Sounds like fun!

I live in Zone 8 technically, but at 1100 feet elevation, sometimes it seems like a 7. I get heavy snow cover (up to 3 feet) sporadically throughout the winter and wet days otherwise. I have already planted my hardy annuals in milk jugs outside. The bachelor buttons, chrysanthemum carinatum, clarkia, convolvulus, godetia, gypsophilia, penny blacks, baby blue eyes, poppies, salpiglossis and veronica have already sprouted. I don't worry about light frosts, but if we're expecting a heavy freeze with no snow cover, I throw a double thickness of Remay over them. I also have onions, mesclun and various lettuces sprouted. A few of the perennials have sprouted, but they are much slower than annuals so not too many. The not-so-hardy annuals I will sow in late March and early April. And tomatoes and peppers I still have to do on heat mats - darn it all! Just not enough sun days if I try to winter sow them. I hope that helps you out a bit. It's been pretty much trial and error for me, but I've been at it for 6 years now and every year I learn a little more.

Geez, you guys are making me laugh at myself, lol! I guess the image is funnier than I thought! Now the only thing that I can think of is that store commercial (can't remember which store, darn it!) where the woman checks out and thinks the cashier has made a mistake because she got such a good deal. So she runs out to the parking lot screaming to her husband "Start the car! Start the car!" and makes a quick get-away. Maybe that's what I need... a get-away driver, lol! Or better yet, I can be the driver and make someone else get out of the car - let them be the ones that the rocks get thrown at, lol, and on top of it, the neighbor won't know it was me, lol! :) Dee

The best thing to bring is seeds of your favorite perennials to share. I could use some help setting up and taking down. I plan to do this with whomever arrives first. I have lots of 4-inch pots with flats, but you may want to bring something else too. I like to sow in gallons, for example, then I don't have to transplant. Last year we had about 15 people for the event, so it's a less hectic/haggling atmosphere than the swap. Thanks for asking and for bringing a friend. Jim