Hi Gina...it's NOT in bad taste to see if folks will be bringing certain plants they are looking for. It certainly isn't a secret. I think folks are anxious for people to get things they are looking for at a swap. In fact, some folks set up trades via email beforehand that are separate from the group swap - and put those plants in their cars before the actual big swap begins. (I think Hostalavista and Michigan Betty do that with certain hostas since they are both collectors) I will be bringing some pots of hardy crainsbill geraniums to the swap. Time (spring) will tell me which ones...later on. In fact, I am hoping someone has Achillea Taygeta. I would LOVE a division of that plant. Sounds like there will be quite a few folks bringing their left over winter sown plants for swapping!! Fun! Think sunshine!.......Beverly

What a great day for the Plant Swap. Thanks to everyone that attended today who helped make it a wonderful day. Great plants, folks, food, and friends. So fun to meet new folks who attended this year for the first time. A special thanks to folks that were so helpful. It's been terrific to be part of this event the past eleven years. I appreiciate all of you. I love to look at my gardens and see plant swap plants growing away, some for many years. I know I have some some terrific friends via this event, too. A special thanks to Mimi - my wonderful back door gardening friend. I know the Plant Swap will carry on! Thanks to Mouse and Kim (and friends) for stepping forward to host the swap in the future. My biggest thanks goes to my very, very special Murray. Good gardening!

I'm in Greene County, not really that far. My deck is adjacent to a busy road. I'm surprised that I haven't been mistaken for a recycling center with all the jugs and bottles. I'm surprised no one has mentioned Mary's Plant Farm. A friend that used to live in Oxford took me there last summer for a hypertufa class. I didn't drive so I can't give directions but they have a website. They grow most of their own plants. Mary and her daughter run it and they are amazing. They even have a little tea room with home baked goodies. Plants and dessert, what more can you ask. They give different classes and are such nice, down to "earth" people. You can actually see the plants growing and you know what you buy is hardy to this area. It's worth the trip. Check it out. Anyone here from Greene County? I'm just outside Xenia. Everyone, enjoy this weather. Ellen

With protection Pindo's and T Fortunei (Flowering this year) will do just fine anywhere. I have a 5' pindo(OH) in ground along with an 11' Windmill, a small 2' waggie, a couple needles, 4 Sabel's and Musa's and they pull through the winter fine with proper protection. I've planted a new 7' T Fortunei this year as well. We had a colder winter this year (more of a true winter) and everything pulled through just fine. I lost one Musa however but I don't think it's totally gone so I replanted it out of the way and I'll wait to see if something pops up. This year I'll try Pygmy Date's in the ground as well. Mike from Montreal also winters Canary Island Date's and a couple other varieties in ground with protection. He even has seedlings that while covered in snow make it through the winter as well. I'll post some pictures of mine when I get back in the country. I'm currently in Hawaii enjoying the palms they have here.