Yes, we participate & have enlarged gardens with mostly free plants. We surrounded some fruit trees with the spreaders at the back of the lawn so it would be much easier to mow. These plants are going to duke it out this year, so we'll see who wins! Bee balm, Japanese anemone, almost 50' of staggered ribbon of ditch orange daylily, foxglove, peach leaved bellflower, ajuga, various Lysimachias (yellow tall, golden creeping jenny, white gooseneck, etc.), tall Sedums, Geranium macro as edger, Goldflame spirea, and more all received free or from divisions of previously free plants along with some natives in the shadier spot with the stump. Be on the lookout for ride alongs & remove ASAP when you get home. -snails, slugs & those white eggs -aphids, white fly ... -invasive weeds in the roots: horsetail, bindweed (morning glory), quack grass -weeds on plant surface of potted plants especially that liverwort (scrape off top layer to remove the weed seeds present...) Also, learn to --ask if it's a spreader (or rambler, or creeper) or does it seed about...then listen carefully so you'll know if it fits your garden bed --label them as you receive, research that the plant given matches label (check leaves, stalks, flowers, etc.) before planting out in your carefully arranged existing beds --accept the unidentified plants & ask others at the swap if they're familiar with that plant. If it is still a NOID watch carefully so you can identify before you give them garden space --take pics & post on GW forum Name that Plant to help ID it --water right away once home as plants are usually dry from the digging & traveling in cars to the swaps --plant the bare root things into pots or a nursery bed ASAP so plant survives while you research & watch them for habit. When they bloom you'll be able to identify much easier, so takes time to care for the mystery plants. --shop at nurseries all times of the year to see plants in various states of growth. Sometimes, plants are given with unusual common names, so research helps. Especially in early spring or mid-fall swaps you can't identify plants that are dormant. Some examples: giver could only say grows in sun with yellow blooms in summer & her mom called it sundrops. I repotted & sunk in nursery bed in the fall have identified it as Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa). Another in early November showed some blue flowers & had plant clumps in a cardboard box showing it as a low grower with creeping rhizomes & fading foliage from a friend who didn't want them at her new home...I planted in a low flat with good compost & mulched for winter. I took some out & planted when it started showing growth this spring, then after those ones bloomed blue & I could identify it as blue eyed Mary or Omphalodes I moved the rest of it to another bed. These 2 months of blue have been a great complement to yellow flowering Celandine poppy & Lamium 'Aurea'. A current NOID received 2 weeks ago is a tall deeply divided small leaved foliage plant given a few weeks ago in a plastic bag that she said is a daisy that showed up in her vegetable garden. Upon getting home I found 5 parsley starts around the base. Parsley went in veg. garden & the plant in nursery bed. I'll be watching closely when the blooms appear to makes sure it's not a weed It's not the common oxeye daisy on the noxious weed list here in western WA or the currently yellow blooming weed in nearby pastures.

I have no plants to bring this time, as my garden was just planted last summer. I don't even have empty pots or aloe vera like I did at the Fall swap. Everyone was so nice and generous at the fall swap. I had a great time and left with many plants. So, to make up for not having any plants to trade with, I plan on bringing lasagne, maybe a salad of some sort, and definitely a pan of yummy high-calorie, high-fat extra chocolately brownines. Looking forward to Saturday, Stephanie

All, This year I'd like to try recycling the spoons and forks. Would it fly if I put a box out for used utensils? I will take them all home to wash and reuse for other events.

Well- I do believe the out of town seed swap by mail- has been accomplished without a hitch- thanks to the many suggestions and voulenteers to help- and the special folks who buddied up to hand pick and select precious seeds for those trusting enough to participate on this maiden voyage- My thanks to Mary Jo- SandiBluffs buddie, Mary- Dave's sender's buddie, Suzy- Marie's buddie (Rick helped too...), Pauline- Dott's Buddie, Rick- Jan AND Kate's buddie, Cheri too had a sender she buddied up for. I do believe with all the care involved with hand selecting the receivers will have a very pleasant surprise coming to them!! I do think that this is an easily do-able, much appreciated addition to the Winter Blues Seed Swap- I think that whom-ever hosts next years seed swap could easily be the person who the envelopes are sent to- and the one who could easily enlist help to buddie up with someone- I will gladly forward the letter I sent out to those who sent seeds in- (it lists instructions that help make the buddies job easier) to the host of the next MN WBSS, or- I can do again next year what I did this year. I feel it is too valuable of a service to not continue. I am sure the buddies will be sending out soon- if they havn't already! It is a good idea to post here or send an e-mail when you send the envelope on- and it is polite to respond in turn when you receive the envelope- That way, neither is left wondering about the package. Thank you senders- for the wonderful seeds you sent- Thank you Buddies for picking out the very best for your buddies! And Thank you Cheri for having us all- once again for the MN GW SS! Thanks to all who participated! Julie