First of all, let's please chill on the drama and sarcasm; it's childish and accomplishes nothing except to create bitter feelings. Let's stop it now before it turns into...well a lot of you remember unhappier times. (Yeah I know, this is coming from the King of Childish Sarcasm himself.) 1.) Everyone who has a pre-trade worked out shouldn't have those plants on their table. 2.) The plants that we have swapped for shouldn't be on our table. 3.) If it ain't on the table then it's off limits to swapping. 4.) If it's on our table then it is available for swapping. 5.) If we can't follow and comprehend 1-4 then we shouldn't be there. 6.) If someone gets caught nabbing something from under or behind someone's table - they will be asked to leave and I'll help them load their stuff so they can go. 7.) No one is obligated to swap a plant simply because someone offers another plant to swap for it. Your items are your property and you decide what you want to swap it for regardless of whether it is common or unique. You swap your items at your own discretion. If you want to sit there all day and not swap a single thing from your table - well it was probably a wasted day for you but that's your prerogative. 8.) Everyone is supposed to be wearing their name tag with their GW screen name and their real name AT ALL TIMES. If you lose it then ask me for another - I have plenty. This is how we are supposed to get to know each other; DUH! The new folks don't know me; Joe; Bec; Doc or Marianne from Adam and we don't know them either. I don't give a rip who #38 is, I want to know your name and get to know you personally. If we lose that then I'm done and ya'll can have it. 9.) I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I can, with my extremely limited intelligence, match up the name on your chest to the name on your table. I even bring notepads and pens to every swap so we can all have something to keep track of this stuff with. 10.) I'll bring materials to use for signage, tape and markers so we can all have our names on our tables. 11.) If you would like a big honking corresponding number taped on your back or hanging around your neck that matches a table number... have at it. That's going to be your own responsibility. I'm not going to mandate something like that. 12.) Folks this ain't quantum physics; it's PLANT SWAP. We bring plants and swap them for other plants. We bring food and eat. We sit and listen to lectures and ask questions. How many rules do you need for that? Common courtesy and common sense should get us through this without a need for the 2009 Edition of 1,001 Things To Do And Not To Do At A Plant Swap. I have always INTENTIONALLY tried to run the MTPS loosely. I want everyone to have fun and for the MTPS to be a relaxed atmosphere that we all can enjoy. This is a plant swap not the military. If your in love with forms in triplicate and someone telling you every move to make then get a job with the IRS. I make the assumption that we are all adults and mature enough to do this without being regimented out the yazoo and controlled like adolescents or pets on a leash. When I have tried in the past to bring greater organization - nobody pays me any attention anyway. I beg and plead endlessly but still can't even get 20% of you to cooperate in taking two minutes to register on the website that Bec has been so gracious to build and supply for us (AT HER PERSONAL EXPENSE). Trying to organize this group and and get marginal help or response is like trying to herd 150 cats! I'm always dependent on the same three or four people for assistance. So if you would like the MTPS run differently then by all means be my guest and volunteer to become the MTPS Director; you will have all of my most heartfelt blessings. Like Jan and Mona before me, it sure would be nice if someone would volunteer to become the new Director of the MTPS. This is a position that should be turned over every 3-5 years so no one gets burned-out. I believe that I've more than put in my time and would like to just show up like all of you do and enjoy the day without a shred of responsibility. I have my own business to run which takes a minimum 60-80 hours a week of my time. Lavonne works 50-60 hours a week at her job. She is a Type I Diabetic and we BOTH struggle 24 hours a day to try and keep her healthy. The Spring MTPS is ALWAYS the same weekend as our Wedding Anniversary when means we usually have no chance and are too fatigued to celebrate our own Wedding Anniversary! If I changed the date then I guarantee that I'd get a ton of complaints because I'd broken tradition. That being said, I do this as a labor of love; really! I wouldn't still be doing this after all these years if it didn't mean so much to me and I didn't care about you guys so much. I can't begin to tell you what a special place in my heart our people and this event occupies and what it has meant to my life. I love you guys and I love the MTPS but it's time for me to pass the torch and for someone to step up to the plate and assume this responsibility!

