Mid-Atlantic Gardening: "Think Spring!" Seed Swap Sat Feb 16, 2 by critterologist

critterologist wrote:
It's that time of year again! Eating lunch with old friends and new, swapping seeds, and talking plants. I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon!

I'll add some details to this post later, but I wanted to start the thread so everybody had the date to pencil in on their new calendars.

Date: Saturday, February 16, 2013

PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE -- 1 HOUR EARLIER!

TIME: 11 am to 3 pm, we'll start the seed swapping around 12:45 or so, as we *must* be out by 3!

WHERE: Frederick, MD, Chef Lin Buffet (scroll down for directions)

WHAT: Eating Lunch and Swapping Seeds

WHO: DG subscribers and their guests (see list at bottom of post)

COST: $15

BRING: Extra seeds, either commercial or self-harvested. If you're going to split seeds into smaller packs, try to do that ahead of time, because it gets crazy! Most people bring a small item for the "gift table," which is sort of an expanded door prize thing that we like to do. Most of all, bring your enthusiasm -- we're going to have a great time!

If you've never been to a DG Mid-Atlantic event, don't worry... we are a fun and casual group. Everybody brings their extra seeds to swap & share (it's very useful to make up little labeled packets ahead of time), everybody visits and talks, and everybody goes home with a nice selection of seeds to try! I wrote an article that may give you an idea about how this event goes: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1479/. This will be our fifth year for a midwinter seed swap here!

You may want to plan to come early so you can drop by Dutch Plant Farm, my favorite local nursery for winter visits. Joyanna's favorite bird, Pogo the Parrot, lives there. I wrote an article that has a lot of photos taken there, if you'd like an idea of what they are likely to have. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/769/ If we're lucky, the truck will be back from FL by then with new plants. I usually manage to arrange a discount for our group on that day, so please be sure to ask for it at the register.

At 11 am we'll meet for lunch at Chef Lin, a local Chinese buffet that's one of my favorite Frederick restaurants.

First, we'll gather in the back room to get name tags and put our "stuff" down. I'll have a tray with bags for putting in seeds or little goodies for everybody (your name will be on the bag, but please leave it where it is until after lunch). There will also be a "gift table" set up as well as some tables/chairs where you can leave your seeds for the swapping part of the afternoon.

This year, we'll be eating our lunch *outside* the room, at the tables in the rear of the restaurant. This will let us all eat together but be a little less cramped than in the past. As always, people are encouraged to change seats after then make another trip to the buffet, so they get a chance to talk to different people during the meal.

Just before 1 pm, we'll change gears, maybe play a game before starting in on door prizes and seed swapping. If you have something you'd like to donate to the "gift table," please Dmail me or post that you're bringing something (so I know around how many items we'll have). Purchased items for the table should be under $5. If you got a pair of too-small garden gloves for Christmas, or you have a pretty grapevine wreath you're just done with, or you have an extra rooting vase or other container -- those are all wonderful gift table items!

We can get away with a few plants on the gift table, but "serious" plant trading will have to take place in the parking lot, or at my house for anybody coming over later.

We'll concentrate on seed swapping from 1 to 2:45 pm or so. Of course, seeds can be swapped outside of that time, and of course anybody who doesn't want to swap seeds can just keep chatting and visiting. It's an unusually busy day for Chef Lin, with a wedding reception and then an evening party after us, so Donna (the very accommodating owner-manager) needs us to be out of the back room by 3 pm. We can (and usually do, at least a few of us) continue visiting as we shop for bargains over at Dutch Plant Farm. If you want to come back to my place afterwards for the Duke-Maryland game (scheduled to start at 6), just LMK.

There's a seed swapping DISCUSSION thread as well as a thread for HAVE/WANT lists (one post per person, edit as needed). It's not necessary to make any arrangements ahead of time, but it can be useful to see what people have and what everybody's looking for.

The cost for lunch will be $15, including the tip and your choice of water, hot tea, or soft drink. Snow crab is an available option for several dollars more, but let's make it easy on Sally & on our waitstaff by skipping the snow crab, please. There's a lot of other seafood on the buffet -- sushi, steamed shrimp & mussels, clams/oysters on the half shell, fried fish/shrimp/scallops, and various hot dishes. The buffet also has everything from soups and stir-fries to fried chicken and mozzarella sticks... there's salad, fruit, and an array of desserts, including Hershey's ice cream and hot little fried doughnuts. The selection is remarkable, and even if you don't like Chinese food you'll find plenty of possibilities.

We will all be on one tab, so please bring $15 in cash to pay for your lunch. Give your money to Sally (the tall blond with the lovely smile) when you arrive.

I know some folks might be on tight budgets, and we've all been there. If the cost of the meal might keep you from coming, please Dmail me or Sally, and we'll get you covered. I don't want anybody to miss out.

Swapping of plants (with potting soil or dirt) that we can't bring inside can be done in the parking lot, maybe when we head outside at 3. I know it's not an ideal arrangement, but bear in mind this was meant to be a seed swap. :-)

Please post on this thread if you're interested in coming. It's useful for the restaurant (and for me!) to have an approximate head count.

If you can't come but still want to swap seeds, please post here or on the seed swapping thread to ask somebody to volunteer to be your "seed fairy." You can post have/want lists, send your seeds and return postage to your person, and they'll send your seeds to you after the swap.

I had a blast at our previous seed swaps, and I'm so excited about this year's gathering!

THINK SPRING!

:-)

~ Critter (Jill)

This message was edited Feb 7, 2013 4:21 PM