Just a thought (or four or five): April 15th & 16th is the annual "Antiques in the Garden" event at Petals from the Past; it is spectacular, and not many central-Alabama gardeners are going to miss it for a plant swap, in Guntersville or anywhere else. And, as Wayne said, unless what you are planning on trading is currently being grown in a greenhouse, the proposed date is a little early. It can still be cold in mid-April, especially in N. Alabama. Add to that the fact that most people posting about a swap don't even have an exchange page. That does not encourage me at all. There are just too many "ifs" for me to drive that distance when I could spend the gas money on something unusual and established at a local nursery. The most successful swaps have traditionally taken place, IMHO, between a line from Birmingham south to Montgomery. That seems to be the geographical center of most of the serious traders. For serious traders to the north, an alternative is the Middle-Tennessee Plant Swap - from my understanding one of the biggest plant swaps encompassing that area - they even have a website. If it weren't so far I'd love to attend, but it is, and that's just life. The biggest thing that has hurt the "central-Alabama" plant swap over the years is it's perception as an event where you just show up, and people will load you down with freebies. True, most of the people who attend are some of the most generous gardeners you'll ever meet, but this is a SWAP, not a free-for-all. As someone put it years ago, everybody has something to trade. The swap that was held at Petals from the Past a couple of years ago was great (especially the fellowship we all enjoyed while sharing a meal together), but it was also the first swap where people showed up with the "show & load" mentality. I (among others) was shocked at the number of people in attendance with nothing at all to trade (and most of them were well-dressed and driving expensive vehicles). I'm struggling to keep afloat financially, folks. My plants, soil, pots, labor, etc., are worth something. Most seasoned (serious) "traders" usually pot things up a season or two in advance of the spring/fall swaps so that they'll have healthy, established plants to offer. And increasingly we/I resent giving them away to "moochers" or trading them for inferior, run-of-the-mill "fillers" that are available at Wal-Mart. Sorry if this offends anyone, but these are just my feelings about the swap, having been involved in it for almost every year since it's creation. Anyone is welcomed to host a swap, but those of us who have been in this for a number of years know what generally works. In plant swaps as in life, you can't please everyone. It always "worked" at Oak Mountain State Park. Thoughts? On another note (yes, I have another one!), at Terry's visitation his family expressed to me their wishes to have his cherished greenhouse plants adopted by his friends here on the Garden Web (or more importantly, those who can care for them as he did). There are tropical hibiscus of every kind, citrus shrubs/trees, birds-of-paradise, etc., in addition to pots and maybe other stuff. His son is taking care of them over winter, and his daughter is going to contact me this spring with a date on which they wish to empty his greenhouse. I'll then post the date here, along with any particulars. Hopefully it won't conflict with the date of the swap(s). Let's continue to keep Terry & his family in our thoughts. He was, after all, the "founding member" of the CAPS, if memory serves (and increasingly it doesn't!). I'm finished....peace, and ya'll have a good & fruitful spring! Nelson :-)

Sorry I haven't been posting but my poor little webtv won't let me on so I have to go offsite to login.Any weekend is good for me.there's plenty of parking at my place-2 acres :O).I've already started potting things but haven't updated my page yet.As for food around here the best is The Ark! Best shrimp & catfish there is.People come from all to eat there & it isn't expensive.There is also a chinese buffet,The Shack barbeque,a mexican place & several others to choose from.Anyone want more info just email me directly as that is easier for me.Hope we have a good turnout this fall.I have lots to get rid of-from tropicals to hardy to water plants! Jan

Wow, JC, I want an Ursula....seed! Don't know if I have anything rare or weird you want, but..you can dig up what ever you want. I was just re-reading the posts to get a head count/names, somehow I spaced Fawnridge was the one bringing the pulled pork..soo.. he can't come..are burgers and hotdogs okay with everyone? DH will be on a Harley poker run thing, so burgers and dogs will be easy for me and feed the masses. If you are vegetarian, please bring your own Bocaburgers or soy dogs, if you don't like boigers or dogs, bring your favorite lunch. I have a large boat cooler for ice,it'll be full of bottled water. If anyone wants sodas or iced tea, please speak up about that too, and I'll add some to the cooler. As far as where everyone will put their plants....hmmm..I guess we'll play it by ear! It sure will be great to meet all the fellow GardenWeb citizens! Megan

I am in coastal southern California (zone 10) and have a lilac growing with minimal care. The important thing is that it is planted in a spot that receives some morning sun, and then for the rest of the day is shaded except for a sliver of time between 1-2:00 where it receives full sun. Too much direct sun, especially in the afternoon, would dry out and bake the plant's leaves in this climate. Last year I consistently gave it water during the summer and it bloomed abundantly. I'm not sure what variety Lilac I planted, but I think it's 'Monore'. Keep in mind my climate still has a coastal influence, I think it's important that there not be any exceptionally warm days during Winter for the plant to get its adequate chill in this climate zone, so this may not necessarily work for more inland areas, or places with higher average Winter temperatures than we have (even if you are also in zone 10, the zone classification is not based on average temperatures but rather minimum temperatures) The leaves of the Lilac got scorched in late Summer, but that's only because it's so dry and hot here that time of year. Then it started leafing out again in October. Sorry, I know my climate is not in the deep South, but I am just saying it may be possible to grow Lilac in zones 9 and 10 in certain types of climate conditions. On the plus side, Gardenia does very well in the South and does not do good here (it dries out).