I'm sure that most of the plants on your lists are great and have some wildlife value, Anna, but the ones that jump out at me are - Castillega indivisa/Indian paintbrush - I can only drool at pictures of this beautiful host for buckeyes and fulvia checkerspots since it doesn't occur here, but it's also a good nectar plant for butterflies, and, judging by the looks of the flowers, for hummingbirds, also. It's supposed to be impossible to transplant, but it can be propagated from seeds. If I lived in Oklahoma, I'd order seeds and sow them in a meadow with native grasses - most members of the snapdragon family are parasitic or partially so on grass roots. Centaurea americana - you already have plenty of this - I'd make sure it stays! Antennaria and Artemesia - Both these are host for American ladies, and, if they're as tough as the cudweed in my area, they should be easy to grow. Asclepias, spp. - All of these are desirable, both as hosts for monarchs and the nectar in their flowers, which are real popular with all butterflies. Asters - These give beautiful flowers in the fall that butterflies nectar on, and they're supposed to host pearl crescents. I've planted some rice button asters to add to the naturally occurring asters in hopes of getting PC cats someday. Desmodium - This is the principal host plant for long-tailed skippers in my area - it's VERY easy to grow! Liatris pycnostachya - I just love this beautiful plant, and butterflies love to nectar on the flowers. Tephrosia virginiana/Goat's rue - As far as I know, this plant doesn't host any butterfly, and I've never seen any butterflies or hummers nectaring on the flowers, but it thrives on the poorest, driest, most eroded, pure red/orange clay parts of my property. The rainbow of pastel colors of the flowers is charming, and it might be useful as a host or nectar plant to something - I don't get to the parts of my property where it grows too often. Sherry

Dear ccckoball, Everything on your "have" list would be of interest at the exchange. I have seen tree peonies and they went like hotcakes. Meeting and Greeting is reason enough to attend. There will be others at the swap who will be hosting exchanges later in the spring and summer at private homes. These are really nice events. As for plants, the less common it is the more likely you will have takers. Trade ediquett is very subjective. Some attend with a coveted rare plant and will settle for nothing less than an equal trade. What's precious to some is common to others. For example, one new trader attended with a double daisy which a close friend has passed along to her. The sentimental value of the plant exceeded the horticultural value. In my mind, there is some personal attatchment with every plant I trade, so I really liked the thought of that daisy in my garden and I gladly made an exchange. It's subjective. And it's really fun. I always bring divisions of things I just want to give away and if it results in a trade, so much the better. I never come home with less than 20 new things for my garden. In fact, there are trades where I wished I had come home with less :) You will see well over 100 different cultivars/plants among the traders. In the end it's less about savvy trading, and more about the getting together and sharing stories and plants from our gardens. Hope to see you there Saturday, Regards, Jim Eichner

Not an exchange but the Hutchinson Garden Club and McLeod Co. Master Gardeners always have a plant sale the 2nd Sat. in May. Plants are reasonably priced. The MG's and Garden Club have an exchange the last Thursday evening in August. To date this has only been open to members but if you have interest I can see if the groups are interested in opening it up. I belong to both groups. However it is not a one on one exchange, more of a free for all but everyone has a good time.

If the leaves are very narrow, it's probably "Chocolate Chip". I have that in another bed, it has never performed for me. Other purple leaved ones are Caitlyn's Giant, Black Scallop, and Bronze Beauty. If I can't get the Mahogany to root, I may have to try the others. I looked into a lot before I bought the Mahogany, and chose it because I saw a very densely filled bed at the Missouri Botanic Garden. I wanted something that wouldn't look patchy (like the Chocolate Chip does), or where the stems would be prominent. I've seen the green and ivory, it might be Burgundy Glow. Burgundy Glow I have plain brunnera I just moved out of there, because it didn't go with the rest. All brunneras I've tried have been very slow for me.