Fall swap at sallyg,,'s Part Two Discussion Thread

Friends of ours, Ray and Lois, are going to join us. THey are not plant maniacs per se but Lois has "a large fern' she's been trying to discard. I think it is her very large Asparagus fern that she showed me four years ago.

Sally--

Tell your friend that asparagus ferns can be root divided--just like I/we butcher an too old Spider plant.
If I remember correctly--A.F.'s also make those nodules all throughout the roots to hoard water.
These ferns like to be fresh--not a couple of years old.

I used to even grow some of these from the seeds they make...long---long--ago. G.

You tell her! You'll meet her Saturday !
I planted my Asparagus fern outside last fall, just to see- It did live over, partially.. I bet it is hardy to about zone 8 which some of us can do with the right exposure.

Sally, I'd be interested in your friend's asparagus fern.

Hey, Sallyg--the links you sent me via D-mail didn't work but I think this was the thread you meant for posting attendees. I just posted on the Food Thread---I'D LOVE TO COME!! I still have plants promised to others that I'd like to give all of you. I just need a ride, so if anyone is able to swing by area and let me ride with you, that would be great!! D=mail me for directions.

I still have the Iris Florentine (peachy) to share. The 3-ft snow nearly wiped it out as I had put it in a barrell that didn't drain well. But I took what was still good out and they have rebounded. So, they're ready for new homes.

All - may I get some feedback on bringing my surplus pots etc., please? I'm lazy - what can I say...LOL I don't want to load them up if I have to reload and bring home. They're mostly my fav Walmart pots with the raised floor and side watering hole for bottom watering. 4" and 6" sizes...a few larger than that of generic pots - read cheap. Also about 6 new ceramic pots - 6" size but deeper than standard - think rose pot type. I also have a lot of cow pots still and various 'orchid' type supplies from when I 'thought' I might like to raise them. God knows what else is down there...it just seems sinful to leave there to collect dust when one of you might be able to use them.

I will also be updating my 'haves' list:
*Is anyone interested in False Red Yucca http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/31558/. - I have one for sure...might dig both up though...still contemplating this.
*Mature sedums that have long since lost their tags - I know I can ID the Black Jack sedum I've had since 07' - Autumn Joy (been in ground since 05' - I honestly don't know what the other names are....Autumn Fire might be out there as well.
*I'm also considering digging up my NOID Dwarf Variegated Weigela (09') - see photo below - note: it doesn't look so pretty at summer's end

I will add with 'taker' to haves as I get responses. Can't wait to see everyone!!


This message was edited Sep 10, 2012 10:27 PM

Chantell, those deep 6 inch pots are often perfect for amaryllises... so hang onto them... we'll get together later this fall (you promised!), and I know I can find some extras when I start lifting them.

Local garden center has Razzle Dazzle Dwarf Crepe Myrtles on clearance for $6 each in 3gal
pots, Regular price is $24.95 or more.

Let me know as soon as possible if you would like me to pick up some for you and bring to swap. Nice plant for a sunny border and a very good price.
http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/Cherry-Razzle-Dazzle-Crape-Myrtle.htm

Won't be long now folks.........

Me me me please on the Razzle Dazzle... I'll put the $ in with your pens, or add half a pound of moisture crystals, whichever you'd prefer. Thanks for looking out for us!

(ah... er... I should probably qualify the above with "as long as Terri or Pat thinks it will fit in their car on the way back, pretty please?")

Never mind that qualification... it can sit at Sally's if need be... gives me another excuse to come out and see her this fall. Joyanna and I are inviting ourselves... LOL

Critter, there were four left at 7 am...Do you want all four? I'm on my way to get what's there now!

Maybe I can meet up with you and Joyana for a post swap swap at Sally's!

Please include me too in this future get-together. Sally is only 1/2 hr. from my house.
I could bring Joyann her late B_D gifts . Another good reason...

