My right arm?

World Peace, probably.
A plant? Not so much.

If you are asking what plant I'd want that I can't find, I'd say it has to be Monarda "petite delight". It's a short, pink beebalm which is not prone to mildew or flopping. I had it in my previous garden and figured it'd be easy to find again. Not so. I saw one plant very early in the season but thought I'd pick it up later. Should have bought it while I had the chance - I've not seen this plant anywhere this summer.

I also once had a very blue sweetpea climber which bloomed beautifully all season. I haven't been able to find those seeds, either, mostly because I forgot where I bought them! :)

Oriental lilies and unusual clematis. THey are this year's favorites.

Hi cottagegarden, I just wanted to let you know that if there is any thing on my list you would like to have I would send you some for a sasbe. Once you get some plants established and have a trade list you will be able to share with someone else who is just starting out.
I really don't think there is any one thing that everyone wants because of different zones and different tastes.
If there is nothing interesting to you on my list now....I'm in zone 5 and a lot of my seeds aren't ready to harvest yet so keep checking.
Bonny

Chris Ont: is this the vine you want?

{{gwi:740515}}

Natvtxn, that might be it.
Here is a picture I took of it. It's bluer than it looks in this image.
(I had it growing beside some cherry tomatoes)

Chris, that looks like some kind of sweet pea to me. I wish you lived closer- I just got some Petite Delight this June! She's still so young, but maybe in a couple years if you still can't find any I could send you a bit?

Tracy

Hi, cottageflowers:

First, I think you have a really good trade list already! There are things on there that I see on people's wants list all the time.

Something that people beg and plead for on the exchange forum is Corkscrew Vine. I think few people actually get seed from it when they grow it, because everyone seems to want it, and no one has it. Seeds for it are pretty expensive, though.

I think a total beginner could invest in a bulk purchase of a couple of nasturtium types and a couple of profusion zinnias, and be in business. Any annual that doesn't, or might not, come true from seed would be a big draw. (The profusions sometimes come true, and sometimes don't. Nasturtium seeds take a long time to ripen, and diminish the flowering of the plant, so a lot of people pinch them off)

If there is a source for "guaranteed" hosta seeds, those would trade well, as well as daylilies. I don't think either of those would be cheap though, while those annuals could be.

Those are just my thoughts on the subject, although, again, you already have great stuff to trade with and send into the Cottage swap. Be sure to send in a LOT of packets of those feverfews to the swap... maybe even with my name on a couple (or save one packet of each for trading!) :)

Agastaches and Salvias. Lot's of people (including myself) love them and are always looking for different ones.

Rain . . .

:-) Mel

a watering system... a budget big enough to hire some help with the big jobs, like a new walkway, boxwood hedges, weed control...

sigh.

Well, I like my arms right where they are, attached and functional. But I wish it would rain reliably, and the right amount, what ever that is. Everywhere, for us all.

Rosefolly

I agree with Stage_rat about the Nasties and Profusions. Or a lot of people grow flowers by color, so getting a bulk pack of all red, deep "black", or all pink flowers, something like Zinnias, Nasturtium or snaps would go over well. Take a look at Stoke's seeds - they sell in single colors.

But then I also agree with BonnyLynn, You can never predict what the sweetheart seeds will be because all it takes is for somebody to post a single gorgeous photo and everybody on GW will want the seeds for the plant(s)! I would say the interest in red flowers has gone up 1000% since Gottagarden has started posting her photos here on the CG Forum.

I will say you will have better luck if you know the height and color of the flower/plant. It's almost essential if you want people to repond to posted trade offers. A Pink Cactus Zinnia is "worth" more than Mixed cactus Zinnias.

Also, things with very dark red or purple foliage like Salvia Purple Volcano or Purple Knockout are extremely popular. I bought a giant pack of Red Rubin Basil last year and got a lot of trading mileage out of it. (Gorgeous BTW, highly recommended!)

Last year, I noticed all black, dark maroon and brown or chocolate flowers were very popular, but this year? Who knows! I would say that any flower that is out of the ordinary for color is ALWAYS sought out. Nasturtiums in any color except orange or mixed; Thunbergia that is any color except gold with a black eye; red marigolds; maroon Zinnias; Coral or bright red hollyhocks; Red Sunflowers; ultra-short sunflowers; stuff like that.

If you do decide to purchase seed, be sure to let people know it is C. (Commercial) To some people that is "worth" more than collected seed. Oh, and F1 hybrid commercial seed would likely be sought out, too.

Lime

Well, not sure I'd give up a limb, but I would like to find the pink cultiver of "Liatrus". I also can't seem to have enough peonies or roses. I have some of the "Petite Delight" monarda. I'm willing to share some with the gal that needs some. You can grow it from seed, I got mine at Menards a few years back. I do like the zinnias too, they're alo of fun.