Hi Folks!

How exciting it is to gear up to this fantastic event.

I have an appeal for warning labels, especially if something is invasive. I brought home a Chinese lantern from the spring swap last year an enjoyed it all summer. It looked good and I ate every last one of the berries--dee-lish! This spring, it spread 6-8 feet in three different directions with shoots every 4 inches or so. Another plant of unknown (to me)species has spread from one plant to a million in a 6-foot circle and grows faster than I can control it. It's amazing and frightening at the same time.

Anyone know about peonies? I potted up a nice-sized clump in March to bring to the swap--big fat roots! It's growing up fine and dandy in the pot, but has flower buds on it. Do you think the buds should be removed to promote root development after planting? I'm not an expert on this species.

Great gardening, everyone!

OOO..pineapple upside down cake sounds yummy! Thanks JoAnn!

Forest Parker - that is such a GREAT reminder. Yes, people should mark all INVAISIVE plants as such!

See you all soon...Beverly

Hostalastiva, Thanks for giving me more to be excited about!!! (As if I could!!!!) I have been so anxious ever since I found out about this swap and read all about everyone else's excitement I can hardly contain myself!And even though I don't know anyone,I feel like we've been friends and Garden Buddies forever. I'm so looking forward to meeting everyone.Like everybody else,I will be trying to put as much together as I can over the next couple weeks.
And after reading what everyone is bringing,I can't imagine
anyone going home empty handed!!
GRINS!!!!

Forest Parker -- are you an actual Forest Parker? From Forest Park?

Don't worry about the peony. They are notoriously sulky about being transplanted. It won't bloom this year -- may not even bloom next year. But if it likes its new home it could bloom reliably for the next 50-60 years!

Spent several hours puttering in the garden Saturday and Sunday, potting things up for the swap. The yard is so pretty in the spring but I realize I have trouble taking good pictures of it because every year it's swamped with little pots fpor the swap meet!

Real, genuine Forest Parker...living right in the heart of Forest Park (west). Mine's the house with no lawn in front, because it's cram packed full of plants. At least there's very little mowing!

The peonies I potted up are going to bloom. I was just wondering if I should cut off the flower buds to make them concentrate on growing little roots for themselves.

Beverly! I think you ought to bring that bed and enable someone else to get into cutting edge landscaping. You know someone's going to take a liking to it and convert it into a plant bed/trellis that will have all the neighbors talking!

That's right Sunbury Girl! I remember seeing something on HGTV about a woman who ONLY made her garden "beds" with headboard & footboards on two opposites sides of her flower beds. In fact, folks from her town would bring her their old beds (even baby beds) so that they could be part of her unusual landscape. It was very COOL! Yes, I will bring it!

"Bed" or trellis - I'll probably have a taker.

Beverly

Hi everyone. I think I'll be able to make it up to see you all this year. Right now I'm planning on it just being my husband and I coming. I've got a good bunch of dark purple iris, a few stella daylillies, and a couple of other things I could bring. I've got some strawberry plants I could pot up if there is any interest in them. I heard someone say they'd bring tomatoes...I have a feeling those will be in high demand since all mine I started this year were in the garden last week when it hit 30.

Hi Happy Deb! It's great that you and your hubby are joining the fun! I am certain someone would be interested in your strawberries. Seems like there's an interested gardener for just about every plant out there! It will be nice to see you. Welcome aboard!!

Good gardening...Beverly

Now that I have a fraction of my plants potted up and the backyard is already littered with little pots and planted styrofoam cups, I'm starting to figure out how I'm going to transport things.

I'm thinking I'll simply scotch tape all the same plant or types of plants together, and untape them at the swap. I'm also packing things up in boxes, and trying to group like things together, to make it easier to unload.

If we decided to organize things in different areas by categories, what categories are we using? I thought Herbs/Veggies, Sun-Loving, Shade-Loving, Annuals, Shrubs/Trees, perhaps even Enthusiastic/Potentially Invasive. Those categories would cover everything I'm bringing, at any rate!

