Spring Plant Swap 2014 in Lucketts, VA

I am volunteering to host a 2014 spring plant swap at Aspen Hill - my home in Lucketts, VA.
Event Date is May 31. Primary swap time will be between 11:00 and 4:00, but please come as early and stay as late as you want. Mark your calendars!

As usual, any and all general discussion (to include general haves/wants discussions) are done on these threads:
Part 1: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1347015/ (last post Apr 30)
Part 2: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1358403/ (current)

Separate SPECIFIC CONSOLIDATED HAVE & WANT lists (one entry per person) thread here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1347379/

Separate FOOD POT LUCK list thread here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1358329/

Gift exchange table - if you wish to participate in the gift table, bring something for exchange. The gifts are usually extra or unwanted items from your gardening supplies, books, household decor, etc... Nothing fancy, and definitely not anything expensive :) We'll make it easy by pulling names out of a jar.

List of who plans to attend:
Blossomgiver and friend
Buttoneer (Judy) and husband Bobbin
Catbird423 (Robin)
Catmint20906 (Robin)
Chantell (Chantell) and friend
coleup (Judy)
crickethillct (Vicki)
critterologist (Jill) and daughter Joyanna, friends Theresa, and maybe Tom, Martina
donnerville (Sally)
gardadore (Jessica)
Gitagal (Gita) and friend Tammy
greenthumb99 and ecnalg (David and Pat) and sister Julie, friends John and wife, friend from Takoma Park
happy_macomb (Devon)
Jan23 (Jan)
Muddy1 (Susan)
Ric_of_MAF and HollyAnnS (Ric and Holly)
Roses_R_Red (Teri) and husband Bob
rubyw (Ruby and John)
sallyg (Sally) and husband Mark
Sequoiadendron4 (Jeff) and wife Darcy
Sos07
ssgardener (Terri)
typwc (Karen), and husband Sean, son August, daughter Adele
UMD_Terp (Paul)
unomeemaw (Cheryl)

This message was edited May 29, 2014 11:31 AM

I am volunteering to host a 2014 spring plant swap at Aspen Hill - my home in Lucketts, VA. I'll hold off on more specific discussion on haves/wants, food, etc... until much later, but wanted to get the date set as soon as possible. The two dates that I can do are May 10 or May 31.

I don't want to hold it on May 17, which is the day the Lucketts Antique Stores are holding their spring fling. Any who attended the 2011 swap will recall the horrible traffic back-ups on Rt 15. I also don't want to hold it on May 24, due to conflict with other events.

I would prefer May 31. The later date would give me more time to get ready, and it is probably the peak weekend for my shade garden's blooms. My place is in the woods so the heat is generally not a discomfort factor. Anyway, the goal is to pick a date that suits the most people - for me it is about the get-together with a great group of friends, the plant exchange is just a bonus LOL. So, if May 10 is a better choice that will work too. Thoughts?

This message was edited Apr 16, 2014 9:39 AM

May 10th is Mother's Day weekend, I don't know if that matters with it being a Saturday but I just wanted to throw that in. I'd say May 31st would be better because busyness in the yard will be waning by that time.

Woohoo!!! Thank you, dear. Looking forward.

At this point, the 31st should work for me!

I would personally prefer 5/10, but either date works for me! Thank you so much for offering to host, Aspenhill. I'm looking forward to seeing your turtle garden. :)

I'm open for either date as well.

I'm indifferent.

I prefer the 31st -- there are a lot of spring fairs on the first couple weeks of May that I'd like to attend. Most especially the Green Springs plant sale, but I don't know yet what weekend that is. Plus we usually have Mother's Day plans. But we'll try to work around anything.

May 31 is NOT Memorial Day weekend, if anyone is wondering.

May 31st sounds good for us Terri.


Will we need a thread for ProMix products that I can pick up?

This message was edited Jan 10, 2014 6:09 PM

Sounds good here unless something comes up. LMK & Thanks, Judy. p.s. I'll be seeing some of you in March
in Frederick. Wearing safe shoes that day. LOL.

This message was edited Feb 15, 2014 10:08 PM

Terri, thank you for hosting the swap. I am ok with either day. This is exciting!!! I am looking forward to seeing everybody, and of course touring your lovely garden.

That sounds wonderful for either of the days you suggested. Can't wait to see all you've done and visit with everyone.

Thanks a bunch Terri! We'd love to see Aspen Hill again. I should have no problem with either.

Sounds like May 31st is a winner. Mark your calendars!

We'll try to make it on the 31st also. Might be better than earlier because I'm only winter sowing this year and everything that I'll share will take a little longer to get started.

Hopefully, we can make it. I soooo want to experience Aspen Hill and the turtle garden. We'll be heading toward Alaska less than two weeks after that.

Jan, have you visited "All" 50 States yet? LOL

Nope!! Hahaha

May 31 is great for me too and I will be there. Do you still have the hammock in the woods? I get dibs on it!

Ya know, I just might actually be able to attend this one!! WHEEE!!!!! Please pencil me in, and I will update my status as I find out more about my school schedule after this class ends. (this current class ends 5/2/14, but I can't yet access what the next term looks like date-wise).

