I'm there, WG! Thanks.

Should we plan for May 31 with a rain date of June 7?

Thanks for hosting this WG. My vote would be for the June 7th date as the Garden Conservancy is hosting garden tours on Sat the 6th not far from you in the Worcester County area this would make for a nice *garden* related weekend for those who may be travelling some distance. I will post a link as soon as I have a free moment. kt

Is not the 31 st Memorial Day Weekend? Is the 31 late enough (North and Northwest people) that our plants are big enough to swap? I simply don't remember.

My wish would be for a Saturday since Sunday is family time, but I'm going with the majority.

Marie

If Yankees-In-Exile are allowed, I'd love to try to hook up
with a SE Mass. Plant Swap (born/raised in Sharon, south of Boston). . .in which case, my vote would be June 7th,
since there are Open Days on June 6th not only in Worcester, but also Hartford and New Haven! What a trip north that could be. . .

Memorial Day weekend falls on May 23-25 this year. . .

Carl

WARNING!!!
Don't let that guy (Carl18) in.
This witty storyteller will completely distract you from the plant swaping :-))

Either day is fine with me. I think the plants should be big enough by the end of May, or even mid-May. Doesn't CT have their swap in April or something? Boy it will be nice to be an attendee this time. I'll have the chance to chit chat and maybe even listen to Carl18's stories. ;)

Memorial day is very early this year. It is May 25th. So the 31st is just a regular Sunday.

Okay so June 7 with a rain (note: I started typing "snow") date of June 14 it is. Terrene, how did you safely communicate with the attendees about directions, parking and such?

Would anyone be willing to do a short demonstration at the swap on how to sharpen Felco pruners?

I am familiar with the concept but have never done it myself. I am sure we could all figure it out together. Mine could really use a good cleaning/sharpening too.

Who thinks they will be able to make a swap on June 7?

WG

I am looking forward to it.

Hi WG, in answer to your previous question (which I missed somehow), this is how I handled last Spring's swap. The first swap thread, started about 6 weeks before or so, firmed up the swap date and discussed the plants people had to offer, and the plants people were interested in. It became quite lengthy.

About a week before the swap, I started a new thread asking people to confirm that they were coming and firmed up a few details on plants and items (snacks, drinks, card tables, etc) that people were bringing. Then I privately emailed everyone who confirmed they were coming with swap details - date, rain date, address, cell phone #, driving directions, and other issues such as parking (which as we all know, was a bit complicated in my particular location because I live near a recreation area that is posted). It worked very well.

I want to reiterate that throughout the actual swap, people were so helpful about bringing items, set up, clean up, etc. that all I provided was a garbage can and a few chairs. It went very smoothly and was a true example of "many hands make light work", the only exception being a cranky next door neighbor who called the police to complain about the parking cluster.

Re: the Felco pruners. One day last SPring I was in Russells Nursery, browsing the tools section, and they had a video loop playing on a small TV for a diamond sharpener made by DMT - Diamond Machining Technology in Marlboro, MA - that happened to be sharpening - you guessed it - Felco pruners! I was sold and bought it. It only takes a few swipes along the beveled edge to sharpen the pruner. I would be happy to bring along the diamond sharpener and do my best to show people how to sharpen them. :)

Btw, I have used this sharpener to sharpen other tools besides my Pruners. I love to use it on my putty knives.

Here is a link that might be useful: DMT - gardening/floral

Hey terrene,

Yes, but how did you safely get email addresses and give out yours. I would prefer not to start communicating without a way to "filter."

Good news about the sharpening. Maybe you should set up a booth!

WG - I plan to come, but I have a trip (for work) that may mean I'm away when the swap takes place. I probably won't know for sure when that's going to happen, as we're using a ship that's notorious for delays.

Re email, you can allow email via your garden web home page at some point before the swap, and people can send you their addresses that way. You'll know which are the GW emails because they come with a clue in the "from" field - I think that's how it works.

Terrene, I'd love to try the sharpener if I'm able to attend the swap!

WG, as I recall, I emailed everyone who posted to the "confirmation" thread using the GW email system. If their GW email address wasn't functional, then they needed to post a working email address on the thread. Some people who originally stated they wanted to attend several weeks before the swap, sort of dropped off and did not confirm they were attending. If somebody confirmed they were coming a matter of days before the swap then I figured their plans had "gelled" and felt comfortable sending out my contact info.

I'm happy to bring the sharpener, but no booths please. :) I am looking forward to a more leisurely pace and talking to other gardeners about plants and gardening, rather than running around like a maniac distributing plants and directing traffic.

Sounds good terrene. I am looking forward to having you all here.

Hi--haven't posted in a looong while,but I'm still here and about this time I start getting antsy when I look outside.i love the swaps and the date is fine. As it gets closer will offer to bring whatever is needed. Looking forward to seeing a new garden!! Jardinista

Great, all are welcome!

I am really looking forward to the Felco pruners sharpening demonstration. Anyone else have a gardening skill that they might be willing to demonstrate/share? Now come on don't be shy!!!

Maybe we should invite Yama to do his mossball workshop. WG, what do you think? I have no idea how long that takes, or how long the swap will last.

Not particularly into moss balls myself.

Can someone tell me what town/area this swap will be in? It's hard to figure out if it's feasible if all I know is "Massachusetts."

Thanks!

I am in Southborough right off of 495 and the Mass Pike.

My neighbors and I were going to have a plant swap on June 6th at my place in Walpole... but I did not know of the popularity and timing of WhiteGarden's... so I'm postponing mine and we're joining all y'all! (I'm a Yankee who has worked for Atlanta based Delta Air Lines for a LONG time). Here's some of the stuff I'll be bringing:

various miniature, ground cover and autumn joy sedum
arnold dwarf forsythia
pee gee hydrangea
husker red penstemon
various herbs
lady's mantle
lots of daylilies (stella d'oro and red spider)
gold tide forsythia
chocolate chip ajuga
rudbecia and purple coneflower (if there isn't already enough)

Also WhiteGarden, I can do a web site for the swap if you'd like me to and include directions dates, times, etc...

Hi daylilyguy!

I will take some penstemon and herbs, maybe some ajuga if no one wants it. I know ajuga is somewhat invasive but will it choke out other things? I would like to plant it in by black garden to fill in around my perennials.

As for the web site, I think I am going to keep this lower key. I will ask anyone who wants to attend to "turn on " their email option and I will email directions to everyone individually the week of the swap. Not keen on my address and directions to my house being posted online.

DO NOT POST TO THIS THREAD

Or, to put it just a little differently, and delaying this thread's demotion by only 20 minutes...

Please see the newer thread at the link:

Here is a link that might be useful: Official White Garden Swap Thread