Cottage Garden Seed Swap and Chat #40

Welcome to the new thread .... as we all begin harvesting, cleaning and packing up our seeds....

We came from here .... #39 --> http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1033667

I'm here on the new thread, just so I don't get overlooked. I think someone already asked, but can we get a listing of who's trading on this thread? That way I can check their trade lists and see what I'd like to have. Or are we going to have a trade list where only seeds available are listed? I'm starting to get confused (not a hard task at all) about what's happening when. Maybe I'm just not reading the thread closely enough.

Angie

Whew! I jumped across and almost didn't make it over the pond piggies don't swim too well you know LOL

It's raining again today so looks to be a cleaning seed day for me :)

Angie, no need to worry we will have a trade list posted we don't go by the tradelist on our homepage :)

TY, LeBug. I was getting worried about trying to keep up with everything. You know, once you get past 30, that's harder and harder to do, and I'm way past 30! LOL.

Angie

You are welcome Angie everything will fall in to place and you will be fine I was kind of worried when we had our first swap about keeping up but you are oinking for so many seeds you don't even think about trying to keep up it's so much fun and then when you get them at home you think what in the world was I thinking LOL You will have more seeds than you ever dreamed of!

BTW I'm twice the age of 30 LOL But we won't talk about that he he he

Just sit back relax and have some fun ;-P

Oh you poor ladies! Try 75, that is what I turned this summer and still planting and purchasing seeds and plants.
Just put in 30 daffs and narcissus and still have around 40 to go.

Maxine

Oh, you have to know I was joking big time when I said I was way past 30! I'm getting way past 60 as we speak! Where did the years go? And so quickly. My, my.

Angie

Starlight, if you can keep them inside, I started some hardy hibiscus last winter, and got blooms this year (before the jap. beatles ate them up) They were the 'luna' variety. Only got to about 2' tall, but big pretty blooms.

One thing that would make it easier on newbies (and everyone else) is to post links with your seed names. That can be a pain I know, but it is definitely helpful. I'm setting up a spreadsheet with all my info in it now, including links. For ones that are NOID, just finding the closest thing and noting that. Hopefully will just be able to cut and paste them into a post when we're ready.

I planted my 'Luna' Hibiscus in April and they bloomed the first year.

I have links to most of my plants in my 'have list' on my trade list just enabled but that's a lot of work lol I'll see how many plants I can get links to as I collect seeds I like the idea of having the links even though I won't be asking for many seeds myself he he he I think that is what everyone should do put your plants in your 'have list' and just enable them then you can find them quick I have almost 300 plants in mine but it doesn't show any of them :) Of course having them on your spread sheet is a good idea too! I like that finding them would be even quicker!

Hemophobic I made a couple off different posts on the last thread (trying) to explain how the swap works. I'll copy/paste them here.

First post:

When Star says "go!" we will list what we have to offer. Last year we kept that on a seperate thread which was the absolute best idea IMHO. No chatting on that thread and only one post per person which makes accessing the shopping list so much easier. In that post we listed what we have to offer and many of us also used it to keep track of what seeds we had promised to others. But remember...one post per person on the "have thread" to keep it short and simple.

Once Star has given us the green light we all post our contributions on that thread and the 'shopping' begins. If you see something you'd like to have you oink for it - but the oinking is done in the chatting thread. For example I may post on the "have thread" that I have orange zinnia seeds, purple cosmos, yellow dahlias, etc. If you see something that catches your eye you will post on the chat thread, "Lala I'd like some zins and cosmos" and I will set a bag of each aside for you. This continues until the swap closes and we all send our offerings to Star.

To make things easy on Star we pre-bag the seeds for each person we promised. If Sally asked for my marigolds, daisys, salvias and coneflowers, I'll put each of those packets in one baggie with Sally's name on the outside. That way when they arrive at Star's house she doesn't have to sort through them, all she has to do is toss Sally's baggie into Sally's trough.

I hope that helped explain it, trust me you'll catch on in a hurry.

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Second Post:

Rides you will only be sending one package to Star and not until the end of the swap. When the swap officially closes you gather all the seeds that you have earmarked for other participants and send them altogether to Star. She will then divide them up and send our requests out to the rest of us. The only labels you need right now are the labels for your seed packs.