Gita

If anyone would like me to bring 50 pound bags of Turface (it is about $14.50 a bag, incl. tax), please let me know. There is a store about 10 minutes from my house that carries it. It is an ingredient in some of Tapla's soil mixtures (see the first 3 "sticky" threads at http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/containers/all/), and I know some people have had a hard time finding it. (Ssgardener is bring some of the mix to share, all made up, and that may be all anyone wants/needs.) In any event, I'd be happy to buy a bag (or more) of Turface for you and bring it to the swap. Please dmail me if interested.

This message was edited Sep 11, 2012 12:42 PM

Coleup, I only want 1 for myself, please... but get another for yourself, consider it in trade for the lovely little one you gave me this spring. Anybody else can have dibs on the other 2 (if you get all 4), but don't feel you'll be "stuck" with extras... I could give one to a neighbor, one to my MIL next spring... just let me know if I owe you more than for 2 of them. I'll put $10 in the baggie with your pens ($2.25 plus an extra fine-tip I thought you might like).

Terri is swinging by here tonight (thank you, Terri!), so I'll be sending the moisture crystals & pens with her. The amount you owe (if any) is on the bag. Please give Terri the money.
Coleup & Chantell's bags are marked "paid", Holly & Terp each owe $14, Ruby $10 (or $9.25 if you don't want the fine tipped pen also), Catbird $7, Gita $3.

Critter, sounds good to me. Of course I snapped up all four Razzle Dazzles figuring that if you wanted one then there would be others who would also! As for me, I have enough sun in my yard to keep them alive but not to bring into bloom! That's why I gave you the 'Cherokee'. Am really liking the foliage color of the "Plum Magics' if I want one for just foliage!

Before I forget, Chantell, I believe the pot of upright banded grass you are bringing for ssgardener is called Miscanthus sinensis "Gold Bar"
http://www.plantdelights.com/Miscanthus-sinensis-Gold-Bar-PP-15193-Gold-Bar-Maiden-Grass/productinfo/7494/

And, last but not least, Wanted to give a very Happy Birthday shout out to ecnalg better known as Pat. See you Sat Pat!

Happy birthday Pat!

Yes, I am happy to babysit a Crepe myrtle for Jill, and Gita and coleup you will of course know when we get together.

ssgardener She will be deelighted if you acccept her apsparagus fern, I am making an assumption that is what she meant...hope I didn't speak ''too soon", If she doesn't I am happy to give you my small one that wintered and summered outside.

Coleup, if there is still a crepe Myrtle available I would like it, please. If not that is okay, too. Just saw this

Getting excited!

Sally-----I did NOT ask for a Crepe Myrtle.....Something must have gotten mixed up.

Emphasis on my comma ---read as
i will babysit a crepe for jill.
(stop)
and gita and cole will know when jill and joy come over

Terri stopped by this evening, and I talked her into staying for dinner (not hard, because spaghetti sauce has been simmering all day, so the kitchen smells divine). Sally, she should be bringing you a couple of SIBs... if you want to overwinter them in pots, they'll probably need bigger ones. Also, Joyanna sent along a plant for Gita that she "needs" just because of its name. And Terri snagged the 2 DL pots for Ruby's John. Other than that, plants people wanted from me will have to wait until another time.

Happy happy birthday, Pat!!

LMBO > Sally Seriously though - someone let me know when the informal get together happens...I"m not opposed to driving....

Devon - I quickly scanned the article and went to product website. I'm still clueless - was trying to figure out if this stuff is more natural or more chemically?

This message was edited Sep 11, 2012 9:53 PM

Jill, thanks!

Chantell, sure thing!

Jill--

I can't wait to see what I "need"according to Joyanna......
Now--I may have to see if I have something SHE "needs" in return. Just for fun.....