Robin, if I lose some weight first, may I join you on the hammock please? =) I promise not to dislodge your halo! 0 =)

The 31st is OK with me too--
It IS the Memorial Day weekend---but i do not, usually, work on Saturdays.
However--I will have to be in bright and early on Sunday. 8AM.
Gita

Memorial Day is Monday, May 26th, the last Monday in May. I always need to look this up because I can't remember if it is the first Monday in June or the last Monday in May.

Roses---
I didn't even look on the calendar......just thought that MD is always
the end of May. This works out even better...

Thanks for the correction---G.

Keep in mind if any of you need any Pro-Mix products. I'll start a thread later, but I can pick up as much or little as you might need. Here's a link to last years prices. I don't imagine they'll be a whole lot more this year.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1296173/?hl=Pro+Mix

Amazon's price $39.99 with $29.99 shipping

This message was edited Jan 15, 2014 4:11 PM

Those are great prices. I didn't use up what I got from you last year, but this year one of my big projects is to find nice big CHEAP containers for our patio and re-pot everything, so it would behoove me to take advantage of your kind offer!

Happy, last year I went to our local "junk lady" and bought all her old landscape growers pots, sprayed them a dark bronze color, then dry brushed other tints on them to make them look old.
They looked good enough to show them off on the deck!!!

Sounds lovely! The growers pots do get brittle after a few years, though. I'm hoping to find something more permanent so I'll be casing the sales....

This message was edited Jan 15, 2014 5:52 PM

Ric--

I have access to a 2.8cf bale of Faffard pro mix from Richardson farms for
$18.99. That is what I got last spring--and I am almost 3/4 of a way down.
I could use a new bale of something for the coming year.

How would you compare the Faffard to the BMX (?) --the first in last year's photos--
with mychroriza in it? Is that usable for seeds, cuttings, and general planting?
I would not mind a bale of something--just I don't need more than one-and want to
get the best one.

Also--I can get "Fine Pines" locally at Chapel Hills Nursery.here in Perry Hall.
Not too many bags!!!--as they don't really sell it--but let me buy a couple when I need it.
They use it themselves for planting trees and shrubs. They know me there....$5 for a 2.5cf bag.
I got a couple last year for Sally and ??? coleup? How did you like it, Sally?

G.

Gita, The Faffard Sunshine Mix 4 is probably equal to Pro Mix BX, at $17.99 the price would be a little better, $2 or so per cubic foot . I found their online retail catalog but no pricing. Amazon list it for $46 and Ebay $34.99. Pricing has changed some recently on soil mixes in general to meet the rising cost of Canadian sphagnum.

Gita: Meadows Farm, for those of us with a store nearby, has pinebark fines for 3.99. Behkel's had them on sale for a few cents less this fall, and still might.

Ric--

I went downstairs and looked at my bag.
It just says--"Faffard Growing Mix--F-15. What does F-15 stand for????
And--I was wrong on the size--mine is 3.8cf. --so $18.99 sounds good.

happy--
What I mostly used the Pine Fines was to mix into large pots as an aerator
and to act as mulch on smaller pots.
I think $5 is a very good price--I have nowhere, even close, to find these.

Wish there was a Southern States nearby. Not even sure where there is one.
I thin--maybe--in Belair? Or even further out...Have to look and see....
G.

Gita: There is a Meadows Farm near Critter -- but they close for the deep winter and won't re-open until February 24. So you could stop by if you go to Aspen's swap in May....

Ric, I would definitely like some Pro Mix BRK. Sometimes I need to get something potted right away and don't have the time to make my own potting mix.

Can you get them in time for the seed swap or is this for the spring swap? I don't think I could wait until June to pot up everything.

Happy, how long did your bag last?

Ric, 2 brk and one bmx one seed starter.
Gita i bag pine fines

I pass a Southern States every day but would have to check what they have available this time of year. LMK if anyone wants me to check any prices or availability.

Lol Ric are you coming to swap in truck with trailer in tow?!! I'll see if the Red Falls heuchera is unfrozen from the ground to send home with you.

I've been to a couple of Southern States stores, but neither sold pine fines. I'll check at Behnkes today and see if their mulch is still on sale.

Judy--

Did you take the other one I brought to Sally's last year? Or was that Robin??
They call it "Fine Pines" at Chapel Hill Nursery-- same thing--NO big pieces...

I will do my best--don' t want to abuse my privileges there. Gita

Yes I did Gita and I like it! No problem and don't make a special trip as I can get something comparable locally it sounds like. Thanks.

NO! Judy-you will get one! Not to worry! I can do 4 bags in my car--
May have to leave yours at sally's.

Seed Swaps do not take a lot of car space.

Will have to see who else is riding with Sally.
G.

OK, I can make a pick-up before the seed swap. I'll start another thread for seed swap orders, I may not know what is available till a few days before, it is early in the season. Judy I don't mind bringing my small trailer to the spring swap, the bigger the order the better the chances of a discount. OK ladies do it here, I'll sort it out and check for availability and pick up.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=9749370

I will probably order a pallet of BMX for the spring swap at this time if they don't give me a better alternative.