I'm editing this so that I can make the swap concept easier to understand for the newbies. Hopefully, LOL.

Star's role as hostess is to act as sort of a clearinghouse for our seeds. We actually do all the trading, and keeping track of who wants which seeds. This is all just done on paper (well on the computer actually) until the end of the swap. At that time we gather all the seeds that we have promised to other people and send them to Star...our clearing house manager. She will then sort them out as to which seeds go to which person, put each person's seeds in one big envelope and send them to us. In otherwords we only send seeds one time and that's to Star at the end of the swap.

This message was edited Sep 8, 2009 3:58 PM

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So to answer your question in a nutshell, there are no seeds to pick from yet. We won't be listing what we have to trade until Star gives us the greenlight.

Re: Putting our lists up in increments, last year I broke mine down into 3 seperate lists and put them up about a week apart. That way some of the piggies who weren't able to be first at the trough still had a chance at my seeds. I think that's a good idea, especially since the group's getting so big. If someone has a very limited amount of a desirable seed only the first piggies are going to get to go to market and the rest will be going wee wee wee all the way home.

Thanks Lala for postign that. Earlie r I ha d big post kind a liek yoru s and darn cybe r space ate it when i Hit send and I forgot to copy it incas e that happened.

Gonan add to what ya said. Some folks il start way before others. Liek soem folks may up lists and piggie s wil oink, and they may nto have their list ready ready yet, which is fine. Ther e no fast rule ya have to have list up at opening. Everybody move s at their own paces.

Soem folsk may onyl have four or fiv eitems to put on thei rlist. It nto the amoutn of items ya have or what kind. That not what this swap is about. Soem folsk may put all thei rstuff up at once. me I gonan be puttign up in batche s this year. I making liek 16 kinds of seeds and so many of each kind and wil put that up and then later wil put soem mro up and evry day or evry fe w days will put some more up.

Yep. Everybody can oink up to aroudn the hundred packets of seeds if they want. Soem of us ony oink for things we really want . Soem o fus are unlaoding instea d of gaithering , btu the piggy urge gets us everytime.

So you get to oink a hudnre d packets then like say you have 20 extra packets of seed nobody oinked , well you send them if ya want in yoru box to me.

All not marke d for somebody seed s go into the main piggy trough. That's wher e my job comes in.


Then besides the oinked seeds, you get a one for one trade for them. From off yoru wish list and the what my garden like. I try and go through all the seeds and match up as best as I can for ya the one to oen trades.

Then after all thos e have been done I go back through the piggy trough and take all the e xtra seed and start snorting and tossing in to buckets til all the seeds are gone. Now them seeds ya may liek and then agaoin ya may not, if ya get somethign ya dont liek ya cna always giv e to somebody else or us e it for trade on the seed trading forumn.

Onyl piggie s who allowe d to oink for a s much as they want is the survior piggies cuz they rebuilding.

It crazy first few horu s and days , btu it easier if ya cna keep two windows open cuz you wil be watchign four areas:

1. The main swap/chat thread wher e folsk may post they have something that not on their swap list.

2. The piggy seed swap seed list of haves

3. Dmails from wher e you wil be sendign dmails for confirmation of oinks and folks that miss out may be dmailign ya to see if you have any left. Liek me I usually keep one or two packets back if I have it just for that purpose.

4. Watchign her e on the CG chat thread. Cuz her e is wher e we try to keep discussionsgoing. Cuz folsk may want to knwo about a plant and if it work in their zone or hwo to grow it and thinsg liek that, so any big discussions we try to keep over here. Cours e we always stray hehehe and that part of the fun too. LOL

While I thinkign about it, folsk if ya have thinsg liek holylhock seeds and hibiscus seeds remembe r to put them in freezer for 24 hour s to kil the teeny microscope weevils that cna hide in the seeds , so that yoru seeds don't all get eaten when ya not looking.

Things you will want to make sure of while swap goign on.

