Jill---
These are just boxes they have emptied? Throw-aways?
Lids?? What kind?
My HD is right next to a Costco. I could go look if I knew what to look for...
The idea that they can be stacked seems most practical.
I am stressing out already thinking about getting all I have to pack in my small car....
Could you take a picture of the boxes?
Thanks, Gita
Swapping & Chatting Ric & Holly's Swap III
Good morning all. Still great weather for dividing and potting up and digging! Now for a little warmth to get the elephant ears looking better!As I posted yesterday I have been busy perusing my local plant sources and stimulating the floriculture economy and various fund raisers. I'll be listing some of my 'finds' to share for cost as a Blue Light Special on the Haves and Wants thread if any one is interested.
At the Friends annual plant sale I found two interesting seedlings to share (limited supply) to those who will grow and save seeds for swapping next year!
fish peppers
85 days. Capsicum annuum. Plant produces good yields of 3" long hot peppers. Peppers are very hot and turn from cream white with green stripes, to orange with brown stripes, then to red when mature. Plant has variegated leaves. An African-American heirloom from the Philadelphia/Baltimore/DC region. Famous seasoning used in Crab Houses around the Chesapeake Bay. Peppers were dried and used as a spice to make a cream suace for sheelfish. This variety is thought to have be brought to America from Africa in the 1800's. Plant Height: 24" tall.
They say this is the secret ingedient in Old Bay! And the leaves are variegated. Does well as a container plant. I am reserving one for Chief Chef Ric!
Sunberry
aka Wonderberry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_retroflexum
member of nightshade family' a hybrid developed by Luther Burbank. Unripe berries are reported to be poisonous.
Also found (like Happy!) a pot of "Magic Lilies" to share as I know they are in there even if the foliage disappears by swap time.
LMK Judy
PS Seems Home Depots are having a good sale on blue berries in gal pots $4 each. Some low growers like 'North Country', 'Chipawa' and taller varieties, too.
ssgardener have noted your reguest for balack hen and chicks and purchased a nice pot of sedum 'voodoo' for you.
Gita and Critter, if I could have just a small start of the spearmint and lemon mint, that would be great!
Costco & Sam's both have empty boxes available at the front of the store (they don't offer bags, so people often use the boxes to help load their purchases. They don't have lids, but they have sturdy rims/corners that allow boxes of similar size to be stacked. Some (like for romaine lettuce) could accommodate taller plants. They also have all sorts of other regular boxes with lids that may also work for you. Our Costco won't even let you in the front door, though, without a membership. Doesn't HD generate lots of empty boxes? Boxes with flaps/lids stack well. Most plants aren't that heavy.
COLEUS update! 'Bright Ruffles' is sold out, and a couple other varieties are 5 or less remaining, but so far everybody has what they asked for. :-)
edited to add... 75 plants ordered so far! This is fun.
This message was edited May 7, 2012 10:04 AM
You got it, SSG. I think your chocolate mint (if it's the same as mine) will get more intense as it grows. Sometimes the first leaves of any herb in spring aren't very impressive.
Ruby, you are one determined lady, tackling that prickly pear!
I have requested one of each daylilies from you and John because I want to get some of them up to my daughter in Vermont before I move there. My plan is to ship things up bare root as possible because of weight and she will plant there. Daylilies are staples of the Vermont garden and I'd love to think of you all when I'm up north and I already know the beauty of the plants you share from the many comments you have gotten from other recipients here.
So, I do not need them in pots with soil! And, they can be stacked/packed together,etc cause that's how they will be on the next leg of their journey. Last time I took 20 hosta divisions, bleeding hearts, and other live plants in my Southwest Air checked bags! lol No charge.
Believe me, the only plants that I have to bring to this swap that look good are the Freydek!
So save some pots and soil for your farmers market local...
Same for anyone else reading, please don't stress over potting up or appearance of plants requested as I take your word on health and I'm already 'sold' and you're here to refer to for growing tips and instructions as needed...
Hope no one minds too much that I said the above, but I have to remind myself to curb my enthusiasum for impressing you all with my awesome plants and extensive selection, well potted and creatively displayed...guess I've got a bad case of " First Time Meeting you all Swapper Blues!"
Chantel, what's a good herbal for anxiety? Lemon Balm? I always bring a few sprigs with me when I road trip!
