Golly, it's hot out there already!
I think I'm going to take a break, have a cup of coffee, and take a few cuttings from my *indoor* plants, LOL.
Sally, I'm good on variegated spider (won't bring any of those, since it looks like you and others have them covered), but I'd love some 'Marble Queen' pothos cuttings!
Susan, you mentioned Hoya cuttings early on... are any of those still available?
Is anybody interested in stolon cuttings from Episcias (african violet cousin -- some folks call them "flame violets")? The plants in my bathroom could probably spare a few stolons... but if nobody wants them, I'll leave them attached to the plants and propagate them later on.
Haves, wants for spring swap II
THe Hoya is still here for ya... It has roots and will need a bigger pot but has two very nice long stems on it... I think it is a Krism rubra princess, I will check before we leave....
Susan
Susan, here's the cute curly spider plant I mentioned... I got mine from SCShopgirl, so it's probably the cultivar 'Bonnie' she has pictured here, http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/68557/index.html
I've got a nicely rooted little baby that I'd be happy to bring along for you!
Critter...
What cultivar of episcia(s) do you have??? I have Kee-wee and was going to take a few stolons off tonight, as I am trying to get mine to bloom...
I'd be interested if you have something different.
Karen
some quick last-minute questions for you: What are the Start/End times of tomorrow's swap? Did we decide that it's about a 3 hour drive from DC? I cannot remember.
Maybe, just maybe....
I will take it... I must warn you though it is one plant that does not like me and I have killed more then one... :-( I also like any house plants... I love cactus so long as they dont stick me and I love succulants... they are my down fall....
Susan
It is almost if not 4 hours for us... so I would think more for you I am sorry to say... are driving all this in one shot? Are going to be alone? If yes if you want I can ask hubby if you want to stay at campsite with us for the night ? It is my hubby and my 20year old son... so please leet me know sooon as we are leaving between 1 and 2 today..
Susan
Susan, thanks so much for the offer. This is just a loooong shot, but if I can swing it, I'll just catch a ride with someone who's going down/back the same day. Long day! Really, the chances of my pulling it off are SLIM, but I've got Party Envy in a big bad way right now. =0
wow you mean you are catching a ride to go??? thats a hard one... I really hope you can make it...
Susan
Don't know yet! LOL Don't even know if I can fit it into my schedule. =0
What about Sally and Gita? Are they coming through your way? That's just wonderful, Wrightie! I sure do hope you can make it.
You know, I forgot the time. I think I told everyone 10:30 to 4:30 or 5. Or 10-5. Either one is fine. I thought the later start would give everyone time to get here without having to rush.
Rose, I'll need to check to see which ones have spare stolons, but there should be at least one available from 'Blue Nile', 'Strawberry Patch', 'Chocolate Soldier', and an couple of unknowns (one silvery, one pinkish).... 'Teddy Bear' might have a stolon also, but it's pretty small yet... and I'll check to see if I have any extras from Keyring... yep, looks like I may have a spare (rooted) 'Dixie Dynomite'. I'll bring what I can, and hopefully there will be enough for those who want to try one.
I can probably get a few cuttings of my 'Concord Blue' streptocarpella also (roots easily in water), so I'll try to remember that this afternoon when I'm clipping away.
Wrightie, check with Devon (Happy_Macomb) about getting a ride... I think she's not too far from you. Dmail me if she doesn't get back to you, as I'm pretty sure I've got a phone number for her.
Mapquest says it's about 2 hours from Frederick, and I don't think it would be any longer than that for you (different route, or I'd offer to swing by).
Thanks Critter... I would love a stolon from any variety you have. I will bring some from Kee-wee. I have two big 'Concord Blue' hanging baskets, so I can take several cutting from mine as well, if there is interest.
When we used to drive to Arlington for doctor visits, it took about an hour and half non-rush hour. We always allowed 2 hours though in case we hit traffic. Maybe this will help?
It's about a half hour from here to downtown Front Royal, a little less from the bridges north of FR where you all will be turning off and about 40 minutes from FR to the Manassas exit on 66. Around an hour from here to Harrisonburg. Around 45 minutes to Winchester. About 20-25 minutes from Edinburg.
Happy and I are d-mailing. Unless she changes her mind about taking me (ya never know!), I'LL BE THERE TOMORROW WITH BELLS ON.
Tonight will be a mad scramble to pull together some plants and food!
Yeehaaaa! That's terrific, Wrightie!
Whoa! Mapquest says it's 2 and1/2 hours for me all the way on the other side in Anne Arundel MD. I know from past we get to Front Royal in two.
wrightie- glad you got a ride- I was debating offering my self, only problem being that Gita and I expect to be packed in here as it is!! We should get a break on our next tax assessments as half our yards are going to VA.....
Food? gosh we could stay a week on whats coming already....
Rose, I'd love a stolon or two of 'Kee Wee'... it's been on my wish list for a while! Thanks!
