Florida panhandle swap meet....

Earle said we were very welcome, just needs a week's notice cause shipping is heavy in the spring (isn't it great ...early March will be spring!). So if somebody wants to organize, pick the date, etc, guess we can start planning.

Sounds good would be very insterested if on the week end day.. that thing call work always gets in the way
Pete

Arlene,
I'm coming....don't you think the organizer should be someone from the area....anyone want to be the organizer?????

I think toward the end of March might be a good time. Maybe kinda pleasant weather then, and perhaps not too late for Earl (?). Or do you think earlier would be better? Dee knows him, maybe she would like to organize it. If not, I could go down there and meet him. It's probably about 25 or 30 miles from me. If everyone wants to, we could meet in Defuniak Springs and go, because I believe this is gonna be in the sticks. There's a beautiful perfectly round lake in the middle of Defuniak that would make a good meeting place.

You folks sound serious! Wish I had money to travel:)

This message was edited Wednesday, Jan 9th 10:46 AM

Gingerlily, Glory is in australia from 3/27 to 4/11, gotta do when she can come, maybe she will bring MsJen, Roz, etal with her. Gone2Seed has been to see Earl also. late march would be good, i am hoping by the middle of april it will be really warm! whatever is decided, i plan to go, but this may be an overnighter for me....will see...

I think the first to middle of March would be best.That way Glory and the Mississippi crew could make it.Don't forget that this is Florida.March will be the last of the 80 degree weather for a long time.
Out of consideration for Earl we might meet and swap somewhere first.His facilities won't accomodate a group.
Someone mentioned the lake at DeFuniak.There is a Walmart with big parking lot at De Funiak Spgs.There is also a huge
flea market at Crestview with several hundred vendors and a great big parking lot.CV is 14 miles west of DeFuniak Springs on I 10.
Pam is right.Valley Growers is really in the sticks.

JT, is it a good flea market? do they have plants? my sis is in crestview, 3 minutes from I10..., guess i can ask her about the flea market. Yes, as soon as we pick a date we need to let earl know even though he said a week was enough. that gives us 2 months to root things..hope this is the last of the nasties tonight! is the middle saturday 3/16? sounds good to me.
Earl said he had a garden club there in october, 30-35 people....

Just had to jump in here and tell all you people in Florida that our hight temp in Iowa today was higher than any city in Florida today. 65 degrees. We have brug growing weather, but will still wait until spring to take them outside. That's all!!!!

I have never arranged one of the things let alone been to one, but would be glad to help someone with it. Earl's would not be the place to have one though, for one there isn't anyplace to get together, this place is really out in the sticks. I don't know the area over in De Funiak, but if they have a big parking lot, or how about one of the rest areas off of I-10 or the lake that was mentioned. I would think the beginning of March would be good. Should be warm enough by then (it better be), but don't forget that Easter is 31 Mar, so we then have the holiday. I would suggest a beach swap, but...the spring breakers are a killer. I make a point not to go anywhere near the beach in Mar. I also think that a Saturday would be best. I wouldn't be able to participate in April, I work in Finance for the government and our buget plan for 2003 is due then. I have seen the parking lot in Crestview. It is huge but it is usually pretty full. I think if we plan a time first, then we can work a place. I am only about 80 miles from Crestview. Now, we have a nice rest area just off of I-10 at Chipley. It has a couple of places to eat, a superwalmart, gas station, play ground, lake, and picnic tables. That could be a thought??? Dee

March sounds good to me. Hope we still have money left since that is just before things start selling here and after we have paid the gas bill all winter, lol.

Dee, think if we settle a date, pick a time, think about refreshments a little - bring food or find a place to eat?, let earl know the day/time...that's about it. i think trading other plants too might be an option as some people are new to brugs and will have something others will want. usually can put a list together to send to everyone to see if they are interested before hauling, course sometimes you see something you just have to have it.

oh lord, i can see gloria, roz and myself on the highway.
florida would NEVER be the same, lol

I'm getting jealous. I want to come too. Maybe I'd just better buy that VW Van I've been wanting forever. Then I'll pack Oscar the Boxer in it and pick up Liz in Vancouver. It's an awful long drive though. Well I can dream. Just remembered. We'll pick Brugie up on the way.

This message was edited Tuesday, Jan 8th 10:36 PM

There are 4 Saturadays or Sundays in March that I can go..2-3..9-10..16-17..23-24. Please, Please, Please

I have to be in New Orleans on the Airplane on the 27th.

BTW,
If this swap takes place what type of plants are we looking to bring to swap.....4 in pot sizes or gallon sizes....tropicals or any type?

I'd say bring what you're willing to part with, then play let's make a deal. Maybe do what Arlene suggested and post a list to get a feeling for what folks might be interested in. What about a picnic at the lake? Potluck so to speak. Everybody bring something, nothing fancy, keep it simple. Bring your own drinks and paper plate, etc. (But if folks don't want to fool with that, there are several places to eat.) Then swap what plants we want to while there. I guess I'm kinda stuck on the lake because it's more atmosphere and character than a parking lot. Might have to bring our lawn chairs, don't think I've ever noticed picnic tables, I'll check. Then we could go to Valleygrow, shop, and let you all get lost trying to find your way out of there. Nawwww, wouldn't do that to you. 3/16 sound okay to everyone? Brugie, stop gloating. I'm freezing down here.

