.
People traded and chatted,I brought a map so we know where others are located, some left before lunch. Some locked up their cars and went to sit on the benches for lunch.
I'm thinking for the fall swap we begin by meeting at lunch time and then do the swap so folks have more time to arrive.
Hope you'll come back for the fall swap. I hear there will be lots more (although there sure were plenty of plants) since what is seedling now will be mature to share then.
Would that work better?