Anyone ready to start thinking about a swap???

16 years ago

I know that it is still early February and most of our gardens aren't looking their best but I was thinking how much I would like to have another swap here. I had such a good time last year and really enjoyed meeting my GW buddies. I am thinking about the 26th of April [a Saturday] to give me time to whip the garden back into shape and to give everyone else time to plan and start their swap goodies. I am located on the eastern edge of the Ocala National Forest [read that in the "boonies"] about a half an hour east of Ocala. I will supply lunch for everyone so we can make a day of it.

So what do ya think? I would love to see everyone from last year again as well as any "new" friends I have yet to meet. Let me know and I will start getting the details together.

nova aka Susan

Comments (23)

corar4gw
16 years ago
YES!! hopefully, I will have wheels again by then. My old blue wagon got totaled last week. (no one hurt badly, thank goodness!) My mechanic said it was a blessing in disguise!
I've been starting plants for months and really REALLY need to spread them around - so I can make room for NEW stuff. And if I can make it to your swap, will bring, food, drinks, ice - whatever you need to fill any gaps. Looking forward to meeting you and the GW gang! cora
thonotorose
16 years ago
I've been thinking about a swap since I found out you FloraBuds did them!

This won't cancel out any fall rose-baby swaps, will it? Lol.
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Ditto, no selling at the Fort Worth area swap. One lady showed up one time and wanted to sell her plants, but when we told her we weren't there to buy anything, she packed up her kit bag and went home. If you log on the Gardening in Arkansas forum and go to the trading forum you can just post a notice that you would like to have a swap in your area and see how many people are interested. You may be surprised and if you only have 5-10 people respond, go with it, a small swap is still a swap and you still get stuff for your garden for free. Ours started out several years ago with Sylvia doing that, and it is always a big event. We reserve a space at a centrally located public park, preferably an area with a pavilion and a grill. One couple has agreed to always bring refreshments for everyone in exchange for plants and seeds. Then if anyone has something they want to bring extra to eat they bring enough for at least 30 people. Then we set a date, usually a Saturday and people start listing what they plan to bring. We have a lot of "pre-swaps" on the garden web and then there are on the spot swaps after you get there and find people have brought stuff that they didn't list that you want, like tools, books and other fun things. One time someone brought gardening aprons with the GW logo embroidered on them. One person always brings great soaps and bath salts that she makes at home. Some people will bring baked goods to trade for plants if they don't have enough plants to swap. Another person made cute personalized name tags for everyone. Once you get one of these swap things going you will find that a lot of the same people will attend year after year (oh and we do it twice a year too, Spring and Fall) so we all get to be very good friends, even visiting each others homes and gardens and sharing plants and info on a regular basis. My humble opinion of the swap is that you should not ante up a dime for anything, otherwise you will be expected to continue to cover the costs and you will eventually lose out big time. Go cheap, spend nothing, and you will have a fun get-together with other gardeners who share interests in the best way, freely. This way you will never feel used or abused and in no danger of having to make it into some kind of business. Check out your public parks, maybe a church yard or a school yard will allow you to set up for a couple hours on a Saturday morning. If you plan to help out your humane society that can certainly happen too, they would have to be willing to set up at whatever location you choose but if they want to make money by selling something, you may again wind up obligated in some way. Personally, I'd keep those kinds of activities separate from a free plant swap. Cheryl
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abendwolke
16 years ago
Susan, that sounds great! I am looking forward seeing your gardens and I will start cuttings soon :-)

Evelyn
treefrog_fl
16 years ago
Did you say lunch?!
nova_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
I found some pictures of last years swap to tempt everyone-

This is when everyone was arriving and setting up their plants. I will supply as many tables as I can.

Some serious swapping going on!

Everyone settling down to lunch and to swap garden ideas,

It was a great time and I can't wait to do it again!

nova aka Susan
an_ill-mannered_ache
16 years ago
bill - want to carpool?
nova_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Ill-man- I have the yellow datura seeds I promised you. Hopefully you and Bill can come by!

Susan
KaraLynn
16 years ago
You can count me in! I had a great time last year.

Kara
laura1
16 years ago
I had a good time last year too. count me in. Hmm...now all I have to do is propagate some plants! All my roses have been cut back so I don't have anything to root. I'll find something.

...and we'll get to see the bottle path!

Laura
nova_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Laura - The bottle path is in the home stretch now. I hope to have it settled in by the swap. Even if you don't have any plants come by anyway, I would love to see you again!

