stage_rat, yes it is I who has an interest in heirloom tomatoes. I WSed about 35 varieties this year with astounding germination rates. I only wish that I had been better prepared to bring more with me to share but my decision to come to the swap was literally last minute so I threw what I could in the car. If anyone happens to be in the western burbs this week and wants some though I still have plenty to share after farming out what I could to family and friends. All those that haven't found homes by Friday get brought to the year-end picnic at the kids' school with a "free to good homes" sign. I'd love to talk tomatoes anytime. I'll be scouting out the farmers markets this summer for some fun new varieties to save seed from since my saved seeds from last year did so well. Thanks again to everyone for the wonderful plants. I came home totally inspired and have been ripping my way through previously neglected beds and overhauling them dramatically. Ellen, that gorgeous bleeding heart is the star of a new little shade garden in a newly-beautified corner of the garden...speaking of stars, shooting stars you say? I was just admiring them at a nursery the other day...making notes for next year's wish list :o) -Corrie

Hey Red! nice list! Everyone has to start somewhere (last year I had nothing, this year I have some, next year I plan to take over the lawn...... no street.... no THE WORLD! ha ha ha! I covet your peony and any philodendron most ferociously, hope I will be able to tempt you with some garden basics. I have: Outdoor Plants Yarrow, sort of burgundy red colour (I thought it was Paprika but the colour seems wrong) Canna Pups, variety of colours as yet unknown (these were started from seeds and tiny rhyzomes last winter) GIANT SHASTA Daisy Alaska Autumn Joy Sedum Babies Forsythia Babies Kwanso Daylily Red Hot poker Plant Silver Lace Vine Common Japanese honeysukle (warning invasive plant, pleas take appropriate measures to restrain)Smells great, blooms late Indoor Plants Golden Pothos Parlor Palm Red flower Holiday cactus (flowers between Thanks Giving and Christmas) Asparagus Fern Deiffenbachia Possible some small cuttings of Rubber Plant Seeds Canna (indica) Castor Beans Hair Allium Jackmani Clematis Amaranths (variety) Cleome "Queens" Columbine (mixed colour) Baptisia both indigo and yellow A variety of herbs (mostly culinary) Birdhouse Gourds Hyacinth Beans (soon) 4 0'clocks broken colour mostly fushia with stripes Campsis Radicans (I have 2 pods, clean, no evidence of boring insects) Wants Cannas tall, (seeds, seedlings, pups, rhyzomes) any colour Hosta any Lantana - prefer hardy types, like yellow and the old fashioned pink/orange/yellow Nandina nandina nandina (plain old heavenly bamboo, no dwarf, no fancy hybrid) Seeds any aster perennial or annual, compact prefered or unusual dianthus anny perennial cleome (can always use more spiders) Cosmos, Tall varieties any colour Marigold - any french typse White flowering plants that can take dry heat. I can't think of anything else..... Red best way to launch a naked garden is with some seeds, lots of perennial seed can be started in the fall and flower the following year I will check my seedbox to see what I have for you, SUN or SHADE? Frances

tcs1366, Hi, I saw your post. I was thinking of PMing you on the other forum on Dave's about same idea - a plant swap. I think having a plant swap is a really great idea. Stagerat, I think that would be too funny having a swap in the parking lot of the Botanic gardens maybe during one of their expensive plant sales? Just kidding, I know it's to raise money for a good cause but nevertheless. But yeah, I guess there needs to be a good middle ground because there's folks from the North, South, Indiana and west suburbs. Maybe even a forest preserve somewhere in between. I noticed on Dave's that that's what they do in the Kansas City area. In the spring I've usually got lots of seedlings, some divisions of native prairie, woodland plus annuals later on. I've got some seeds from a season ago that I would like to trade as well. After looking at the garden center prices even at the big box stores, this would definately be worth the gas money and effort to organize something.

Allison this plant swap does not have special restriction to it- no "bring one pot and exchange it for one pot of same value" type of rules. You bring what you have and you take what you like. My neighbor and I have large established gardens and happy to share. We usually have variety of people coming- from newbiews who do not have much of the garden yet to "old hats" winter sowers who have seedlings coming through their ears. People bring divisions of old plants or tiny recently germinated seedlings, from veggies to annuals to perennials. You welcome to bring any gardening tools/books/decorations/ pots that you do not need anymore- we set aside place for such. Little bit later in a season I will ask people on Winter Sowing forum to share if they want to do any special trades- I list what I have grown and have extras and people will list their extra plants. People who are coming could request what they like to be brought/ set aside for them. Usually it again works on "being fair" base. Most gardeners are very giving people and happy to share what they grow so we have never had a problem with self regulation. If one feels that he/ she is just starting and has very little to bring to share we do have a "donation box" and you welcome to give a dollar or two to future our development. All plants that have been brought and unrequested we are either find good homes later on after the swap or give to local charities like schools, shelters etc. Needless to say even tried and true Stella D'oro and ditch lily usually find their owners- with everything going in economy paying $5-10 for such pot in local box store is a problem for many people.