Hart,
I went and looked at my neighbor's bed yesterday. It is such an ignored mess! Overgrown with some kind of pale green/yellow plant that has covered everything up. I could spot only a few Ajugas. They are all underneath this weed. Will see if I can still dig you up a few, but it won't be as many as I thought.. Sorry!
I have some general questions on the "mechanics" of a Swap. Maybe it will help others also who have never been.
1. Does everyone just run around to see what everybody else has or are we supposed to "man" our own table so we can tell people what is what?
2. Do we put someone's name on a plant if it has been requested/promised to a certain person?
3. Since we all will be moving around, how do we keep track of the actual "trading"?
I plan to make a sign with my name on it and put it on my table so people know whose table that is. Do you think that is a good idea?
Thanks, Gita
Haves, wants for spring swap
Gita: Re Ajuga for Hart -- I have a big tray of it I was going to divide between Hart and Critter -- that'll go a long way, even if you can't get any out of your neighbor's yard.
Hart: How much ajuga do you want?
Gita, don't worry about digging through somebody's weeds to get me plants. It's the thought that counts.
Now, your questions:
1. Both. Not being a smart aleck but you know you're going to want to walk around and see what everybody else has but somebody has to man your table. Or woman your table. LOL I won't be that hard to sit at or near your table and chat with everyone or browse around.
This is important, though - LABEL YOUR PLANTS. Nobody wants to get home with a bunch of mystery plants that you have no idea what they are. I used white masking tape on mine last year. It was fairly easy to write on and sticks to just about anything. For cuttings, though, I just labeled the container they were in.
It might not be a bad idea for everyone to bring a coffee can with damp newpaper to keep the cuttings they've received in. If you put a few strips of masking tape on it, you could label what's in there.
2. I would suggest that you do label promised plants with the person's name if only for your convenience. That's what I did last year. I also left them in the box under the table so they would be easy to find when that person arrived. I would also suggest unless they have let you know they're going to be late, to only hold the promised plants for a couple of hours or so and if the person doesn't show, go ahead and trade them.
3. What you'll probably do when you see something you like is tell that person, "I'd love some of your this and some of your that. Could you check my table and see what you'd like in exchange?" And when someone says they want some of your this or that, you check their table to see what you'd like.
Some of us aren't going to be all that concerned about getting one on one trades, but I'd suggest everyone do that at first if only to give everyone a chance at what you have. Later you can always open up your table to anyone who wants anything without trading.
Someone is bringing name tags but if you want to make a sign for your table, that's a great idea.
Happy, just bring what you'd like in the way of ajuga. I can use as much or as little as you bring.
This message was edited May 27, 2007 11:20 AM
I've been labeling as I pot up, and I'll try to put some tags in with my cuttings also. If anybody else uses black (or green) plastic pots or cell packs, I've discovered that the metallic silver/gold Sharpie markers or paint pens show up really well on them. I'll bring a black and a silver Sharpie with me so I can put extra labels on things as I go along, also. I should probably also print up a bunch of labels that say "from critterologist" just so people know who to ask if they have a question about any plant they got from me.
I think the great thing is that we have lots of time for swapping, so it'll be relaxed and pretty easy to work everything out. I like Hart's idea of doing trades first and then opening things up so our remaining plants go to whomever can use them. Somehow we got into a big rush at the midAtlantic RU a couple years ago with our plant swap... everybody was just sort of pushing plants at everybody else, and people ended up with lots of great stuff, but it was chaotic (at least I thought so). I did have a couple of boxes of pre-arranged trades, and that was helpful... I think it'll be helpful here too.
Whew...glad ya'll covered those types of particulars...I'm a "just wing it" type of person and I wouldn't have thought of those things...thanks to both Diane and Gita for asking and answering.
Everyone: Please check out my "haves" list again. I am really really happy to bring anybody as much as they want off of it -- no trade needed -- but a little advance notice will make it possible for me to be sure to bring enough if a lot of people want the same thing, and to make sure everything is at least a little bit rooted. I have tried to indicate to whom I have promised bits of this or that, so if you think I have promised to bring you something and you don't see your name there, it means I forgot -- please don't be shy and please let me know as soon as possible.
By the way, does anyone have some basil plants they be willing to swap for? Or some cuttings -- they root really easily? I keep meaning to plant some, and then I forget. Usually I have tons of herbs, but this year I have really failed to get going on that front. It's not that I haven't been gardening, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach (as my mother used to say) when it came to co-op plants. I've been potting up and potting up and potting up. But it is hard to live without basil~
I'll be posting a thread just for what to do types of things soon. That will be good place for questions too.