1. You have plenty of tv dinners that can go in microwave cuz ya won't have tiem to cook.

2. teach kid s how to do laundry, cuz ya wont have time for it and ya sur e dont want to be bothere d with hearing " I need clean socks and undies! " LOL

3. Start makign friend s with dustballs and fingerprints cuz they wil be yoru constant companion during this time. : )

And if yoru mate complains explain about how ya savign all this money cuz ya wont have to buy seeds . Shhhhhhhhhhh just don't let them know that the soil for soem of them gonan cost or that they will have to be out digging ne w bed san d haulign mulch. Ya can save that tidbit for next spring hehehehehe

4. P{lenty of coffee and snacks by the puter. You may go to be d normally at ten, but you wil fid yourself gettign up at 2 and 3 to see who put mor e have seed s up to oink. Unless ya c natrain the famiyl pet to oink for ya whiel ya snoozing. Cats are nocturnial get them trained which brings up # 5.

5. Install pet doors for yoru animals and automate d feeders cuz ya won't have tiem to walk the family dog, and especialyl not when ya in the middle of oinking. Either t hat or tach them how to us e the potty and put the lid down and flush. : )

Well my good intentions went out the window. was doign pretty good til I ran out of stickers. Now I back to cuttign up index cards and lcuky to get scientific, common name and maybe color on them and part of my name.

I cleanign hous e this year. Got seeds I bought, seed from trades, got left ove r seed from wher e I didn't plant all I had so have ots of this and that s I need to clean out of fridge. Think I got abotu 500 packets already and haven't even made a dent .

Oh I so excited. I don't knwo that I can stand the wait myself. Especially sicne I knwo a secret heheheheheh but you'll all have to wait til the start of the swap to see it. Just wait til ya see what I did. LOL

Ya all knwo I have major pute r problems, but if anybody happens to have any Ruellia elegans " Rajin Cajun" the red ruellia, for th e swap or happens to se e somebody offering it , or know s somebody who ha s some pleas e think of me and let me know. My humemr s are really hungry. Can't ya hear then crying. heheheh

I must have like 1,000 shasta daisey seed s here so I gerinate d a tray to see if they wa s good and now I got hundre d ne w sprouts up. Yep they good. LOL I needed some fo rmarket for next year anyways.

Think I wil give some of the hardy hibisuc a try. I too swear everyyear not gonan do anymore cuz of the Hibscus sa w flie s that lov e to lay their eggs on them and ya have to scout them litle green worms everyday, but I admit it I weak. I lov e th eblooms. I have learne d to cut down on the sawfly larvae eatign them to put out seven dust on the soil and pot s in the winter and also at firt sign of spring when they first sproutign to kill flie s that have overwitnered in the pots.


Now that I run my jaws. IS it tiem to start yet???????? LOL

LOL Star! Well Put!

I'm kind of freaking (well not 'kinda', I'm freaking alot) because I'm starting school tomorrow. I know millions of people go to school every day but this is my first time stepping foot inside a school room in *ahem* 32 years, Besides freaking over the school work I'm freaking that I won't have time to play with the piggies...or do any gardening at all for that matter in the next few years. I'm prepared for that and if that's how it plays out so be it. But I sure hope not.

I've spent the last week digging, potting, and taking cuttings so that when I hear the first frost warning all I've got to do is shuffle everything indoors. I've collected quite a few seeds to share with you all, but whether or not I get them all cleaned is another story (I think I already referenced my OCD and my need to have all my seed chaffless before being sent out. LOL!) Hopefully though this school business isn't going to be as tough as anticipated and I'll have my nose right in there with the rest of you piggies.

Star - I will be sending about 200 times (no exageration) more seed than I require in return. I may actually give you a small wish list this year just in case I don't have time to drool at the trough.

Lala . How Cool!!!!!!!!! . I remmebr that tryign to go to schoola dn do finals and piggy swap at the same time. I ha d been out that long too befor e I went back. Would run in between classes if time to comptue r lab to check in.

School is important. Hope ya don't have a ful load. hey I f I coudl go back at my age , you will do fine. Giving ya a high five!

What ya taking?

What I did was see when test date s were and woudl take tons of notes and inbetween class breaks would rewrite an dmake outline and then ignroe and cram the week befor e the exams. Don't suggest doign that though.

Don't worry abotu the chaff, just cram stuf fin baggies. Folsk can dig through chaff. ba d enough I can't type straight got massiv e attack of hiccups not helping to type eihter.

yes, send me your wish list as soon a s ya have it ready cuz I always oink for thos e I knwo gonan be gone if I see it on their wish list. critter wil be busy too with he r ne w daughters feedings and such too, and anybody els e that need s me to look otu fo rthem holelr too.