"well potted and creatively displayed" is over-achieving for sure, LOL... i'll do well just to get them there, although i'm trying to pot up divisions ahead as I can manage so they'll have nicer roots when I give them out. :-)
Lot of plants just transfer great in plastic bags
I finally have plants that are big enough to divide up and share, so I'm pretty new at this. My biggest fear is that I may inadvertently dig up a "look-alike" weed, pot it up all nice and pretty, and proudly offer it up LOL. terri
I agree, Jen. I use the bags I deliver newspapers in, so I'll bring along a sleeve of them for any one to have. Not over achieving here as every vehicle I have has a set of bags standard supply.
Cross posted with Terri.
Lol or, a plant I like and behaves well in my garden or area becomes an aggressive thug in someone elses and instead of thinking of me fondly each time they view it, disparaging words cross their lips!
This message was edited May 7, 2012 12:13 PM
coleup - Skullcap herb, available at stores that carry herbs in bulk, is a plesant tea that is quite relaxing.
How do I get to the previous part of this list so I can review the haves & wants? Thanks.
Thanks greenthumb.
Skullcap reminds me to bring my hat and sunscreen!
I know there is sun at Ric and Holly's but how about shade to hang out in...?
Buttoneer, first part of this thread is here
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=9051352
And just the lists of Haves and Wants (no discussion) is here
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1246746/
I also can offer Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/319/. It is very pretty when in bloom (covered with small daisy-like flowers), and self-seeds abundantly but not aggressively -- easy to pull out.
That attached image was taken yesterday; it is still several weeks from blooming.
This message was edited May 7, 2012 2:02 PM
Coleup - you could simply put some lavender essential oil on a cotton ball in your car. There are various tea blends as well ie passion flower/camomile but you don't want too be too sleepy to drive either. Lavender oil has SO many great uses - burns...some even say antibacterial and antiviral properties
Chantell -- what are you recommending the lavender essential oil for?
Lavender is calming for many people... they even put it in baby "night time" bath wash now. I'm not sure if it calms or heals me; I just know I love it!
Oh I see -- I had to scroll back a bit to see coleup's request for herbs that curb anxiety....
Ditto to some plants, esp daylilies, will do quite well if pulled, shaken off and wrapped in bag or wet newspaper the night before, and layered into a box. Course then you have to label the bag...
It is easy to forget that we will come home with many plants and may need to do triage the next morning, and pot up or temporarily plant things. I unload my car to the shade by my maple, and then go Oh...my...word...
happy, tansy please? so pretty.
Buttoneer go to Mid Atlantic Forum for Haves Wants Only thread. Oh, here!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1246746/
WOW!
So many comments just since late morning today. Been outside hauling away since then.
We are getting "active"---aren't we? Of course--I check in at least 5 times a day.....
Talk about Type "A"! I am beyond "A"-----but not if it stands for "anal".
How about "C"--for compulsive. Everything has to be just so--especially
when it involves other people......Like a SWAP!
Everyone always comments like: You are SO ORGANIZED!!!
You know why? It keeps me sane. I hate last minute stressing out.
Doing all things ahead in a more leisurely manner takes care of all the last minute stresses.
Makes me a better participant......
Need to learn to "chill" a bit in all these regards........
Coleup--Sweetie--
WHEN are you moving to your daughters?????? Boooo...Hoooo....
You were saying about no need to have plants potted up----geez! ALL mine are potted up!
And your name is on a lot of them!!! Of course--if you are driving up--that is no biggie.
I could dig up a couple of the "old" Red/yellow throat D-Lilies for you. I have them planted everywhere.
If they are bare-root now--how about all the leaves they already have at this time?
If you want to go back to 2011 Fall Swap--I am sure I posted pictures. Can do again--just not right now.
I had many of my D-Liles to share at Jill's Fall Swap last year, because I dug most of them up and divided them.
Too bad you could not make it..... I had loads!!! It was almost hard to give them all away.
Jill---
My "A" goal is to have everyone's requests in a separate box so I can just go: "Here are yours!"...
I feel if I "deliver" all my requests asap--I will be able to enjoy all the socialization better that follows.
Since--I am not there to do a lot of swapping. My requests are very few. I know...I know....it never works....
I have VERY few "wants"--but I DO have many "requests" by other people. The plants have all been
growing leaps and bounds----eg--the Monkshoods are, easily, 12" tall by now.
The Foxgloves are getting quite big! One has a bloom stalk on it! All of 10" tall.
That particular plant was tagged for Terri.