175 visitors in the last two weeks! 140 first-timers and 35 returning visitors We also now are at 53% of our registrants for the MTPS who are first-timers. Thanks to everyone who has registered online at http://www.midtnplantswap.com/. I understand if you aren't certain that you'll be able to make it but if your are planning on being at the MTPS... PLEASE REGISTER!!! Ya'll keep spreading the word! BTW, props to the SEAL Team 8 snipers and the Navy's 5th Fleet that rescued Capt. Phillips. What a great Easter present for his family!!! HooYah Teams

Here's a partial list of what I have available and plan to bring. A large number of the plants on my list are newly transplanted or are still smaller seedlings. They may require some tender care initially. Pot size may vary and could be as small as 1"x1"x2" cells all of the way up to 3 gallon sizes for certain plants. I've put down my best guess for pot sizes, but with so many plants it's hard to keep track of exact sizes. I am willing to split cell packs if you only need one or two plants from a multi-cell pack. Please view my "Want List" posted on this site to see what plants and supplies I'm hoping to trade for. I am in short supply of 1, 2, and 3+ gallon plastic pots. If you bring pots to trade, PLEASE make sure they are clean (ie- dirt/plant debris knocked out and no "critters")! Division or layered division = freshly dug, rooted plant (unless otherwise indicated) Agastache foeniculum [Anise Hyssop] 2" pots Alcea rosea [Hollyhock]- biennial, mixed colors, singles and doubles mostly pink, white, burgundy and pink/white bicolors plants. Will bring if time/space allows. Alcea rosea nigra [Black Hollyhock]- biennial, black single flower 2" pots Amaranthus "Early Splendor" 2" pots, 6-cell packs Amaranthus "Illumination" 2" pots, 6-cell packs Aristolochia fimbriata [Variegated Pipevine / Variegated Dutchman's Pipe] small plants in 2" pots Aristolochia trilobata [Calico Vine / Dutchman's Pipe] small plants in 2" pots Asarina scandens- mixed colors 2" pots & 3-cell packs Aster cordifolius "Wood's Blue" [NY Aster "Wood's Blue]- perennial, 12-16" tall, slowly spreading, fall blooming, gentian blue flowers with gold eye, sun, zones 5-8. 4" pots & 1 gallon pot Belamcanda chinensis [Blackberry Lily]. small plants in 3" pots Brachycome, Bravo Series, deep blue w/black eye 2" pots Briza maxima "Great Quaking Grass" 2" pots & 4" pots BRUGMANSIA: Depending on available space I may bring cuttings and/or potted plants. Possible cultivars are: Single, pink (noid) Named cultivars: Cotton Candy Frosty Pink Golden Lady Mountain Magic Buddleja davidii- [Butterfly Bush/Summer Lilac]- medium-dark purple. divided recently and potted (looks rough now but should recover fine)- 1-2 gallon pots Celosia spicata- [Princess Feather] dark pink & white flowers with burgundy foliage 2" pots and small plants in 6-cell packs Celosia spicata- [Princess Feather]- light pink/green foliage. Small seedlings in 6-cell packs Celosia [Cockscomb- burgundy] (large comb, 8"-10" tall plant) 2" pots, small 6-cell packs Cerinthe major purpurascens [aka Honeywort, Blue Shrimp Plant] 3" pots Cerinthe major purpurascens "Kiwi" [aka Honeywort, Blue Shrimp Plant] 3" pots Chasmanthium latifolium [Sea Oats] division- will only bring if arranged for in advance. Chrysanthemum "Clara Curtis"- hardy mum, peachy/pale pink 4" pots Coleus, Super Rainbow Series "Red Velvet" small plants in 2" pots Datura meteloides 'Belle Blanche' - solid white flowers, fragrant, dark blue-green foliage 2" pots Datura meteloides- double/triple purple (unnamed) 2" pots Datura meteloides- double yellow (unnamed) in small cells from 6-cell packs Datura meteloides "Purple Petticoats"- double purple with white interior, ruffled, in 2" pots Dianthus barbatus [Sweet William]- mix of burgundy, white, pink, red, bicolors in small 3-cell packs Echinacea purpurea [Purple Coneflower] from "Ruby Star" seed, 1 year old+ plants in quart pots- will only bring a couple of these. Echinacea purpurea [Purple Coneflower] from red/orange parent plant seed (similar to 'Sundown') very small seedlings in small cell packs Four OClocks- "Kaleidoscope"- Seeds only. Mixture of fuchsia, white, yellow spotted/swirled blooms that are quick & easy to grow from seed. Geranium, stellar (similar to 'Vancouver Centennial")- rooted cutting SPECIAL TRADE, 2" pot Helichrysum bracteatum [Strawflower]- pink, pink/white, yellow/gold (tall plants at maturity 5-7') 2" pots & 3-cell packs Hibiscus acetosella "Red Shield"- tender perennial/grow as annual. Burgundy foliage, red flowers 2" pots Hibiscus manihot (Sunset Hibiscus)- tender perennial/grow as annual. Edible, yellow flowers 2" pots HYDRANGEA: Hydrangea quercifolia 'Sikes Dwarf"- plant (newly divided) in 1 & 2 gallon pots, will bring 1-2 of each size Hydrangea macrophylla, unknown vibrant blue mophead- (all sizes new layered divisions) 1 gallon & 2 gallon, will probably bring 1 of each size Hydrangea serrata 'Grayswood'- layer rooted division IOCHROMA: Iochroma cyaneum 'Royal Blue'- small rooted cutting/small potted plant SPECIAL TRADE IRIS, DWARF BEARDED:- If I have time to dig these I will bring them. Peach- divisions/rhizomes Yellow/White bicolor- divisions/rhizomes "Little Red