Looking forward to making it, will be really early or late as it conflicts with the NPA sale. I'll be bringing: Dalhia Tubers light pink and a dark foliage dark pink Peony tubers (lost names) Sweet Peas - Spanish Dancer or Scent Infusion Yellow Epimedium Looking for colored hellebores - have dark pink for trade Brugmansia white or yellow - have pink for trade Would love to find the following for a special trade, I'm sure i can come up with something else as well! Eucomis Pole-evansii Albutilon 'Nabob' Mimulus pictus Lupine - Rodeo Rose Cold hardy Schefflera (Schefflera taiwaniana or alpina) Hydrangea aspira

just moving this post down so current posts can be up top....

You are invited to the Spring Green Elephant Plant Swap. Saturday March 3 10 AM to Noon Church of the Holy Cross 11526 162nd Ave NE Redmond WA 98052 Directions and Details The Green Elephant Plant Swap is hosted in North Redmond, WA, at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross; The site offers parking, covered areas, indoor facilities, kitchen, memorial garden, grass labyrinth and playground. It is five minutes from I-405 and I-520. Contact: Jim Eichner, cell phone: 425-223-7249 How it works: No sales, just exchanges and freebies, please. Tailgating Encouraged. The format for the trade is like a tailgate party. Traders exchange expert gardening information as well as plant materials. In two hours all the deals are sealed. We have plenty of new parking. Free Stuff. Many gardeners generously share plants from the abundance of their gardens�An excellent way to begin your garden. Also an excellent way to thin out that giant patch of shasta daisies, etc. There is always a pile of plants free for the sharing at the swap. What if I have nothing to trade? Cookies and chocolate work like money at the Green Elephant! Bring ten friends. Cheers, Jim Eichner

What is the soil this lawn is trying to grow in like? What is the soils pH? What kind of life is in the soil? How much organic matter is in that soil? Corn Gluten Meal inhibits a plants ability to establish roots so spreading CGM to control unwanted plant growth while spreading seeds to establish wanted plant growth is an exercise in futility. Getting the soil into a good condition to grow the plants you want is essential to growing those plants and these simple soil tests may be of some help along with a good reliable soil test for pH and major nutrients. 1) Soil test for organic material. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. 2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains’ too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell, to a point. Too much organic matter can be bad as well. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. kimmq is kimmsr