How about 2 bright pink pots? Will put something soft in it....something she "needs" when she gets stressed..
I already have them in your box....Will write a small note re the "needing"....;o)
Gita

Had a good visit with Jill, Jim, and Joyanna last night. Spaghetti sauce was delish!!! I am always in awe of Jill's plants too, but this time was amazing. I couldn't believe how big and lush the houseplants are that have been outside on the deck all summer, and all her starter perennials being coddled in pots are thriving, not to mention the gigantic fig tree. Seems like everything has taken off in leaps and bounds. I have the plants, markers, and water crystals to bring to Sally's for her, and can't wait to see everyone.

I don't have much to bring this time, but put a few things on the HAVES/WANTS thread. I pretty much fizzled out with my gardening efforts this summer after that horrible July storm. I never even got around to cleaning up all the downed trees and limbs. The place looks pretty neglected, which it is, but the weeds look great LOL... Anyway, I probably won't be able to plant much this fall, but I can't resist a few things that I saw on the offerings. Sally, I'd love to have some of the big root geranium - and Ruby, lily of the valley and creeping jenny are always welcome.

Pat, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Gita, you already have something for Joyanna! (She spotted the thumbnail photo, btw... I didn't enlarge it, but that little smartie piped right up... what's that? is it for me?? LOL, she still has that birthday party at the top of her mind, doesn't she?) You know she'll love the bright pink pots.

Terri ate her first fig. We can probably add her to the list of people who want to grow figs, now. :-)

Jill--

Would it be easier if I sent your stuff with Terri instead of David and Pat?

Terri--NOT too late! I can cut fresh starts from my neighbor's Fig trees.
There are 3 different ones.
1--Her BIG tree--with the honey-sweet figs. This one is straight from Italy, brought over as a cutting in a suitcase.
2--A version I call the "Bush" Fig--also sweet fruit
3--A Fig that has been struggling under the house overhang--but has the biggest, purple figs of all.

Let me know ASAP--and I will do my thing and bring them. Then YOU can watch them root!
Latecomers in asking will all have to do this......Two weeks--and they will be firmly rooted.

Gita

Oh yeah......Happy Birthday to Pat. Hope that you had a great day and the upcoming year proves to be one of your very best ever.

Aspenhill, have you down for Lily of The Valley and for Creeping Jenny.

I have felt very funky all week and have thought a time or two that I might have to write at the last minute and say I wouldn't be able to attend. A bit ago I realized how badly I truly want to be among all you great folk again, so will do my very best to get there on Saturday. If not, there is always the US Postal Service that I can use to get things to everyone. I am going to really put forth an effort to put the funk behind me and be ready and smiling as much as the rest of you will be on Saturday. There are several names on the attendees list that I don't recognize as having met before, so am really looking forward to that.

Wanted to mention that the pots of a very pretty red bud Aster we have is in beautiful bloom this week and if anyone is interested, we have plenty. These will most likely grow to a good sized shrub, so a bit of space will be needed if you decide you want one. Also have lots of Butterfly Bushes too, colored purple that need homes. Let me know.

Ruby

Chantell: Turface is manufactured, but I think it is fairly harmless. It is used for sponging up water on soccer fields. Here is what Tapla wrote about it: "Turface is calcined (fired at a high temperature) clay. The special clay is heated until the tiny particles fuse, so they are like hard little ceramic sponges. After screening, their large size allows water to flow through the particles, leaving large air pores between the particles, with water trapped INSIDE the particles for plants to use. The result is lots of aeration, no perched water, and good water retention."

Ruby - I DO hope you're feeling better :-( I would miss seeing you!!!!! You mentioned butterfly bushes - only IF y'all have time and they're not all taken - I'd love one for my sister. She has this HUGE empty yard...makes me twitch...so I keep bringing things that my BIL graciously plants and takes care of. Great guy!!


Devon - we were posting at the same time. Based on the description you quoted - I LOVE some...please and thank you. Let me know how much $ to bring.

This message was edited Sep 12, 2012 12:00 PM

Sounds like kitty liter to me...joke.

Terp, that's actually pretty accurate! I've heard that some people use kitty litter instead of Turface if they can't get a hold of it.