Is it time yet????????/ LOL

Ella you are a hoot! Loved your list!

Think I'll pass on the live plants (waliking irises) for now. Lot's going on at work and barely have time to keep up with this, but thanks!

Is it time yet??????????? LOL some more...

Tonya

Oink Oink Starlight!! Is it time yet!!!!!!!!!
You are a jewel Star. I'm glad you made a point of not worrying too much about cleaning the seeds. I don't mind the chaff at all, and I know that some seeds take forever to clean so when you are doing a lot it gets to be too much. Gettin EXCITED!!

tis funny, yall talking bout using a pond fer the irise! All me gardens have turned into ponds!!! We had a massive flood in our community fri. a 72 in. water main burst.....w/water covering cars...flooding basements.....people in boats going down the streets! it was awful! Thankfully, no human lives lost! dont know bout pets, tho. major property damage! gardens damaged! The entire community was affected.

Hey gang - sorry for the repeat extended silence here, but I promise I'm really trying to keep up - both with gathering and cleaning seeds and reading the posts! I'm in the process of moving to my sister's, and have just a few things to wrap up here in addition to gathering as many seeds from the front and back as possible. I've already got idon'tknowhowmany different kinds of seeds sitting in large paper envelopes and on paper plates waiting for me to de-chaff and get them sorted for listing. I'm really excited about some echninacea I got started from some piggy seeds from last year, but I don't remember off the top of my head if they were classic purple or if I actually got a hybrid second generation to sprout :-) I'm hoping that I won't have the aphid infestation repeat this coming year - the new place will be in one side of my sis's former pool house. The pool is now filled in and has a picket fence running around it - with some new trees and a plan for veggies next year, so I'm going to be a piggie when veggie and 'mater seeds come up...snort, snort. I even have an extra two bags of the plastic craft bag-ettes that Suzy introduced me to, waiting for the labels to be typed up for the seeds I have, as well as the seeds sis has gathered from her back yard (18 different kinds today, I think she said). I'm so glad for the info that I've learned from y'all as it's helped me decide which seed to start, which to pass on because of location, etc. Although I'm going to be shifting my dependency from Illoquin (whom I live close to now) to LeBug ;-> It seems that no matter how far you may go, there's a DG Seed Piggy fairly nearby- quite a nice feeling, I gotta say!

Star, if all previous pigs have an automatic place at the table, and you let in new folks each year - the math surrounding how this can grow is beyond my schooling so I'll pass it to my niece - LOL!

Sis and I are excited about my move because she has decided to get a booth at a Farmer's Market to sell her lamb meat and goat cheese, and she now has me as a live-in employee. She's so much more like our mom than I am, it's rather frightening.

Anyway, I gotta make sure I don't miss the page where the seed lists will be posted! Now, gotta go catch up on the posts, and sort some seeds....

Hey George! Good to see you in the piggy swap again.

We are flooding here to, But not that bad. Been in the rain digging trenches so the mud don't come in the house. I was telling Star a few days ago out of all the storms I have been through that in my opinion the flood was the worst for me. I feel for you all in MD. & GA. I hope it ends soon.

We had a lot of rain here too 6" two days ago and it's still raining some every day, my basement isn't flooded but it has water in it, my neighbors basement had ankle deep water and it ruined the furniture they had down there but we are lucky compared to what a lot of other people have gone thru. I get all the water from the top of the hill in my plants out front and I sure am glad I didn't just plant anything out there it would be two blocks down the street lol

hollyhocklady, sounds like you are on a hill too are you? With the mud trying to come in the house that has got to be hard for you!

Robin, lamb meat and goat cheese I think I would throw some plants in there too lol We just started having a Farmers Market in one of the towns next to us then they started another one even closer to us so now we have two :)

I may try and sell some plants next fall from WS at the FM. I tried to buy a half pallet of soil less mix from the nursery where I like it at and the guy wouldn't sell me a half pallet he told his sec. he was going to call me but I haven't gotten a phone call yet and that was last week. I couldn't go another winter without dirt again, last year all I got was bags of peat because I couldn't get a hold of him and it drove me nuts. The year before I called him and had to meet him at the nursery every time I wanted a bag of dirt or two, I don't mind that if I can get a hold of him.

