It helps me to know where people are located rather than just a growing zone, cause to be honest, the only growing zone I know for sure where is is mine! :P It also helps me if they have a trade list up. I understand some people don't always have time to do that, I know it took me a little while to get mine done. But when they're wanting to trade with me and just say they're interested in something I'm offering, and don't mention what they'd like to trade in return, and I go to their page to see what they might have, I'm a little disheartened to see a blank page. Unfortunately, it makes me a little leery. I don't mind offering to help someone get a list together and organized, and I offer to do so. I got a rather rude remark from one person saying she wasn't really new, had been at this for some time and didn't put a list up so she didn't get unwanted solicitations. I can understand that, but at the same time, if someone's going to trade, shouldn't they be kind enough to provide a list somehow? I also like to peek at their list to see if i have something I've not listed yet that they might like as an extra or part of the trade. I have several things that I'm waiting until I get planted, but know there's going to be way more than I can or want to plant right now, and wouldn't mind sharing it, but don't want to list it until I get mine planted. I understand there have been some here that have scammed other traders, and have addressed that one in another thread, but not taking the time to set up a page makes me really leery of trading with someone. Especially if I can't find a review thread for them. So the more info one can give, the better. I use to do a lot of trading with friends and neighbors when I lived in Texas and to a lesser degree in the last town I lived in, but I always knew the people and what they had and where my seeds were going and what they were on the look out for. A little different doing it over the internet where we can't even hear the enjoyment in someone's voice about the seeds they want. To me, and this is just MY opinion, the more info you can give me, the better I feel about sharing seeds I've harvested or that other people have entrusted me with :) Kathy~ My two cents

First.....Welcome back!!! Personally I don't plan much for the following years. I do start keeping a wish list early but that's about it. If I need to move something I usually keep that mental note until fall and move it when I do most rearranging. As for ws'ing I keep a MS Access database that I record all my seeds in and keep info on scientific name, common name, type (annual, perennial, grass, vine, ect) habit, color, date sown, germinaton date, source of seed and a column for notes. Then I create a report of just the name, date sown and date germinated for Trudi's WS Database submissions. I use Access because that is what our instructor had us Hort. students use to create our databases for our plant ID classes and fill in columns for cultural info for each plant/tree/ect. It's an easy program to use in my opinion. I like the fact too that I can create queries to show me all of a certain type or color from the databases!

DEAR MODS!! I realize this post should be in the Clivia section of the forum since this plant, Bush Lily is a Clivia miniata! Sorry about posting in here for my very first post. I realize I cannot delete the post either. Apologies in advance.

Yippie my seeds are here,,,wow-wow thank you so very much Willy,,,now I am off to look alot really alot of them up,, now I can help out some more newbies,, but I seen alot I really-really like for me,, thank you again and a very merry christmas to you,,Lisa