For Alison and all of the other inquiring minds that want to know, the catergories are:

Annuals
Climbers
Day Lilies
Irises
Roses
Misc. Perennials and Biennials
Vegetables and Herbs
Ground Covers and Grasses
Nonplant Items

We figured that nine categories are enough. We'll see how it sorts out this year and tweak it to improve it next year based on the data.

Hope that this helps you sort Alison! I curb shopped three plastic bread racks like you see in the supermarket. My neighbor must have "acquired" them and then tossed them. They're great because I just set my plants in them as I pot them and can water right through them! Then on the 21st I grab them and off to the park! Last year I used wooden grape crates that the produce guys at the store saved for me. Smile sweetly and ask. They just throw them away. Onion boxes are also sturdy but made from cardboard so you can't load them up until right before the swap. I guess milk crates would work like the bread racks for small plants.

Well, I'm sure that you all have your favorite ways to get your plant babies there safely.

My son, Isaac, helped me to design and make a totem hose gaurd for a door prize. I may be bringing some other garden decorations (I won't try to spell the other yiddish word!) as door prizes too.

Ten days and counting!

~~Mimi

HostalaVista:
We think that our Mimosa we rec'd from you two years ago is dead.
Our roofing contractor hit it twice with his dump truck last summer.
No leafout as yet.
Any chance we can get another ?
Thanks
Dave

We leave for Columbus a week from today, and I can't wait to get away from this 39 degree weather we have today. Hubby is even ready to go south.
We have the front porch full, along the porch bushes, and the back patio. We had to pot 50 hostas up for my Garden Club sale, about a 100 for Columbus Exchange, and 40 hostas we winter over for my sister to take to the cottage. With the cool weather and heavy rains my arms are tired of carting them in and out.
Is anyone bring named hostas besides Hostalavista? I do have some for you Hostalavista. We need a good chat about Winterberry.
Beverly and Mini you have done an excellent job of advertising and tons of work on this Great Event. Will be happy to see you all in a few days. Betty

Hi Betty! Thanks...I can't wait to see you and Ron. Sounds like you've got things all set for your various swaps etc.

I know what you mean about pots winding around the beds going and down the yard! I've dug up about 140 plants. I am taking some over to Riverside Hospital Hospice for their fundraiser plant sale. I'll have nearly 100 myself to bring to the swap....YIKES!

Let's see...ostrich fern, circle flower, achillea the Pearl, Blue Queen Sage, named & unnamed daylilies, Hellebore Foetitus, oat grass, Red Husker Penstemon, Lavendar Munstead, chives, Ononclea Sensibilis (sensitive fern), some crainsbill geranium , iris, New York Asters, lychnis Snow Star, Kerria japonica shrub, etc.

I am getting excited!!

Weather.com says it's going to be good weather on May 21. Remember, though, they said that last year until the day of and then the forcast changed to rain. Come what may..we have a covered shelter - let the fun begin!

Beverly

Would any one be interested in any baby kittens? I have 3 to give to good homes. They are half Minx and adorable. They were born on the 21st of April and are in good health.
For anyone who doesn't know what a minx kitten is, They are usually born without a tail.The mother kitten always has at least 1 if not more no tail kittens out of her litters. She had 4 babies this time and out of the four 1 is a no tail. We want to keep all the no tails and give the others to good homes. I would like to know if there are any interested parties before I bring them.I'm not sure what gender they are yet. But if you get a girl kitten, Chances are you may get a no tail baby out of her litter.
I hate to split up the family, But I'm willing to do so to good homes.They truely are sweet and adorable.

Well, I haven't posted since the very begining thread,
Boy am I excited !!!!!! only a week away :o)
Quite a response for the swap this year, going to be an event for sure. I wonder if I could possibly eat over a 100 different foods-LOL
Can you imagine all the different plants that will be there?!! AWESOME!
I know I'll be scoping out the Hosta table.
So glad to see annuals will have a place-(I think I over did it on the annuals-lol), but have lots of perennials to bring as well-at least 50 pots for sure.
counting the days and potting more with each passing day, sure hope Joanne's(thinkdirt) suv can hold 'em all.
What FUN !!!
See ya all soon!!
Linda