If anyone wants motel info, I can post that also. Defuniak is our county seat. It's not even long distance to call there for us.

3/16 is ok for me.....Jen and Roz how about y'all? Jen that's a Saturday you should be off then.

Cala, Can you and tiG make it?

hoping hoping hoping!!!

tiG,
How long of a drive is it for you to Earls?

I'm not really sure how far down it is, have to get out a map. Don't have but a few minutes here and there for the next two days, my son is here from Chicago on a layover to Hawaii, and I have no idea when I'll see him again. will try to find a map and see to get some kind of idea. It's 6 hours to the panhandle I know that.

tig,

I just looked on the map. From Newman to Chipley it is about 380 miles. We are another 35 miles or so to Earls then another 10 miles or so to De Funiak.

3/16 sounds good to me too.

Gingerlily, are you talking about the rest area at Chipley or over in De Funiak (the lake)? Not been to the lake, where bouts is the lake. I can get hotel info for ones that need it and want to stay in the Chipley area. We have 3 new ones right off of I-10 in Chipley. If we have a picnic, I can bring drinks, paper plates and stuff so noone has to fool with hauling that around. Figure it would be easier since I live in the area. Dee

sounds good to me. gloria, is ron going or is a girls trip?
question tho, what to bring. i dont have a greenhouse which means the majority of my plants are in the ground, frozen. if im remembering correctly, there isnt too much that has reached a significant enough size to have cut and root by then.
what does one do? i dont think a plant swap is designed for someone to go to home depot and buy a flat of marigolds.
any help here would be appreciated
jen

MsJen, how about an IOU? TiG, it's about 4 hours to you from my house, depending on traffic of course. Then figure 6 or so hours on to Defuniak. I could leave on a Friday afternoon, pick you up and go to Defuniak, but we would have to sleep sometime. I'm getting too old to stay up 24hours at a time. The 16th sounds good for me too.

sounds wonderful Cala, Dee I guess we need motel info. Between this and the DG get together, I'm getting really excited!!!!

Jen,
I'm not sure if Ron is interested in going....he can only handle the plant thing so long. LOL I'm sure it would be different if it was a meeting of the minds. LOL

3/16 is fine with me.IOU's will be fine with me.Also bringing some stuff that I can give without trades.
I suggest we circulate a list of what we have available and a want list.Then we all ignore the list and bring whatever. :>)

LOL!!! that would be the way I'd wind up doing it anyway g2s!!!

Hey Gloria, stuff me anywhere in your truck you can get me. Jen won't be able to sit in the back without hanging her legs out the window or over the seat, so I take the back if it's not taken.

JT, you are still a man after my own heart and a future teller as well!

I am planning on being there but also have no greenhouse and a yard full of frozen plants. I think I can find a few things. This sounds like fun.
Connie
Panama City

gingerlily, if everyone is going to stay in De Funiak, can you gather up the hotel info. I still can also get the hotel info from Chipley. Now we need to decide where we want to meet. Matters not to me, since I am one of the closest. What does everyone else want to do?

Also, what about cuttings that are rooting. Does anyone want to include those or just go with plants in pots. IOU's sound good too. Since I am just starting, I only have a few things rooting and 1 yellow brug, don't know what it is though as it was just labeled yellow angel trumpet in the store. Dee

Ya know,I'm panhandling as fast as I can ,not getting anywhere.I stand on the street ,with a 4" pot ,they look at the UPS uniform and keep walking,gotta get my barn clothes on.....they feel sorry for me then......

CC, you make me laugh everyday!

Ha! Ha! Gone2seed. I agree. Dee, the lake in Defuniak is a block off of Hwy 90. It just seems more centrally located to me. If we go to Chipley, we have to drive back to Defuniak, if we go to Crestview, we have to drive back to Defuniak. This just seems more logistically the best for those driving a long distance. Dee, I have been right by Valleygrow and didn't know that was it. Like you told me, no sign, but I have seen the green houses I think. Didn't know it was a business, but thought I'd stop and see one day.

Don't ya'll think things will be defrosting by then? Maybe even budding out some?

CC,
Maybe UPS can send you to Florida on the day of the swap to deliver a package to Gov. Bush. LOL

Maybe,although I'd be a "over 70" (lbs that is)I know thats a premium price,Looking for a large box.....has to fit a cooler and portapotie.....

Gingerlily,
The lake at De Funiak sounds good. What say we set it up there then. Do we have to contact anyone and reserve it or is it just open to the public anytime. Do you know if it has picnic tables.

Pam, I'm telling you. This place is awesome, but if you didn't know where it was you wouldn't know it was there. He really is a nice guy too.

What else do we need to do now.
Dee

Are we definite about 3/16/02 being the date? Is the lake at DeFuniak Springs hard to find?