I've been lurking and seems like you all are making individual baggies of your seed as you go. So far I am just putting them in one bigger bag and thought I would do them as they are wanted. I guess I am doubting anyone will want my seed.
I also have another ? on the labels. I have yet to figure out how to make the labels. Do I need a program? I know they will need to be small and I get them on things all the time but have never had anyone show me how to do it. I am still a computer infant!!!
Veronica

Veronica. I rie d that my first year. Just lumpign all the seeds togetehr and made up as I went. It didn't go to bad. Just got a little crazy for me as I had school adn work and evrythign els e going on at the time, but it cna be done.

Ans when I get to the point I get tire d of makign babbies now, wil do the sam ething. heheheheheh

nevr say nobody wil want yoru seeds. You will be surprised. we had folsk last eyar that onyl had coupel thinsg and they thought nobody woudl want , but man they got oinked.

I also beside s being dyslexic and puter challenege d in a major major way and my printer don't work right and make labels. I went to walmart and got me soem of them labels that ther e like 15 little labels on each page and just hand wrot e on them and am out of labels now so am just cuttign up index card s and written on them. Mine are very basic ,.. very simple. No sowing directions no nothign else other than scientific and common name and when I run out of index cards, will start cuttign up notebook paper adn if I run out of that wil cut up little square s of toliet paper and us e them and napkins if need be.

It a no frills no fuss swap. Lat year somebody mad e neat little envie s otu of Christams paper wrap and just put name on outsid e of what wa sinside. I remmebre d that and save d my Christams wrap to do the same thing, if I cn afigrue out how thwy did it. Ya just fix and do what easiest for you adn what ya have the most fun at. Are piggie s fussy .. nope.. it al abotu the friendships and the seeds. ; )

Veronica glad to see you I was just wondering last night where you were :)

I just do mine in word then cut them out and put them in the baggies then save them and from year to year you can use them or add to them. Of course I always have problems with my computer thru the year and end up losing some so I have to start all over each swap but maybe some folks have better luck with their computer saving things lol One of these days I'll learn to back up LOL

Last year Veronica I had this white annual salvia thought no one would want it only had enough seeds for one swap and several people wanted it never doubt your seeds we are all piggies and want it all :) Don't think that someone wouldn't want your seeds plus the storm survivors or whoever that may have lost their gardens may want to be replacing plants that they had before all seeds are good :) I save blue balloon flower every year and someone always asks for it and that is an old old plant lol I'm always planting seeds to it here too because someone is always wanting it.

Lea I am still here just reading along. Did you see that Robin is or has already moved to Scottsburg. Now she will be right smack dab in the middle of us. Cool.
Welcome to the South, Robin. This year I am saving the coral nymph that I got from you for the swap. It is from all volunteers as I did not plant it this year.

Yes Veronica isn't that great :) Maybe we can all three get together sometime that would even be better :) I think she is still in the process of moving but I have a feeling her sister is going to keep her busy for a while :) It may be a while before we can pounce on her LOL I may have to try and go over to help her with her chores so she can come out to play!

We are having drizzling rain again today and the hummers are putting on quite a show for me I just love those little critters! I just filled the feeders up putting a little extra sugar in them for their trip for the winter :) Maybe they have a sugar buzz lol

Veronica... the way I do mine is... i print the info in a word processor [MS word] and the print and cut the lil sheets of paper [i'm sure you have a bunch of mine as we've traded a lot]
then pop the sheet in the baggie... that way the baggie can be reused over and over.

and I was surprised last year - how many folks wanted my "average" seeds... like Zins and Marigolds, etc.

Terese

Ah yes Lea I remember the white salvia...and how badly I wanted it.
:-P
LOL!

And also marigolds. I'll be looking for any named marigolds again this year. Almost all of my seedlings got wiped out by a late frost this spring so I don't have many choices to collect seeds from this fall.

La, I've managed to save a few more this year on that annual salvia those seeds are hard to catch I only get the ones hanging over the side so it reseeds for me the next year I have red and white in that tub and want some blue but can't find a blue that would be a good partener for those yet that bloom at the same time like right now they have been blooming for about a month I guess and will probably go till frost it would have to be at least a foot tall if not two. Anyone have any ideas? Does anyone have a blue flower blooming right now?