We are getting excited about next weekend. I have potted up several dozen perrenials already and I have quite a few extra tomatoes to bring. I didn't do as many tomatoes this year and I got them started later, but I should have some ready for the swap, they just won't be quite as big as last year. I know that I will have some Brandywine, Lucky Cross, Noir de Crimmee, and stuffing tomatoes to bring as well as a few dwarf varieties. As far as perrenials go, I have two varieties of Jerusalem artichokes, some Japanese painted ferns I started from spores, a couple of sensitive ferns, Crimson Pirate daylily, a couple types of lamium including Gold Nuggets lamium, a type we bought last year and love, some Lemon Balm, Fringed Bleeding Heart, Trumpet Vine, and a few hostas: Golden Tiara, Lemon Lime, and a Ventricosa. I plan on potting up a few more things this week and we are going to a local swap tomorrow so we could pick up a few extra things there.
The fun thing is going to be figuring out how to get both of the dogs, both of the kids, all of our luggage for the weekend trip to Columbus, and the plants into the van. We have had a few plant casualties in the past because things were not packed the best.
Can't wait to see everyone and their plants.
James

Granny 57...hope you find some good homes for those sweet kitties!!

Linda (fourpaws)..I know what you mean - the food and plant potential are AWESOME!! This should be a grand gathering of gardeners!

James...sounds like you've got a good variety of plants. Yes, you've got LOTS of things for the van! Good luck on the packing. Can't wait to see you, Michelle and the kids!!

Looks like we have the "day off" today from our gardens today...lots of rain. This is the third year in a row that it's rained on the second Saturday of May. Hmmmm.

take care...Beverly

Oh I am so excited to have found out about this! I have lots and lots of irises to bring. Are people interested in house plants? I've got a bunch of those too that I'd like to bring... aloe vera, jade, etc...

Hi Pomly!! I am very glad you found this site with the plant swap info. I'll put you down. My good friend, Mimi, LOVES iris. (others love them too...but, she's kinda of an iris junkee -er - I mean collector.) LOL She'll be SO HAPPY to see more coming to the swap.

Yes, you may bring house plants. Please mark them as such.

It will be nice to meet.

good gardening...Beverly

DAY OFF FROM OUR GARDENS? This IS the time I love to garden b/c it's nice and cool for the plants and ma nature waters them in. I know many folks don't garden in the rain, but I'm the opposite. I wait UNTIL the rain to get going.

Anyone else or am I just a buckeye nut?

This is going to be a great swap!!!

Pomly-Yes! Folks will be interested in your house plants. People have brought them in previous years and none were left at the end. I'm bringing 3 Amaryllis.

I also have red canna lily rhizomes. They get about 6 feet tall. Any one interested?

I painted up three birdhouse decorations to bring as door prizes. I also have the glass totem hose gaurd ready.

I'm so excited!

~~Mimi

Okay one week and counting down to the big day, can't wait so excited plants and good food and great people, we all wait for this event all year and what a great time we all have, and yes fourpaws my SUV will have enough room for all our plants, and all the ones we will bring home.

Can't wait to meet everyone and to see those again from last year. SEE you ALL in A WEEK

JoAnn

Karen, I'm the same way - I like working in the rain, or even better - just before it starts. I potted up 3 flats of Campanulas today, I find the rain is far less traumatic on those little seedlings than my gentlest watering can. :)

Beverly, I think it might work better if you change Roses to Trees and Shrubs. I know I've brought oodles of roses to past swaps, but I don't have that many this year. It was a tough year for cuttings, and the divisions of Therese Bugnet I potted last week didn't do well either - they will have to wait for the fall swap. I've only got a half dozen or so roses so far, I may have more if the De La Maitre de Ecole cuttings have grown roots - I'm potting them up tomorrow, so I'll know soon enough.

I'm up to over 100 plants potted up so far, my goal this year is to bring home no more than 20, lol! We'll see how that works out! ;) Everything I've got ready so far for the swap is on my exchange page, if anyone wants to check it out.

See you all soon!

Jeanne- I say that I'll be bringing home less than I took every year. So far I've told the truth. One year it was only 5 less---but it was LESS!