I'm also going to dmail everyone directions on exactly how to get here, my phone number and email and so on.
I should have some basil left over... I'll let you know for sure at the end of the week when (hopefully!) I've finished planting out, but I'll save out half a dozen for you for sure... DH doesn't like the Sicilian Basil as well as the more strongly flavored Italian Genovese, but I should have some of each left over. I planted more of those than of the lemon, lime, etc... last year, I planted or gave away every "normal" type basil seedling that I had, but nobody wanted more than 1 or 2 of the lemon and lime ones, so this year I started very few of them. (Hart, I do remember that you've got dibs on any leftover lime basils, and there should be a couple.)
Critter: You are the best. Many thanks. I'd be perfectly content with cuttings if you run short -- or I can just do what I should have done all along and plant the seeds I have!
I think I started 4 flats or so of basil this year... even accounting for the half flat of Greek Basil that didn't grow out true (tasteless! aargh!), I should have a few extras. You're right about cuttings... basil roots readily in water... so even if I have just a few extra plants for you, you can turn those into more plants probably faster than growing from seed. Then again, my brother does a patch or two of basil each year by just broadcasting seed into window box planters about now... :-)
Hi Everyone - Thank you to whoever it was that asked the questions about Swap Etiquette. These are good things to know. Sorry about forgetting the name of whoever posted it. I have also forgotten the names of the people who are offering the things that I saw and want at the swap if possible. So, please get in touch with me about swapping some things please.
I believe that it was Critterologist who offered Colombine. I would definitely love to have some of that. I believe that you are on my list as wanting a couple of things, so we can swap if not all of your colombine are spoken for. Please be in touch with me.
I believe it was Miata who was offering the Hellebores. I am interested in swapping something for these too Miata, if you still have some to share. Please contact me.
I completely forgot who has offered the bamboo, but I am hoping to get some of it. I promise to plant it in a container, so I won't be cursing you down the road for the invasion. ha-ha So, please contact me about a swap.
At the moment that is all. I expect that most of my trading will be on the day of the swap, even thouse I have a pretty good list of names and wants already. I will try to remember a day or two before the swap to post another list of what I am bringing and to who.
I hope that everyone will enjoy this holiday. Happy Gardening To All.
Ruby
I'm inspired -- I'll plant the basil seeds today.
Ruby,
I was the one who have dug up the "Nandina" (Heavenly bamboo) and potted it up. It is not a regular bamboo. It does sucker around the original plant but not too badly. It grows about 5' tall, has nice, horizontal foliage with small leaves, "blooms" in the summer and makes nice, red berries that stay on all winter. It can grow in any soil in any conditions.
They look good by the steps, by a shed, on the corner of something, etc. I would call it a nice sized, compact plant.
How many would you like? I will have about 6 or 7 1-gal. pots.
Gita
Gita, I'd like one of those Nandinas if you have enough, they are beautiful plants.
I have Hellebores on my wants list, too.
Ruby I think I'll be like you just wait till swap day and see what all I can swap for everyday there are more post with more interesting plants. I have set back a few things that some people have asked for but mostly I will be trading the day of the swap.
Sally, I'll take another Dogwood tree if you have more, too. One of the ones you sent me earlier is making a come back.
Does anyone have a Climbing Hydrangea?
Happy, go ahead and sow the basil seeds -- I'll bring you some too, but I don't think there's any such thing as too much basil!
Ruby, I'll be happy to trade some columbine seedlings for your "ears".... I'll be bringing several varieties/colors along. If you want me to put your name on specific ones, Dmail me and I'll get you a list, but it might be just as easy to pick them out on the day.
Pre-arranging a few swaps like this is a good way to gauge interest, to let me know how much to try to dig of a particular plant, but I'll be bringing plenty of plants that aren't marked with somebody's name already!
I've consolidated trades/promised plants that were already set up on my Haves/Wants list (someone else did that and it seemed to be a great idea) Please, please - let me know if I've forgotten anyone/anything.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/p.php?pid=3258429 This way no one has to go ISO...LOL
This message was edited May 28, 2007 11:05 AM
Gita: You have a bunch of things I'd love if there are enough: the Chrysanthemum, Datura, and Nandina for sure; the Goldstrum and/or Shasta Daisies if extra. I have you down for Begonia Grandis, and a wee butterfly bush which you can greet with scorn -- but please isn't there something else I can bring you??