Wrightie, I'm so glad you decided you could make it after all... much better for Happy to bring you along than to just bring a goodie box back for you... you can get some goodies and get to meet everyone also! I've met Happy, and she's just a gem -- you'll have fun riding down together!
:-)
I was supposed to have a visitor coming over tomorrow, but she just let me know that she cannot make it until Sunday, so now I'll be scrambling to get ready for the swap (um, from my office).
I'm so happy!!! I've been wanting to get together and meet everyone, so this is brilliant.
xo
Ok ladies we are going to go now so see you tomorrow... All drive safe.
Susan
You all have a safe drive, Susan.
Sally, if it takes 2 hours to get to Front Royal, it will probably take about 2.5 to get here. I can get from here to the bridges in about 25 minutes. Depends on traffic, of course. You all may drive slower on Fort Valley Road than I do too because you're not familiar with the road and you may want to look at the pretty scenery along the way.
BTW, I don't know if the bluebells are blooming but if they are you'll see oodles of them along Passage Creek.
Those of you coming from Edinburg will see a lot of mountain laurel blooming once you crest the mountain and start on the way down.
Critter... Gotcha down for the Kee-wee. I'm glad I've got at least a little something to share.
Sally - I have some either 4" or 6" that have been just sitting on my deck if you'd like??
Yipeee, wrightie!!!!
I have 4 AV's if anyone is interested (or knows how to) root their leaves. 2 reg and 2 minis (that ain't so mini) - pink and purple of both
Whooo-eeee!
what's an AV?
oops, sorry - African Violet
Thanks. I'm useless with "AVs"! = )
chantell- 6 inch sounds good. and AV leaf, anything but my wimpy pinkish one. Thanks-
AV leaves, anybody, my MIL just sticks one in a tiny vase, or you stick the leaf stem end into a small pot of soil- baby plants will sprout from the cut. easy
hart I meant whoa to those saying three hrs from DC, I thought that was way over estimating- didn't mean to sound like I was whining that it was awful far.
There's great links on the sticky at the top of the AV & gessie forum, including good ones for propagation... also see the culture pages at www.robsviolet.com... or Dmail me! I've done a lot of propagating, but unfortunately my collection is off limits for any trading (or new additions) until I've dealt with the cyclamen mites and am convinced they are vanquished. The episcias are in another room entirely and should be safe... but remember it's always a good idea to isolate new plants as much as you can.
No way it would take you three hours to get to DC from here.
Oh, also meant to add a tip on packing cuttings... I've been getting mine ready to go... There's something even better than a baggie to put over wet paper towel at the base of the cutting -- Glad Press 'n Seal! Just take a strip, start wrapping fairly snug around the stems just above the paper towel, fold a flap over the bottom so it won't drip, then wrap the rest of the strip around... I love it for shipping plants, and the more I thought about spilling water cups of cuttings in the car the more I thought it might be a good idea to wrap the cuttings I'm bringing tomorrow... it's great stuff!
I looked at GoogleMaps and it's only about a 100 miles from my house, so with Happy's lead foot we'll probably be there in an hour, hour and a half... :~)
Sheesh... If I can remember the press n seal, I'll pick some up tonight. Otherwise, I'll go with ye ol' paper towel and saran wrap. Great idea, Critter -- Thanks!
You wouldn't believe how tangled I can get in saran wrap! LOL But it will work... especially if you add a rubber band or a bit of tape to help secure it. I'm still bringing a few containers (pints and quarts from things like yoghurt) to hold my cuttings upright and to contain any cuttings I might be bringing home, but I figure separating and wrapping bundles of cuttings will make the swapping process easier.
I only have a few cuttings, but I'm thinking of using the large chinese soup containers and punching some holes in the lids. I'm taking some extra of these too for anyone who might want to take some extra food home (and to get rid of my large stock of them at home). And I'm bringing xtra labels and a Sharpie too for anyone who needs them. Wrightie, glad you're coming and keeping Happy company on the way down. Can't wait to meet everybody!
I have a boat load of popsicle sticks that I'm using for markers - I can certainly bring extras if needed.
I've gotten a couple of mailed trades where the person sending had used press and seal. It was a disaster. It didn't stay stuck around the roots and most of the plants in both trades were dead because they were dry as a bone. Even the ones where the stuff stayed wrapped were very dry because it came undone along the bottom and top. It just didn't keep the paper towels moist.
Maybe neither one of them knew what they were doing.
I've never had any plants die en route that were wrapped that way... definitely better than saran wrap for shipping, I think. I did have one person complain that it was hard to find the edge to get it unstuck and unwrapped, but the roots within were fine -- it sure didn't come undone along the way, LOL. I recently mailed tomato plants to a friend who is blind, and I made sure to make a little "tail" at the end of the wrapping so it would be a little easier. When I ship, I generally add a slap of rehydrated powdered water crystals to the paper towel, and I think that helps also. And when I ship plants, I don't just wrap the rootball... I also wrap the entire thing in a tight cone of newspaper for extra insulation and to protect the foliage... I'm sure that helps keep everything in place also.
Tin Foil it is!