The categories are just our best guess. We'll tweak the signage next year based on this year's data. Let's face it, we all bring different numbers of each thing each year. I'll probably NEVER get it right! Oh, well! I guess you all will just have to fire me! ;)

I'm getting excited. Scratch that. I AM EXCITED!!!!!!

My list of stuff to bring is on the front to the fridge and gets longer every day! Having so many people coming is both exciting and a little intimidating. However, I'm too stupid to know that I can't do anything so with Beverly's valuable guidance and help I bet we'll pull it off!

Counting the days.....

~~Mimi

Jeanne...you've got a GREAT list! I know what you mean..we say we won't take home alot - but, some things are always so tempting.

Bakemom - you must have been in your element on Saturday. I forgot how you love planting in the rain. Plunk in those WS babies!

OOO..this is going to be fun!

Weather.com says it should be nice on Saturday - but, you all know how that can change! Let's HOPE!!

Beverly

Jeanne -- I'm with you; I'm afraid my rose cuttings won't be presentable Saturday -- but they should be repectable by the fall swap. My friend Barb will not be able to come to the spring swap, as it turns out, but she has cuttings of a shade-blooming forsythia that she'll bring to the fall swap!

When I sowed the big lasagna pans this winter, I took some pains to put together plants that were similarly hardy, but had very different leaf patterns, so I wouldn't get confused about which was which. I'm glad I did! I have so many winter-sown seedlings to pot up and bring to the swap that I was out in the backyard until almost 10 Saturday night. The lamppost light burned out and I thought I had to give up -- until I realized that the yellow pear tomatoes I was transplanting even felt different from the FMN and Immortelle on either side. Finished another 10 pots of tomato seedlings by Braille!

I am visiting Dayton a week after your swap. Margie (Granny57) has very kindly offered to trade on my behalf. So, I will be happy to post Dahlia tubers (I live in Seattle)to whomever I have set up trades with. In return, if you can pass my plants to Margie, I can get them from her in the first week of June.

This is what I have and it will be first come first posted :)
Ala mode, Camano Thunder, Cheynne Cheif, Elma Elizabeth, Fuzzy Wuzzy, Idaho Red, Just Peachy, Mr. Brett, Nettie, Scarborough Brilliant, Santa Clause and Spartacus.(Google to see what they look like)

Because I garden on an itty bitty suburban lot, I have to be selective about what I can plop in the ground. So this is what I am looking for:

Hoya (Wax flower) Hoya carnosa
Jasmine sambac (arabian jasmine)
Plumeria (any)
Ornamental grasses - Black mondo grass, Hakone 'Aureola'or 'All Gold'
Stinking Hellebore - Helleborus foetidus
double hellebores
Linum lewisii, narabonese
Baptista alba
Brunnera Jack Frost
(make me an offer ;)

I am also looking for 'holy basil' o. sanctum, annuals and various perennials as a surprize for my mother-in-law. Happy trading y'all, hope the weather holds up.

-Shilpa

Alison...so clever!! Potting up your tomatoes in braille - love it..now I've heard everything!! Also, I've never heard of a shade blooming forsythia before..wow.

Hi Shilpa...too bad you won't be here the weekend of the swap. Hope you get some takers!

Jeanne & Alison..it's too bad about the roses. You never know what will or won't be ready. Mimi made and laminated the plant signs for the swap last last week. So, she won't be making any changes in that department for now. It's a good idea to consider, Jeanne!

Folks, we have 135 (including 3 infants) people interested attending the swap. If you happen to have room in your car (I know, ha ha!!) toss in a collapsable chair. Although...I can picnic on the ground if need be.

If we all come with a kind, patient and sharing heart - having so many people will make really fun and fabulous.