Karalynn - Are you the one I offered the "flame azaleas" to last year? If they aren't dead by the time I will give them to you this year!

Thonotorose - I won't have many [if any] roses rooted by April. I am looking forward to a fall rose trade!

Evelyn and Cora - I would love to have you both.

Treefrog - Yes I did say lunch! Nothing fancy but you won't go hungry. Also, I usually have coffee, juice, and breakfast rolls for earlybirds!

I will work on a "starter" list of the plants I will have for the swap this weekend to get us going. I look forward to seeing everyone!

Susan
maureen155
16 years ago
I plan to be there this year, Susan. Thanks for hosting this.

Maureen
nova_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Maureen - It will be great to see you again! I am glad you will be able to make it this year!

Susan
an_ill-mannered_ache
16 years ago
susan... you were right about the datura self sowing. i have several hundred of those triple currant daturas growing all over the place... i'll pot them up, along with the hundreds of dune sunflowers, scores of porterweed, dozens of milkweed...

looking forward to the swap and the new dat.
KaraLynn
16 years ago
Susan, I don't remember if it was me you offered the flame azaleas to but I'll take them if you don't want them anymore. This past summer I lost one of my flame azaleas and my pink pixter azalea to the drought.
jupiterplants
16 years ago
Susan,

I plan on going...... can you give me the "back way" directions ? :) It was so pretty.

D`Ann
nova_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Karalynn-I have had 2 flame azaleas for about 2 years and they don't like me! They haven't done anything and I think you were the one who told me they needed more sun so you are welcome to them. I know for sure one is still hanging in there but I am not sure about the other one.

D'Ann- How "back way" do you want to go? I am more familiar with the roads around here now so I should be able to come up with a "scenic" route for you!

Ill-Man- Can you put my name on some of your dune sunflowers and porterweed? I am expanding my butterfly garden and would love to add some of both!

Susan
corar4gw
16 years ago
I'm afraid my list of plants is rather limited. Various colors of Xmas cactus, Maracas (from Brazil), aloe, some Crinium bulbs, off the top of my head. Will also have some garden "art" and signs I make(don't just stand there, pull weeds!)I've no idea what I'd like to have other than citrus or food type plants. It will be fun just getting to meet you all. Cora
nova_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
cora- Just bring what you have and expect to leave with alot more! I like the idea of garden art and I got the cutest garden sign last year that I display in my pond!

You are right that half the fun is getting to meet everyone and being able to put faces to names.

Susan
nova_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Hello All! I did some checking around this weekend and came up with a partial list to get us started looking forward to the swap. If you see something you are interested in let me know and I will put your name on it!

Mexican Sunflower
Brugmansia [NOID pink, white, yellow]
Cuphea [Twinkle Pink ?]
King's Mantle [Thunbergia erecta]
Bellyache Bush [ Jatropha gossypifolia]
Buddha Belly Bush [Jatropha podagrica]
Coleus [cuttings or let me know and I will get some started for you]
Bulbine [yellow and orange]
Blue Butterfly bush [ Clerodendrum ugandense]
Old Blush Rose
Alocasias-
New Guinea Gold
Frydek
"Boomer" Begonia
LA Iris "Black Gamecock"
Mini Waterlilies [yellow or purple]

Susan
manature
16 years ago
Nova, count me in, too! I would LOVE to come visit your place again. If I don't have any cuttings going well by then, I will bring seeds and some other goodies to share. I'll find something to trade, for sure! I really enjoyed your swap...such a beautiful piece of property you have, and sitting in the shade of those oaks was so pleasant! Looking forward to it.

Marcia
nova_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
I would love to see you again too Marcia! Can't wait for another birding lesson!

Susan
manature
16 years ago
Be sure to have the "THREEPS" tuned up and ready to sing!

Hehehe,
Marcia
an_ill-mannered_ache
16 years ago
i should have a bunch of organic milkweed, some interesting colors of spiderwort, more dune sunflowers and blue porterweed than you can shake a stick at... triple currant swirl daturas, great florida-approved veg seeds for summer planting (crowders, pole beans, seminole squash)... alternanthera... variegated wormwood... yellow sunroses... spicy jatropha... some great zinnias...

Anyone ready to start thinking about a swap???

Comments (23)

corar4gw

thonotorose

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Anyone ready to start thinking about a swap???

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