Welcome to the forum! I think you'll find what you are looking for here. Nice, nice people and always willing and eager to share the plants they have.

We don't do too many swaps in the summer but watch the postings. You may see one for Jacksonville or the western side of Central Florida.

Gardening will be much different here from what you are used to. Many of us are transplants from other areas of the country and struggled with the Florida growing conditions. I still struggle, to be honest. Too wet. Too dry. Too hot. Weird and unusual insect life. It's a delightful challenge. You'll love it!

Kate

Welcome to Fl and welcome to the forum. I am a new gardener, so I don't know much, but the folks on this site are amazing...so helpful and friendly not to mention they know thier plants. Hope to meet you at a swap, I missed the one at Fawnridges, and from what I understand it was Great!!!! I sure will be at the next one someone has. It's a whole new world down in the Fl tropics, but it is wonderful. Again welcome!!! Enjoy!! Dena

There are several people who have formal "swap meets" in this group. I don't really do the swap thing, but I know lots of people here do. The last one looked like about 15 or so people showed up. Also, there are probably 5 or 6 people who write here in Lakeland, so you will for sure meet some new people here. Tom, in Lakeland

Hey there smittee ...WELCOME from one of the nice, nice people Solstice mentioned...lol This is a great bunch. I go to some swaps when I can travel but I also do mail swaps too. Hope you enjoy yourself. Boy, Washington State to Florida must be a HUGE cultural shock.

I loved WA, one of my sons was born there (in Tacoma *g*)... it is so much like Germany.... then again, no 10 horses would be able to drag me away from FL :-)

Welcome ssmittee, looking forward seeing you at one of the next swaps

Evelyn

I'm Mary, also from Lakeland. I do mostly butterfly gardening and share seeds and plants with people on that forum all the time. I would be interested in a swap, maybe in the fall. Welcome to the forum!

Thanks yall!
I too love florida, I lived for years just out of Tacoma and worked in that area. You are right about the shock, The first thing I noticed was that all my Washington HOUSE PLANTS are growing in peoples yards and are 10 times the size.........example... Norfolk Island pine...Washington size, average 3' same with Rubber plant ...Washington size...average 2.5 feet.
I have been with garden web for about 8 years...our exchanges ran 40 to 50 people with usually a big potluck....about 2/3 of the group brought plants ,the rest came to chat and meet new friends. I made many long term friends....can't think of a better place to meet new people, except maybe my church.
yes I will watch for fall ???do you have a fall? I can't tell..lol

A real fall? Well we can't really tell either. That's why we have swaps then so we can stand around and say "Yup, it's Fall!". Of course that's when the hurricane season gets serious so our Falls can be a little windy. But those days right before the hurricane when all the moisture in the air is being sucked out to sea are glorious!

Smittee, I posted a reply to your query about the Jax garden web groups' upcoming swap before I read this post. Check the Jax GW group posting. Sorry I'm so spastic! ;o) cora

Welcome to Florida and to the forum. You will have to watch each of us carefully as we are enablers when it comes to acquiring plants and also when it comes to swaps with food. The people on this forum are very generous and even if you do not have plants to share they will load you up when you attend a swap. They also send seeds and cuttings in the mail. Your pot garden will grow as fast as the plants do here.

Let's see, Lisa made me purchase a varigated lemon this weekend and Cindee made me purchase a cherries jubilee alamande and Marcia made me acquire coleus this past week and Ricky made me purchase and uh acquire some crotons and cutting on the run. You see these people are evil and they drag you down with them *LOL*

I just love these guys and we do have the most fun at swaps. I have met and made good friends via swaps and this forum. I live in Orlando and my motto is Carpe car keys. If there is something going on and I can afford the gas I seize my keys and take off. I attended Ricky's swap in Boca and it was so much fun. He is the bar-be-que king and always has pulled pork for us. This year he added brisket. Solstice is hosting a swap this fall here in Orlando and I know there are several more upcoming including Ricky's again.

We are always willing to drag new gardeners into our wackiness and passion for plants. Hope you like tomatoes because we have tomato kings and passionflower queens and fruit tree queens and well I think you get the picture.

WELCOME, Linda

hi there smittee, welcome to the forum! i moved to florida from princeton, nj 18 months ago and thats when i started gardening again having given up after killing a lot of plants up north.

i attended a swap at susan's in april and i was one of the few people who showed up with practically nothing but chips and salsa and i went home with a load of plants and seeds. and i must tell u all my plants are alive!

i hope to see u at a swap soon

nami

Don't you feel at home here? I've belonged for a long long time, but I'm one of the quieter ones and just enjoy the inspiration, helpful stuff and humor shared on here. I was so surprised and happy to find you here.. I've sent you an email- I have a bunch of succulents I'd love to share..
Linda

Linda/buttterflyy! Haven't seen you post for a while. Nice to know you are still out there.
Kate

Thanks - I'd been thinking my gardening fire was out... but you guys are infectious! You make me want to grow something. I knew that if I read a while your enthusiasm would leak out of my computer. Of course its the wrong time of year to be starting much, isn't it? lol I garden a LOT vicariously.

Welcome Smittee, glad to hear from someone in Auburndale. I grew up there & still have family there. You will learn so much from this group. If you have a question, this is the place to get an answer.I learn something new almost daily. When you read the postings, you will be inspired to plant something!

I garden a LOT vicariously.

Gardening vicariously is MUCH easier on the knees. This year I've been neglecting the garden too much and focusing on containers on the patio. I can put the pots on a bench and give my poor old knees a rest!

Welcome Smittee,

Hope to meet you sometime. I'm a relatively newbie myself, I've been here a couple of years. Everyone on this forum is so generous.

Lynne

You guys are so encouraging This is awesome But I already new that...a little butterfly told me. LOL......Last year I posted one time..I was still in Washington..I got one response and from that response I have a wonderful friend who I have been corresponding with for over year. although we have not met face to face.....yet..... She has become very special to me...AND I JUST CHECKED her profile and her birthday is the same day as my oldest daughter lol I dont drive much My meds and driving dont mix and I am pickled with out them but my two grandaughters are my gardening hands and feet...they have gone to swaps before and are SO EXCITED to find one near here..so I am looking forward to fall.. when ever that is in florida My driving range is maxed out at about tampa...but I know there will be one near here THERE JUST HAS TO BE!! LOL