Oh oh lol I have my bush violets! What is wrong with me lol (must be an age thing!) If anyone got the bush violets planted from me in the last swap tell me what you think of them and if you didn't get them planted you better make sure you do next year lol I highly recommend this plant I'm trying to get lots of more seeds for this swap I have them popping up everywhere they are sky blue with white in the center I love this flower ;-) Can you tell, you won't mind this one reseeding in your beds you will have little blue and white flowers from mid summer until frost about two feet high.

Neal I think I sent some of these seeds to you for your sky garden did you get to plant them :) Don't want to put you on the spot really I didn't get hardly any of my seeds planted this year!

LeBug: A Salvia Black & Blue would look great in with the others, or a nice aster.

I don't have much luck with a lot of blooms with the BB salvia it's fine for else where just not showy enough for my tub and an aster would probably take it over they are pretty bushy :)

Thanks for the suggestions :)

Lebug, are the Bush Violets Browallia? I grew it for the first time this year (var. Blue Bells) and love it! Flowers everywhere! Mine are solid blue though, so I'll have to oink for some of your blue and white ones :-) Mine don't seem to set seed on their own, guess my local bees don't care for them, but when I 'play bee' they have cooperated and set seed nicely.

Yes kistuat that's what they are Browallia but in the plantfiles I can't find the ones that I have I have looked on the net too, the flowers are only about an half inch around maybe three quarters I'll have to measure them if it ever quits raining for tomorrow LOL But they stand out and are really pretty these are covered in blooms too and kind of airy. I've often wondered what the other browallias look like liking these so much. Maybe if Robin gets here before they quit blooming she can take a picture lol Ohhh Robin :) I hope she has a chance to come over lol

I just know all of this rain is knocking seeds out of their little pods right now that could be in my greedy little hands LOL

HI Terese, good to see you.
Just checkin in to make sure I don't miss anyone. I gathered a few seeds today but it was really hot here so I didn't stay out long. I wish we could have gotten some of that rain from you, looks like you all had plenty to share. We have gone back to moderate drought in the Charlotte, hope that changes soon.

OK I know we've all heard this time again, but I feel the need to remind everyone to label their seeds AS SOON as you collect them. I just threw away 2 baggies of freshly gathered seeds because I'm not dealing with any mysteries again this year.

Lea, didn't you have a white coccinea salvia last year? I had it in my mind that that was the one for which you had limited seed in the swap last year. It stuck in my mind because I didn't know there was such a thing.

Lebug, they don't have mine listed either, but this pic by trustmissy looks just like it. Not sure if the name 'blue bells' that summer hill had on the original seeds is a variety, or just a common name...
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/212244/

Lea, I'm loving those Bush Violets too! Those I tried in the ground were quickly devoured by bugs, but in pots on the deck they've been wonderful! I had great luck with Browallia specioca, but lost all my B.viscosa- not sure why they didn't do as well, although I do have an idea about the problem. I'm no good at mixed plants in a container! I don't know what the problem is, but I can't get them to look nice like the pics I see in the container gardening forum. If its one kind of plant per pot, no problem- they look great, and I can arrange them how I want them. But it really drives me nuts that I can't achieve those fabulous arrangements in one container! The prettiest Bush Violets I have are in one pot together, next to a pot of Mimulus cardinalis and so nice together! I've been collecting seed from them, not getting a lot, but I keep snagging them.

Kelly, keep on playing bee! I'd love to try that one!

Lea, was it you who had the white Salvia coccinea? I remember wanting some of those too, I'd love them for the blue, white, and yellow Sky garden.

ansonfan, I just got back from Pisgah Forest (an hour from Asheville) a few days ago, and it rained (poured) almost the entire week I was there - probably 20 inches or so, with flooded roads and fields in nearby lower towns. You didn't get that rain in Charlotte?

Well I'm back to seed collecting. Just wish I knew what's in some of those bowls I forgot to label. And wondering how much to collect of some of the commoner stuff like echinacea purpurea and liatris. Don't want to bother sorting stuff that people won't want, so I'm thinking just a little of each in case.

Last night I spent hours splitting seed pods of wild lupine.... hope someone will want them.
I have enough for about 20 baggies, and I'm not even half way through!

My tendonitis is killing me today. Will anyone object if I just leave them in the pods, and bag the pods?

Patricia