I plan to give anyone that requested Foxgloves at least 3 plants. I have that many!
Donner will be coming up to my house after work next Thursday. She is still struggling with her 12-hr. jet-lag.
That is like day--turned into--night....She is having a real hard time.
I have so many plants for her--that I would rather just give them to her and not have to transport them all to the Swap.
Same old car issues! Not enough room!
Besides--when she comes here--she can choose many other things--plants I do not have enough od to Swap.
I owe her--she has taken me out to dinner twice!!! She is such a sweetheart!!! I am blessed with her friendship.
I still have to find out HOW to remove the head-rests on the back seats in my Subaru Outback (????)
so I can lay the seats down flat. Do you just yank them out????? There do not seem to be any small buttons to push
to release them from their upright position. Hmmm...I COULD call a Subaru Dealer and ask? DAHHHH!!!
SS--
I will be glad to dig up some Spearmint Mint for you. Will do that last minute and put the dug up Mints
in a zip-loc baggie. It keeps marching on and on into my bed.
I am not a "Tea" person. One cup of Coffee in the AM--that is all I do.
My Pakistani neighbor always tries to give me her Mint Tea--which comes with a lot of milk in it.
"No thank you!" is always my answer. She swears by it to deal with all kinds of stomach problems.
LAVENDER??? I love to put it in my Potpouri!
OK! enough gabbing..........Gita
Sally: Sure, but it is Feverfew that I have (Tanacetum parthenium), http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/319/, not tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/320/. Tansy is a pretty serious invasive.
Gita, I'm going to try to do the "boxed by recipient" thing, too, or at least get people's names on their pots so I can group them as I unpack... you're right, it makes it lots easier on the day!
thanks happy, thats what I meant; I just didn't scroll back and check the name lol
Phew! (get the pun?)
Gita, Look in the owners manual, I had some trouble figuring out how to get mine off and the back seat will completely flat check out the owners manual for that too. I owned my for years before we realized that I could get those back seats flat. I always had them down but not flat.
Following up on Gita's ad for Begonia Grandis on another thread, I have lots if anyone wants any. (Gita, I think I may have given you your start of that many years ago!)
But if you have been eying something on my list and haven't claimed it, please do because I am leaving town early Friday morning and won't be back until the wee hours of the day of the swap. So it is now or never!
Happy I would like some of that Begonia Grandis. I did have some last year but I'm not too sure it is going to return. Haven't seen any signs of it yet.
I'll be delighted to bring you some -- I have oodles. (You may find it will reappear though; it is late to emerge.)
If it does I know someone that would love the extras.
Happy--
The Begonia Grandis is Non-Existent until now. I hjave no iodea how it survives in the soil.
Then--all of a sudden--you will start seeing them appear i your beds.
I have pink and white ones--have NO clue which is which.
All of a sudden--they will just pop up. The leaves look like an average Begonia.
I have had these for a few years--and i still do nor know how they go dormant and then
pop up out of nowhere. The closest thing i can imagine to them is the Purple Oxalis--
which grows out of no where from these itsy-bitsy corms.
If you let them be--in a good, fertile area--they will grow a serious root system.
And--be great flowering plants late in the season.
Go for it!!! Gita
Holly: I'll bring lots of the Begonia Grandis. Caveat: it doesn't travel/transplant as well when it is large, so I'll bring small plants. I'm not sure they bloom the first year.
Holly, I got your friend down for Malva zebrina.
Yes, Happy, I had to send mine to the swap two years ago as small plants, too. I also grow mine in 3gal containers with a scant 5 inches of soil in the bottom. I've done this for years and the sides of the container lend a little support to new seedlings and, since they are in containers, I don't forget where they are! Does well in filtered shade for me but
My favorite thing about these plants is that the underside of the leaves is red. For about two hours each summer day as the sun sets behind in my yard them they just GLOW!
Take advantage of Happy's generosity and grow this wonderful heirloom pass-a-long plant.
Happy, please reserve a pot of seedings for me!
picture one is of baby seedlings emerging and two more of the backlit glow of the leaves
Holly, please set aside a Yellow Bleeding Heart in my name. Do know if it is the vine with yellow flowers, or the regular form with yellow foliage? Either way, my hand is up. Thanks
Not sure I haven't seen her yellow BH. Got you.
I would love a Begonia Grandis!!
Holly I have your friends down for pachysandra
Gita
You have dmail!!!