See you all soon...Beverly

I can't believe it's almost here! You are all so inspiring, having potted up so many plants already! I have only a few so far and a lot more to go. I'm going to have to get it in gear! I plan to bring some variegated hosta (variety unknown), gold creeping jenny, groundcover sedum, coreopsis 'Baby Sun' seedlings, Knautia, Boltonia, Purple Coneflower, Moonbeam Coreopsis, Stokes Aster seedlings, Sweet Autumn clematis, scabiosa, dwarf iris 'Orange Tiger', maybe a poppy mallow, Monarda, Snow in Summer, Japanese Blood Grass, and maybe a few more if I have time. I'm also making a stepping stone to bring for a door prize. I'm looking forward to it so much---the plants and all the great food!
Kim

I'm bringing jewlweed,jack-in-the-pulpit,wild ginger,tansy,bee balm,variegated vinca,elderberry,spicebush,akebia,possibly yellowgroove bamboo (if anyone wants it) and more.Btw,are we supposed to put our names on the plant tags so we know who to thank?

Kim..you've got a great selection of plants. I know folks will enjoy them in their gardens.

Cecropia...you don't have to put your name on the plant tags - you can if you like. Yes, it is nice to know where the plants come from. Sometimes we know - sometimes not. Great plants!! Can't wait.

The forcast looks good for Saturday. Let's hope it stays that way!

..Beverly

It's here!!! Plant Swap Week is finally here!!!!!
This is what I'm bringing:
evening primrose
strawflower
purple coneflower
calendula
anise hyssop
feverfew
common thyme
'Angel Face' rose (just one....she's not happy in my garden)
sedum divisions (if I can get to them in time for Saturday)
penstemon (red flowers)
painted daisy
love in a puff vine
kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate
birdhouse gourd vine
rudbeckia (assorted)
heliopsis
hardy mum divisions (assorted colors)
grasses--black moudry and northern sea oats--if I can get them potted up in time

.....and myself, if I can fit into the car after all those plants!!! :) My dad also whipped up another birdhouse, and I painted it--that'll come along for a door prize.

Can't wait to see everyone on Saturday.
Gina

Looks like I will have datura, hollyhocks, sweet sultan, toad lilies, coreopsis, larkspurs, green and white hosta, centranthus ruber, thunbergia, pink FMN and a few blue, yellow pear tomatoes, immortelle, several kinds of mint, red scabiosa, ROS, a few scented geraniums, snow-in-summer and... and... 8 million coffee cans!

(Plus a few door prize items!)

And five new recruits!

Getting excited!

Is anyone bringing Roma tomatoes? Mine didn't self-sow this year, although they could just be late b/c of the weather.

I am so excited about all these plants and a other goodies. Alison..thanks in advance for your doorprizes. Gina..thank you and your Dad for the birdhouse.

We've come a long way from that first year...and the teacup birdfeeder as our doorprize!

Getting REALLY excited!

...Beverly

How about squeeeeeeeezing in my friend Diane??????

Hey fourpaws linda! what kinda hosta you looking for???
I got a few!! hehe we must get together and talk!!!! hostalavista linda!!

I'm getting so excited I think I'm going to hyperventilate!
Anyone bringing paper bags??? I may need one.! or two!!
FOCUS LINDA FOCUS!!!

Alison, I need one of your yellow tomatoe for my grand-daughter, she is two, loves to pick them herself!
and I didn't get any of those started!!she is sensitive to the acid tomato....
remember in the fall the people who brought the tomatoes?
I started some of them, do you remember the furry peach one? or did you see it?? I do have a start of those, want one???? trade ya! also the green grape germinated too, the red bullshorn, one that is green,pink and yellow and was soooo good, I bet I have at least 12 different ones from the fall tomatoes!! Don't know how many I will bring if any, everyone around here wants them... I'll try to sneak some out!

James, you started Japanese Painted Fern from spore! how interesting, and you have tomatoes too!!! yea!

I gotta get on the ball! I may be on here half the night reading about all the things everyone has!
Dave, I sent you a message about the mimosa... linda

Sorry, Linda; they only come in 4-5 packs. Carefully, painstakingly, transplanted-by-braille 4-5 packs.
Means you can kill at least 3!

For those still transplanting for the swap, I learned something useful today. Browsing thru my nursery I noticed little garbage cans at the end of some rows, with plastic 3 and 4-packs that were either empty, or had dead plants in them. Other cans had 3" and 4" plastic pots. I collected a bunch of them, and some of the plastic trays and took them to the check out counter. I asked the rather harried cashier if I could have them, and she said sure. If I'd know that, I wouldn't be bring so many things in styrofoam cups.

