Hi gvozdika, Germinating schisandra seems pretty simple. Making sure to soak the dry seed overnight in warm water is suppose to help them germinate more quickly. Some literature suggest that some cold stratification will help to get better germination and I am trying both methods. I am also trying to root them as hardwood(dormant) cuttings now and will also try them as softwood (growing) cuttings this summer. I have several good sources for cuttings which really helps. I'll let you know how they do. I am also trying something new this time by using willow water as a rooting stimulant/hormone which many say will improve the success and speed at which they root. Time will tell! The seed I have received from three sources were dry seed and removed from their berries. They are a strange seed almost horseshoe shaped. I'll also let you know how the germination trials go. Mark

@waterwise999 I know that I'm incredibly late to the party here, but is there any chance that you still make 'Mission Dolores' seeds and/or cuttings available? The SF Botanical Garden used to routinely stock it for their annual sale, but now even the usual reliable suspects - such as Annie's Annuals - list it as discontinued. Maybe the mother plant was lost?? Anyway - my previous planting was fantastically happy here on the San Mateo Coastside... Right up until I went on an extended business trip and did it in. With any luck you're still checking in - I look forward to your reply. Thanks, Chris

Devi, Each swap has it's own personality. Some require a "trade for a trade", while others are much less structured (but everyone still goes home with lots of stuff!). Let me see if I can answer your questions as best I can: Nametags - - most swaps will either provide premade nametags or the "make your own" adhesive ones. If you want to make your own ahead of time, that is ok. At most swaps, folks will either trade out of the back of their vehicles (if space allows for the vehicles to be close), or they will carry their plants to a common area - - arranging individual trading areas. Most folks will bring chairs and a table or two. Folks will typically visit other folk's trading area - - where folks will offer plants and you can offer a trade in response. Each swap has it's own plant trading protocol. Either ask someone when you arrive or email the host ahead of time. I remember my trepidation at attending my first swap. I drove 5 hours to meet and swap with folks that I had never met before. Within a very short time, I felt perfectly comfortable meeting folks. Swap folks tend to be very embracing - - and will usually go up and introduce themselves to newcomers. Food arrangements are different at every swap. If you watch swap threads, food arrangements are indicated ahead of time. At most swaps, you should bring a smaller cooler and your own drinks. Plants and seeds are brought in a variety of methods. Some folks go to great efforts to have everything neatly potted up, while other dig and divide right before the swap with the plants in any container/bag imaginable. The most important thing is to have EVERYTHING labeled prior to the swap. Some swaps will have a "prearranged trade" thread or email list where folks can list what they are bringing or searching for -- and you can sign up to swap items ahead of time. In those cases, you need to have the items labeled with the recepient's name and separated from your general trade items. Ione/Amazondoc came up with a great idea at the fall swap where she had a table of plants that said "TAKE ME" and another table that said "SEE ME TO ARRANGE A SWAP". Even shy folks tend to be outgoing when they are around other fellow gardeners. One thing that never fails to amaze me is that gardeners come in all sizes, ages, colors and economic backgrounds - - but the love of gardening makes us friends.

I believe this could work... My cukes were destroyed by wilt and I have noticed an abnormal amount of striped Cuke beetles this year. I would go out each morning and pick them off the vines/blossoms, often killing 50-60/day. I happened to find a couple pumpkin seedlings growing at our local compost/yard waste site, pulled them up and planted them at home. Ever since they started blooming, they are an easy target for the cuke beetles and much easier for me to find, trap and pick out of those huge blossoms. And, I seem to be finding fewer and fewer. I'm not sure why they are so bad this year but hopefully, my killing them off by the hundreds will make next year better, although I WILL be planting pumpkins again. They also like the big zucchini blossoms too but the stink/squash bugs are slowly killing them off. I have seen squash/stink bugs nymphs on my corn (as well as sunflowers and beans) so I suspect they would go for millet, which seems to resemble a corn plant somewhat. One interesting thing though: I have 2 pear trees: a European and Asian... the stink bugs (BMSB) only bother the Asian pear tree...