I know, I know, it's a little early to be thinking of this, but we seem to have some new members in the area who might be interested in a spring swap. Here's the basics: 1. This swap is firstly a tailgater (meaning you can trade plants out of the back of your trunk). 2. No sales are allowed. 3. Pre-arranged trades ahead of time are welcome (individuals may email one another to make prearranged trades or you can do so on this site if you prefer) 4. Any garden-related item is welcomed at the trade, so not just seed packets and plants, bulbs, etc. but old tools, rocks, extra fertilizer, garden books/magazines, compost, etc. - is most welcome especially if you are new to these swaps and are just starting out but don't have a lot of plants/perennials to divide up and swap. 5. And the exciting part, the swap circle, which is always a surprise and was a BIG HIT this Spring. What you do is randomly place between 1-10 items in the circle which entitles you to take 1-10 items back in exchange. We sure had a whole lot more than that in the Spring and thanks to the generous donors. The circle is where you'll find things you never knew you wanted or needed until you see it, and no one goes home until the circle is empty...that's the rule. (Thanks Nadia..w) Anyhoo..I live on a small circle, if worse comes to worst, we could use the small circle of park on the cul-de-sac. If anyone has any ideas about location..(abandoned parking lots, school parking lots) let's put our thinking caps on and try to get something together. I have a lot of perennials that need splitting, and will probably have way more seedlings than I can fit in my beds. Something to consider..in the dark cold days of January. I'll continue this post over on Conversations..where it should be. Looking forward to contributions as to the where and when...please respond over there (link at the top of this forum) Wendy

Hi There I had a great time at my first swap last year - thanks to Christine! I am hoping someone may have some of the following : Japanese Anemone (varieties other than Honorine Jobert or Max Vogel) Wood Hyacinth Geranium - perennials (not annual pelargoniums) - any type Dogwoods (babies are fine) Ferns (Maidenhair or Lady would be great) - any other is fine Variegated hosta - any type except those with curled edges Monkshood Epimedium - white or other other unusual varieties (I have sulphureum and rubrum) Trillium Witchhazel Autumn Clematis Veggies - we're going to try a veggie patch this year: Leeks broccoli zucchini cherry tomato plants Lettuce basil parsley thyme spinach cabbage Thanks and look forward to seeing everyone next week. Mary Jane

Hello ALL, I am so looking forward to meeting you all. I am not the best gardener in the world but I try. I have built a 44 foot diameter labyrinth in my back yard, a wooded lot but still half of it has good sun. I am trying to collect hostasfor the past couple of years to surround the perimeter, but I have a long way to go. So anyone with extra hostas, I can't collect enough of them for this project! I am also looking for day lillies, especially the yellow ones but any color will be helpful. I am also looking for the herbs: costmary, comfrey, Lady's mantle and sweet woodruff I have a very limited perenial garden so I am open to any extras that you might be able to share. What I have to share: the herb southernwood. It is a green feathery like plant. It is suppose to repel insects. I was told to take the greens and wood stems in early spring and put them around my echinecia plants to keep them from being attacked by bugs and it has worked for me! It is not evasive at all. It more or less stays right in the same place you plant it. I make snippings and root them for new plants. So if people are interested please let me know so I know how much to bring. Rose campion. It is has beautiful 18 inch silver grey stem with brilliant scarlet red small blooms. I have to say this plant is beautiful but it will spread seeds and within a few years you will have a lot. The plant isn't evasive per se it just seeds a lot. So I have given it, its own perenial garden so the garden just seeds itself and the wave of red blooms are stunning. I get so many compliments on it. It blooms in summer through fall. It is an old fashion cottage type perenial that would look great in any garden, but if you put it in with other flowers, just take note that you will have to cut the seed head before they are released or you will have to dig up the seedlings the following spring and put them where you want them. Again, if anyone is interested let me know. I don't want to dig up any more than people will take. Egyptian Onion. I love it. It comes out with the chives each spring, You can use it like thick chives or use the small shallot like onions that grow on the top. A pretty plant that is one of the first to welcome spring. I don't know what my spring soups would taste like with out my Eqyptian onions. Chives, I guess everyone knows about them Feverfew. A herb that is also an insect repellent. It grow aboyt 12 to 18 inches with a lot of greenery and beautiful small white Daisey like flowers. This does spread its seed through the yard but I would not call it evasive. When I do see a seedling growing in another part of the yard , I just dig it up and replant it with the rest of the feverfew. They are very beautiful in the summer and last quite a long time. Sun drops. Someone told me they were evening primrose sun drops. I don't know about evening primrose becasue they have bright yellow flowers that bloom during the day. They bloom the same time as the Rose campion and they compliment each other very well, color wise. Of the flowers that I have, I think these are the most evasive and WILL take over your garden if you don't give it its own spot. But they are very pretty. Echinecia. I have a few purple coneflowers that I could share, but I don't have too many of them. Cat Nip. My cats love it. I grow it by my kitchen door so I know where the cats are most o fteh time! Spearmint. Who can live without it! I am looking for pepermint if anyone has it. Purple Siberian Iris Lily of the Vally Red Dahlias I think that is about it I am cleaning out my bookshelves and will try to bring some gardening books. And I will try to get my husband to make apple knubby cake. You can e mail me directly at blaketaylore@yahoo.com if you want any of these plants or have any questions about them. Looking forward to the swap! Blake

Laura, Thanks for the info on the sedum, I checked mine again this afternoon and still no signs of growth, but several remaining old stems seem to be snug in the ground so will wait and see if they come back this year. If you aren't sure of yours this year, don't try to divide any of them. You sure don't want to lose such a beautiful sedum. I posted a pic on the "name that plant" forum to see if anyone can identify it for us. Janice, So glad you are coming again. If you can get a pic of that unknown plant, you might want to post it on the name that plant forum and see if they can help identify it. I'd love a division of your autumn joy sedum, and if you have more than 1, Jean would love one too, (my elderly neighbor across the street that comes to the swap). It depends on what seeds you are thinking of starting as to whether it might be too late or not and if you are going to WS the outside now. We had some flooding as well, but nothing near as bad as other parts of town did, and my WS seedlings did just fine. I will have some tomato plants for the swap, just not sure which ones or how many I will have yet. Some seeds are still germinating but most of them are up and growing. Coffee cake sounds wonderful for the swap. Perfect for morning with some coffee that will be there. Fran