Had a lovely bonding moment with my neighbors this evening, out in the backyard. They've been very patient about the mounting number of containers cluttering our little back yard, and my incessant babbling about what "we" will be getting from the garden swap. But tonight we got a 12-pack of beer, some sausage and corn on the cob, fired up the Weber kettle -- and spent an hour or so putting little stick-on labels with Latin names and planting instructions on each pot. While I had to take some ribbing about being the ultimate horti-geek, we had a great evening.

Little do they know that all those plants leaving the yard Saturday morning will be replaced be other plants coming in Saturday night....

Hi Linda (Hostalavista) - Sure, we've got room for Diane. Come on down!! It's all gettin' so exciting.

I've started a "pile" of things in the guest room - door prizes, plates/cups/silerware, sign in book, nametag stuff, door prize sign-up stuff - it's a happening!!!

Alison... thanks for sharing the pot/container info. They throw alot of those away anyway. I LOVE the cookout and labeling affair with your neighbors. Nothing like sausage, corn & beer to put everyone in the spirit! Actually - being the ultimate hort-geek is a PROUD title!!!!!!!!!

See you all soon...Beverly

Hey Alison,
4 0r 5 in a pack of tomatoes will be fine with me, I'll just try to get them on a trade!!! I'm good at killing plants too....
You not only do braille, but eat sausage, corn, beer,
(my kinda girl), I was wondering???? what order was this?
latin, beer, label, then you label, beer, latin,
then you laabbeell, beeerrr, llaattinnnn, then eat the latin corn, drink the sauage beer,
and then you label the latin beer, and beer the label latin,
Beeeeeeerrrrrrr, laaabbeeel, Hic, hic, Latttiiinnnnnnnn.
I just wanna be able to do this right!
I gotta go lay down,,,,, hehe, can hardly wait til saturday hic...

OH Linda, LMAO what a great post sounds like the beer really worked. I can't wait for Saturday and the weather is going to cooperate WOW what a great day this is going to be. Allison can't wait to read those labels boy are you going to take a ribbing if they are written wrong, we will have to take your beer away for sure LOL but it sounds like you had a great time with the neighbors, wish I had neighbors like that.

See you all saturday.

JoAnn

Anyone else coming from NW Ohio (Toledo area)??

If so are you interested in carpooling? I'm willing to be either the driver or the passenger. I've got a station wagon, so we should have no problem fitting in both our plants.

If you're interested, email me!!
-Stephanie

Bakemom:
I'm about sold out but think I have a few sauce/paste tomatoes
left. Will try to bring a few Grandma Mary's and Rosalie's Giant Paste.
Dave

Hi folks...dare we say that it looks like good weather! I am getting excited. Mimi was working on street "Plant Swap" signs yesterday. I've been gathering all the "stuff", too. Only two days away.

We should have a whoop-dee-do time!!

....Beverly

You-hoo...........Hostalavista!!! Betty and Ron just dropped off all their swappin' plants for me to "babysit" until Saturday. Gee...your hostas from them would look mighty nice in my garden! ................................................Just kidding (of course)!!!!!!!!!

Wow...their entire car was full of plants! GREAT!

...Beverly

Beverly and Mimi,

I plan (hopefully not in vain) to arrive about 9:30 so I can help as much as possible with setup, the sign-in table, etc.

Still musing over what dish(es) to bring.....looks like it'll be Plant Swap Surprise! :)

Gina

Hi Gina! Thanks SO much! Alison said she'd help folks at the sign-in table from 11 -11:30. We appreciate it! Others will pitch in too at the sign in table. Folks are so great about helping.

BTW, Gina---did all of your plants come back where the construction people stomped them last fall? Let me know!!! I'll get some replacements for you. I know you said some came back..can't remember which ones, though.

think swap...Beverly

Nothing like travelling in a car full of greenery, is there?

I'm trying to figure out how to pack in a 7' cactus Saturday. If I swerve too far to the right, I could get a face full of needles....

Be careful Alison!!!! Should I bring a First Aid Kit??

Well, folks....yes, we are gabby!!

I'll start a new thread.

Beverly