Chantell - I was going to bring whole bags -- it is about $14.50 a bag for 50 pounds. But I can open one of my bags if you like and bring you a smaller amount. Just let me know. Tapla recommends mixing it in equal parts (by volume) with pine bark fines and chicken grit (the larger size); you are supposed to screen the pine bark so that all 3 of the components are the same size. That's his "gritty mix" -- free flowing, but ssgardener points out that it doesn't remain a lot of water so you need to water frequently. It's used a lot by bonsai growers, but does great for any container plant.

I had thought of putting it on the soggy areas of my lawn, but I can't find anyone to confirm that would be helpful long term, and it gets a bit pricey if it doesn't work!

Devon - I'll take a 50 lb bag. As for the lack of water retention - don't forget I'm bringing coir to share. Per one of the sites http://www.environmentalgreenproducts.com/store/coco-peat-coco-coir-coco-husk-fiber-pr-16340.html re coir:
•Absorbs water readily and re-wets easily, thus reducing the need for wetting agents.
•Reduces watering frequency without plant stress, thereby reducing labor costs and minimizing plant loss.
•Increases shelf life of plants.
•Slow breakdown of material means product will not shrink during your growing cycle.
•High water holding capacity while still maintaining excellent drainage and aeration.

Did you get my dmail?

I have been hearing so much about Coir that I ordered 4 or 5 bricks earlier this year.
They sat and sat in my basement wirj room--so I decided to get one of the bricks water-soaked.
Yes! It made about 2 gallons as promised. Kept it in a big bowl all covered with plastic to keep moist.

When i was potting up my Easter cactus divisions, I decided to pot them in straight Coir.
Thinking--it would stay moist a long time. Nope!
My Easter cactus divisions are planted in 4" clay pots and are outside in part shade/sun.
They dry out SOOO fast--that I have to keep watering them. I think the coir wicks the moisture
to the surface and then it dries out.

Won't do this again. I will mix it with other stuff--but not straight.
The cuttings are all doing fine and are rooted. Maybe this was a good idea????
Hmmmmm........

Oh, Ruby, praying you feel better. Wouldn't want to miss you.

mee too!

Mee three!!

Hiya Y'all! Ok, fair warning!! I've got everyone's promised babies (and then some) all potted up and ready to go, HOWEVER, I got them all done just yesterday!!! What with being sick/working/raining/and not being here, I just hadn't had a chance to get to it all until yesterday (Wednesday).

Now, other than the Coleus cuttings, these are NOT cuttings.

The Verbena... I'm not sure what the proper wording is for this, but ya know how Verbena spread and root wherever the branches touch the soil? Well, I cut "before" the rooting, then dug the roots out and potted them, then pruned the rest of the branches back to make it all managable.

The Agastache and Plataycodon are all quite large clumps, so I dug out the clumps, cut through the root clumps, and potted up the smaller sections (like ya would with Hostas).
Same thing with the few Alaska Shastas that someone wanted. (I don't remember who, I left my list downstairs). =/

Everything is in 1-gallon sized containers, except for the Coleus cuttings, and all are put into my favourite mix: compost/perlite/peat moss/and a smidgey bit of mulch. They were watered and will get mulched today.

I just wanted to give y'all a heads-up that they're not gonna be well-established, and I apoligize profusely, I just hadn't been able to get to it before now. =/

I, too, have a bunch of pots to bring with me on Saturday, but they are growers pots of various sizes, from 4" to 1-gallon. They'll all be getting a bath today. =) Will anyone be wanting these?

Alrighty then, thanks guys, I hope you all are having a wonderful day, and Ruby, I sure hope you're feeling better!!!

Sorry about this late request. Does anybody have a catnip to spare? I used to have quite a lot of them in my garden, but pulled them out after I lost my dear 3-legged cat. I am building a small garden area for my cat and would like to put a catnip there.

Thank you.

donner - my Walmart is carrying it...would you like me to pick you up a pot? I'd share mine but it's not that big yet. I'm so sorry to hear about your cat...my heart breaks everytime I hear of someone losing their furrfriends... hugs