This message was edited May 28, 2007 12:19 PM
I've been puttering around this evening, and I got another flat of seedlings potted up for the swap! I've got 6-packs of Corydalis seedlings for Sally & Hart (tiny roots, so we'll see how they do this next week), and I dug up 18 little Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria) seedlings, including one 6-pack for Chantell. If those Corydalis seedlings do well, I'll try to dig a few more befoe the swap... but if they're a must have for you, please let me know. :-)
I edited my haves/wants post with lists of what people had asked for... please let me know what I forgot! Looking over the list, I see I still need to pot up some of those volunteer Not-Chocolate-Daisies and purple obedient plants. I'm afraid the scented geraniums will just be unrooted cuttings at this point, as I should've stuck a flat or two of them a month ago (actually, I did stick some several weeks ago, but they didn't do well while I was away).. but they root better if you leave them overnight in a plastic bag anyway (even several days seems to be fine), so I'll just take a bunch of fresh cuttings the night before the swap. They're not hard to root... Here's how: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/597232/
We're planning to go up to Pittsburgh next weekend to see my family, and we might get to bring our nephew back for a few days... DH thinks he can swing some time off, so we can do "Camp Uncle Jim"... you should see how he just adores his Uncle Jim! Not that I'm chopped liver or anything, but they definitely have a special bond. I'm pretty sure we'll be running him back up before the end of the week, but there's an outside chance that I might have to cancel on the swap... if so, hopefully somebody will still be able to bring plants down for me... I'm really looking forward to meeting everybody, but we've been trying to do "camp" with our nephew since he turned 5 last year, so he's got priority! (His older sister came up for a week of "Camp Aunt Jill" after her 5th birthday, and we had a ball... he's been waiting, and very patiently.)
Does anyone happen to have any of the Pasiiflora incarnata (the cold hardy purple one?)?
Gita - if you have any Datura remaining, I'd love one!! Love the scented plants!!!
Critter, you have Stupice? Could I beg a plant from you? I started a bunch from seed and dropped the seedling flat. Tried my best to salvage them and not a single one survived.
I would really love some of your rose campion too if you have plenty.
Sorry, but I'm pretty sure my 'Stupice' seedling are all spoken for.. if not, I'll let you know. There's plenty of the Rose Campion... I'll put your name on a 6-pack of seedlings, and I'll see about getting more if I have time.
Chantell,
Not to worry! I have about 25 of them! Every seed I planted came up. They are all doing extremely well. Getting bigger by the day. You should be able to plop them right into your flower beds.
Here! take a look!
Gita
Gita - you're wonderful, thank you. I also meant to ask you about (if you have "spares") - Lilly of the Valley. Please let me know if there is anything other then lavender that I can bring for you.
Critter: I'd be delighted to pick up your plants for the swap, and return your new plants to you after the swap. But I hope you can make it!
Happy, you're a gem... as of now, I'm still planning to come, but I just wanted to mention the possibility... I'm really hoping it works out to have him here for a visit! Their fourth is on the way, due in July, so I think we'll have a chance to take the kids (separately or together, or maybe have the 3 of them stay with my folks with Aunt Jill as entertainment) later this summer as well. You can tell we really relish our roles as aunt & uncle & godparents... and my brother and sister in law are very sweet about sharing the kids! :-)
That's fine if they're all spoken for, Critter. Not a matter of life and death. LOL But my goodness I certainly hope you'll be able to attend the swap! I'm really looking forward to meeting you.
I think I started 5 Stupice, planted 2, promised 1 to a friend, then promised the other 2 to folks doing container tomatoes, so I think I'm out... but if I find another one in the tray, it's yours! (Stupice is supposed to be relatively compact for an indeterminate... since I've grown it in the past by putting it out early along a south foundation wall that it loves, I can't say I've noticed the plants being compact, but they probably would be in containers.)
I'm looking forward to meeting you and everyone also. I do think I'll still be able to make it... I'll know more when I talk to my brother (soon!) and find out the particulars of their schedule. We're sorta throwing this plan together since discovering that my nephew's preschool is done for the year a week before my niece's elementary school... and they don't have anything planned for that time... I sure hope it works out to have him down, and if missing the swap is what it takes to make it happen, that'll have to be OK... but I'm hoping I can have my cake & eat it too!
I've edited my list for stuff I've promised. Hart and Happy, I'm not sure how I missed your requests in the first 2 posts after mine, but I've added you to my list. And Hart, I'll take some of that Kong Coleus if you have cuttings. Ruby, is the Pineapple Sage still up for trade? Critter, do you still have xtra Hellebores from those I gave to you for Ruby?
I'm going to read through all the posts again to try make sure I haven't missed anything. If I've left out anyone or gotten something wrong, please let me know.
