How are you all doing getting everything planted? Last year I planted all my plants when I got home from the swap but this year there was just no way with such a large number of plants and with having had no sleep. I started on Monday and have planted a little bit each day and today I am almost entirely finished. I have a few plants with some root/transplant shock, so I'm leaving them in the pots until they are feeling better. No sense adding insult to injury so I have them with saucers of water under them and in a nice shady spot where they can recover. So how are the rest of you doing? I think Heather is going to be planting till October with all the stuff she traded. Ross, that Monk's hood was just amazing size. It's in the back row of my deck garden right up next to the deck and it's so tall it sticks up almost a foot above deck level. Jeff, the native plants you gave me each have a special place. The two spicebush are planted in my little thicket of spicebush seedlings and the Kentucky Coffee Tree is up at the front of the woods so I can watch it grow. To all the people who gave me Lupines...they are planted all around my side yard and back, anywhere where they will catch a bit of sun part of the day. From the gambler's circle I got a lovely little Iris...can't recall now if it was Japanese or German but it has one purple flower on it that has just opened. Anyone remember putting a single purple iris in a green pot? If you do, let me know which type of iris it is. I also took extra virginia creeper from the gamblers circle, compliments of Bill and Gwen. They also gave me a pot of VC and a bag of cuttings to grow on my garden arch that leads into our woods. Once it starts growing up the arch it's going to look so pretty with it's scarlet autumn colour. It will be right next to 2 Wicheta Blue Junipers and some burning bushes and I love the look of that red and blue together. On the ground is bright red Cardinal Flower which will be blooming right around the time the Creeper turns red and behind them are Arrowwood Viburnums which turn yellow and Serviceberries which turn orange. It should all be a very lovely show of colour once everything is established. Heather, I've got almost everything from you planted except for the Persicaria and Pulmonaria. The Persicaria is looking really good now so it can likely be planted next week but that poor Pulmonaria has horrible shock. I've known Pulmonaria to be very sensitive to transplant or divide and it looks like crap for a bit but then it suddenly rebounds, so I'm sure this one will be just fine. Do you know the name of it? It's the one with the large, ovate, solid green leaves. I got a total of 6 ferns from 2 different people and all have been planted in my woods and are looking FANTASTIC! There's nothing like ferns to make a woods feel cool, even on a blasted hot day. :o) Anyone else not mentioned, I've already planted the plants you gave me and they are all doing well. I had several colours of Achillia (sp?) and it looked terribly wilted when I got home but a few days in water and it perked right up and is doing really well in the ground. Well, let us know how you're all coming along with your planting. Barb southern Ontario, CANADA

I just wanted to get it posted, so you all have it marked on your calanders and can be dividing, rooting and planting those plants. The Third Annual Charleston, South Carolina Plant swap will be held June 24th. The details are as follows: Charleston Plant Swap: June 24th, 2006 10 am - ??? Hampton Park, by the horse stables, same place as last year. We will do it the same as last year, modified Round Robin. First Round..One Plant Second Round..One Plant Third Round..Two Plants, Etc. I will be asking everybody to bring food, of course. What's a plant swap without food?! LOL I will have more info as the swap gets closer. Think about what to divide, plant, or root....I want to make this one even better than last year. Bring a friend or two, lots of plants and food! Watch for updates! Darren

Hi all, I am looking forward to the swap too! I will have some w/s babies as well- can you take up iris now? I have lots of extra- Vicci, what do you think?- you can always come to my house in Aug or Sept and get some also I am not looking for anything in particular- with w/s, my little garden is stuffed! *grin* I 'took over' my Mom's yard and have started my sister's, and this year, 2 of my nieces will get a bunch of w/s babies too! I love this stuff!! LOL well, gotta get ready for work- my job sure gets in the way of my FUN!!! have a great week, Linda (by the airport)

Please, see the new thread for all wish lists posted as well as games and fun... link below... Blessings, Angela Here is a link that might be useful: Secret Santa Swap, thread 3