Devil"- dark reddish-purple, early divisions/rhizomes IRIS, LOUISIANA: 'Black Gamecock'- blue-black with narrow gold line signal. division IRIS, SIBERIAN: Unknown (lost the name! but it MIGHT be "Rare Jewel") very pretty medium purple/violet, prolific bloomer, strong grower (this is NOT Caesars' Brother) 1 gallon pots (newly divided), 2 gallon pots (newly divided)- will probably bring one of each size Jasione laevis "Blue Light" from seed- perennial, spiky-globular blue flowers up to 24" ht., zone 6-9 small seedlings Kerria japonica [Kerria Shrub]- arching branches with double yellow flowers in spring 2 gallon pot, cuttings also available but will only bring if asked for in advance. Ledebouria socialis- [Silver Squill/Violet Squill]- houseplant division- will only bring if asked for in advance Mentha x piperita f. citrata 'Chocolate' [Chocolate Mint]- 4" pots Mimosa pudica [Sensitive Plant] 3-cell packs MORNING GLORY: Scarlet O'hara - seeds only - quick germination and does well direct seeded in spring Star of Yelta - seeds only - quick germination and does well direct seeded in spring Variegated Japanese- seeds only- deep pink with white rim, strongly variegated green/white foliage; quick germination and does well direct seeded in spring Muhlenbergia capillaris [Pink/Purple Muhly Grass] from seed- potted plants in 3" pots or quart pots- may bring, but probably only if asked for in advance. Nigella "Miss Jekyll- Dark Blue" 3-cell packs- small plants Nepeta cataria [Catnip]- cuttings (easy to root) will only bring if asked. Nicotiana "Fragrant Cloud"- white flowers, very fragrant 3-cell packs Origanum vulgare- [Oregano] cuttings (easy to root)- will only bring if asked. Peony- (herbaceous) dark raspberry/pink, double, fragrant (25+ year old cultivar) potted plants- newly divided, 1 & 2 gallon sizes SPECIAL TRADE Pepper "Black Pearl" 2" pots, small 3-packs Salvia greggii [Texas Sage- red]- 4-5' annual, bright red flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds. 2" pots Sedum spectabile- medium pink (unnamed) 1 gallon plant Sunflower (small yellow, multi-branching, 6') 6-cell packs Talinum paniculatum "Jewels of Opar" 2" pots Tomato "Brandywine" indeterminate, open pollinated, yellow/red fruit. small plants in 6-cell packs Tomato "Delicious" 77 days, determinate, medium red fruit. small plants in 6-cell packs Tomato "Green Zebra" indeterminate, open pollinated, green striped smaller green fruit, tangy. small plants in 6-cell packs Tomato "Homesweet" 70 days, determinate, very sweet red fruit. small plants in 6-cell packs Tomato- Large Pink (possibly Pink Brandywine) indeterminate, open pollinated, large pink beefsteak-type fruit. small plants in 6-cell packs Tomato "Thessaloniki" 70-75 days, indeterminate, resist sun scald & cracking. small plants in 6-cell packs Zinnia "Giant Doubles Mixed" 2" pots x 4 Zinnia "Royal Purple" 2" pots x 4

It's a big frenzy. But a fun one! :) Ideally, everyone gets a number. That serves two (at least) purposes. One, it helps with knowing how many people we had attend. It's also how door prizes are drawn. Everyone donates one plant to the prize table (if you can) and numbers are drawn periodically. They can also be used to help keep track of who has something you want. Since I do less swapping and more walking, talking and picture taking, I'm not the best one to spell out proper swap ettequitte. (Or even spell it.) But generally speaking, swaps don't take place until the "swap" is officially opened. (Other than those that were pre-arranged before they day of.) Everyone tries to be there and be set up well before start time just so you have time to cruise the tables in order to decide where you want to go first. Just a heads up... Oh, and there are usually several people handy to help you unload since parking is a little ways away from our preferred swap location. (Trust me, it's worth it.) Never, EVER, just pick up something and walk away with it. (I know, that should be obvious, but it has happened.) If there is something at a table you'd like to inquire about, use that number to find the person who's table it's on. They may be right there or they may be looking at your stuff! But always make sure you have an arrangement with someone before taking anything. Generally speaking people will have items behind or underneath thier table/space which they have already traded for. Those are off limits. Items on or in front of a person's table/space are considered there for trade and you should feel free to inquire about them. Most people are willing to trade for just about anything, but don't be offended if they don't want anything you have. Just move on and do the best you can. Who knows, someone else might have the same thing and just be dying to have what you brought. If you don't have a lot to trade, come on anyway. Bring what you have and be patient and you will likely come away with more than you brought. (A lot of us old timers see it as a contest to get rid of more than we take home.) Lunch is a potluck affair with some of the best food you can imagine. And some I never had! Just bring enough for your group and share with everyone. There is usally a speaker after lunch while everyone digests. (Or Naps...) That's it in a nutshell.