I have only been to them, never hosted one. Everybody brings plants to swap and a covered dish (food) & donates a couple dollars for the food the Host provides. The host usually provides soft drinks, water, hotdogs & rolls, ketchup, mustard, paper plates, plastic utensils, paper cups, etc, the plants are all put either on the ground or on folding tables (Dave Gelatt borrowed the tables from the Church next to his house & also the Church parking lot.) Everybody signs in & gets a nametag & also writes down how many plants they brought. Then, after everybody has eaten, the host announces: everybody whose last name starts from A-M can choose one plant and then the ones with last names that start from N-Z. This goes one until about half the plants are gone. Then, you are allowed to take 3-6 plants the next time it's your turn, and this continues until the plants are all gone. Usually, the swappers bring a plant in & give it to the Host for sponsoring such an undertaking. Meanwhile while everybody is arriving & signing in, it's a chance to meet other gardenaholics & chat. Dave, who originally started this swap, is now involved in plays in Lancaster, so no longer has the time to devote to sponsoring a plant swap. I do hope somebody, after reading this, someone decides to host this one as it's a good one. I work a fulltime job, make button jewelry in the evenings, do craft shows on the weekends, and so I would be unable to sponsor one. But someday when I retire, that's a different story. This is the way Dave Gelatt hosted his and it was very well organized. I don't know how many years Dave had been doing this but I would love to see somebody else take the reins and continue this tradition in PA.

Okay, I'm going to give it a shot on my group picture. Don't forget I'd only been a member here for about 3 months. Back Row: L-R. Don't remember, then me, JoAnn KS, Joan-MN/Fla. & DH Kenny, Moni, and Tammi OH. Middle: Dean & Sandy-Iowa, Don't remember, ToniNe., HeyJude in front of DH (forgot his name, sorry), LindaIA, MonicaPA, TammiOH's DH, Merle (?). In front of LindaIA is her son Ty (I think), Dea MN's DH, (forgot his name) and DeaMN. Would someone who knows please fill in the names, so I can make a list to put with this picture. Leslie

Wish everyone could meet Nita and Mike. They are so kind and very interesting and interested people. Nice to see you, Kay Jones! Love your plants. Glad you had a good time with Nita/Mike. Betcha' see them again! Nita never forgets a friend--new or old. Her heart must be made of 24K.

I've lost the lttle copy utility I had on my computer If anyone wants o update t he list go ahead