It's time for the Fall Perennial Plant Swap and Pot Luck lunch- so come on down/up/over - bring your plants and any extras you might have, your dish for the pot luck, bring a friend or two, with his/her plants and join in the fun! This is a great time to meet other gardeners from the area, have a bite to eat, and come home with some new plants.

THIS IS ALSO A RED HAT SOCIETY EVENT, SO LADIES, GRAB YOUR HATS AND JOIN THE FUN!!

The location for this swap is Columbus IN, Mill Race Park.

Driving instructions/map will be posted shortly.

THIS SWAP IS FOR PERENNIALS ONLY - NOT FOR ANNUALS or HOUSE PLANTS

DATE: Sunday October 16, 2005

TIME: 11:00 AM - whenever we stop

PLACE: Mill Race Park (across from Sears parking lot-Commons Mall)

THE PLAN FOR THE DAY:

11-NOON - people arrive, sign in with name and number of plants, get name tag, put plants in assigned viewing/swap area, put out dish to pass, visit with other gardeners, start viewing plants.

NOON - have lunch, visit and have Gift Exchange

FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POT LUCK LUNCH OR GIFT EXCHANGE, THE SWAP BEGINS AT 1:00

1:00PM - Swap begins

After swap - more visiting, pack up, goodbyes.

This will be a Round Robin Swap.

Rounds #1-2-3 - everyone select one plant.

Rounds #4-5-6 everyone select 2 plants.

Rounds #7-8-9 - everyone selects 3 plants and so on and so on. This way everyone gets a chance to get some of the plants they really have on eye on. Everyone should be able to take home as many plants as they bring.

SWAP MATERIALS: perennial plants, well-rooted cuttings and divisions potted up, shrubs, and bulbs. Please make sure whatever plants, cuttings etc.that you bring, are of a size you would be happy with, if you were to swap for them. PLEASE MARK ALL PLANT MATERIALS WITH THE PLANT NAME AND CARE REQUIRED.

POT LUCK: Please bring a dish to pass, with serving untensils, and your own beverage; be sure to bring and mark your serving spoons etc. with your name. Paper plates, napkins, cups & plastic silverware will be provided.

* If your last name begins with A-L please bring an appetizer or main dish. *

* If your last name begins with M-Z please bring a dessert or salad. *

For those who don't have many plants to swap, but would like to attend, that's okay, there are usually lots of extra plants to be shared.

TIPS FOR THE DAY: bring a folding chair (optional), a table for your plants (optional), or you can put them on the ground, a box or container to put your new plants in after swapping (label the box/container with your name) & bring and mark your serving utensils for your dish to pass

PLEASE POST HERE IF YOU ARE COMING AND TO PREREGISTER. Also, let us know if you'll be attending the pot luck lunch and gift exchange, or just coming for the swap.

I'll post driving directions/map soon.

Bring along your gardening friends so they too can share their extra perennials and acquire some more! START POTTING UP THOSE PLANTS AND CUTTINGS NOW so that they are nicely rooted for the swap - you want them to be strong and healthy for heading into winter.

Hopefully it'll be a bright sunny day, but, bring sweaters/jackets, just in case. (This is my 3rd year to have a swap in Oct, every year so far, it's been pretty warm and sunny....so,keep your fingers crossed).

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask...

'Chele (aka Micky)