I've got 3 extra hellebore seedlings from the ones you gave me, Miata, and I think at least 1 is already promised to Happy because she thought yours were spoken for... other than that, I haven't been keeping track of who asked when for the hellebores. If Ruby's pineapple sage has been spoken for, I'd be glad to give you a cutting from mine. Are you going to be able to swing by this week to pick up those basils and whatever else? Or if you help me make a list I can drop them off at the office for you. LMK. :-)
I've added 2 more plants to my list that I had forgotten about:
Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander' (people love this on plantfiles -- http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/56833/index.html)
Persicaria Virginiana 'Lance Corporal' (this is on the invasive side, but pretty -- http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/53502/index.html)
Happy, do you have plenty of the lysimachia? I'd love some if you do. I have Lysimachia clethroides - gooseneck loosestrife - if you like lysimachias. It does spread but I just pull up the extras every spring. Very easy to keep it where I want it. I love that it looks like a flock of geese when it's blooming.
It's terrific if you have a spot where you want to choke out weeds like against a fence or wall. It's also pretty drought tolerant once established. (ie water it well the first year)
Miatablu, I just yesterday took all those plants that I had brought in for the winter outside. The Kong coleus looks pretty bad. I'm afraid it didn't get enough light. If I can find another one next week I'll get it just so we can chop it up for cuttings.
Gita, do you want me to get you a sun coleus if they still have them?
I've got a purple leafed lysimachia that I think is http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/57029/index.html
I try to keep it confined to one corner of the garden... it's pretty, but it spreads outward pretty vigorously via rhizomes (rather like bee balm does). If anyone wants some, let me know and I'll yank it up and put it in a pot!
Thanks, Hart, but I am OK on Sun Coleus.
Bought 3 of them at a local nursery for $1.75 each. The were VERY tall/leggy and I cut off all the tops and stuck them in a glass of water. They all have serious roots already and now need to be planted outside. The bottom parts are bushing out nicely.
Very pretty! One is mustard yellow and maroon splotches. The other on is almost an opposite of this one. Maroon with golden splotches.
I think everyone here has all these large area grounds. At least it looks like that from the pictures I have seen. I live in an older development and my whole property is 65x100 feet. On it sits my pretty large House, my driveway, my walkways, my large, roofed over Patio, my Shed, and flowerbeds all around the house. Because of the maples, all the beds in my back yard are filled with roots and it is almost impossible to dig in there. Trying to plant REALLY hardy, drought-resistant plants in my corner bed (the worst).
Just ask Jill! She was here and experienced that while digging up all those Shasta daisies in my back yard from the "worst" bed.
I will really have to stifle all my "wants" at the Swap. There is only SO much I can find a spot for. On the other hand--I will be more than generous with my "Haves". I think I will be arriving with at least 12 trays full of plants. Poor Sally! She will have to make room for all that!
Getting close now! Ohhhhhhhhh---I can't wait!
Gonna have to go through this whole Post and make a list of what I have promised people. Then label all those pots with a wide masking tape strip with their names on it.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions for us "never beens" before.
Gita
I think Ric and I are going to try and finish the potting up tomorrow. He is such a dear for all the work he has been doing. We have been having a small problem with the potting up. I keep potting things and he keeps telling me that I only have so much room for trays. I've never been a practical person, why start now.......LOL
Oh HollyAnn, please tell Ric that we want you to be impractical!
Gita and/or Ruby di have any Lilly of the Valley remaining?
Has anyone seen Pasiflora at any of the local nurseries or big box stores?
I don't mean to sound completely ignorant but does the Columbine come in diffeent colors?
Here is a picture of the iris that I have available. I will probably try to dig up at least one clump and bring some along. I have plenty that I could dig up and bring along if there is interest.
- Brent
Columbine comes in different colors and even differently shaped flowers (classic shape vs doubles like Nora Barlow vs nodding "granny bonnet" blooms)... I don't remember which colors I've got potted up for the swap so far, but I've been growing out a bunch of different ones, pink, purple, blue, white... If you take a look in PF, you'll get an idea. :-)
Brent, I wonder if that's the same variety I got from Nancy (nminmd)? Somebody thought they might have ID'd it as a historic TB... I'll have to check to see if I can find that info.... Ah, it was jackieshar who thought it might be Mme. Henri Cayeux, http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/67285/index.html
Here's Nancy's iris blooming in my garden recently:
Howdy gang - looks like I'll be bringing another plant person with and she will be digging up a bunch of stuff to take with!
Anyway - looks like I have gained a little more planting space - so, anything extra y'all can spare in shape of shade perennials I'd appreciate it! Still don't know if I will have any plants with me at all (magnolia anyone?) - but I will have seeds, books and goodies! I'll also be bringing my trusty camera of course and take lots of pix! :)