OK, I just Dmailed directions to Sally, Becky, Elf, and Chantell. If you have any questions or need directions from a different approach, just LMK!
:-D
Sept. 8 Plant Swap: Organization and Logistics
got it...thanx Jill!
got them
Would anybody be interested in a super heavy duty garden hose for either a door prize or a swap? I won't try to squeeze it in my car if no one's interested, but I'd really like to get rid of it.
Woohoo! I just checked accuweather, and the forecast has shifted... we're getting our really hot day today, and tomorrow's high is now projected as a mere 88 degrees... much better!
Dam* the mosquitoes, full speed ahead!
LOL
Jill, I have a music mix on my IPOD that I made for my company picnic (4 hours of music from Black Eyed Peas to Dolly Parton). If your interested, and want to plug it in, I can toss my audio cables in with my stuff (my IPOD goes everywhere with me). Just a thought.
Oh...music...great idea. Ummm...not guessing everyone's ages but I (sadly) was watching the infomercial for Time Life's "Classic Soft Rock" (mostly 70's & 80's, I think)...happy to bring those as well.
Sounds good to me! Miata, would you be in charge of the music, please? I've got a raft of CDs on the shelf over the TV and a 5-disc changer, so we should be able to use your mix, Chantell's set, the ones I've got... whatever floats your boat! It'll be fun to have a mix going. I don't have outdoor speakers, however, so we'll mostly hear it when we're inside.
Since it doesn't look like we'll be stuck inside with rain, I didn't pick up any movies in particular. But if there are kids coming who want to watch something, they can make free with our DVDs and VHS tapes... if we run movies though, we'll probably do that upstairs (they'll just have to "suffer" with the smaller TV).
I'm not going to be able to be there but I sure am going to miss seeing you all. sniff I'm sending everyone a hug via Critter.
Gita and Chantell, I'll get those seeds in the mail to you all.
Ah hart...I'll miss you!! Would you like some seeds in return...and I have "stuff" avail...just dmail me.
Everybody will just have to hug everybody a LOT, and that will help send good "hug vibes" to everyone we're missing tomorrow!
Miata dropped by last night, which was wonderful because she was able to reassure me that nobody would be overly critical of my weedy garden or cluttery corners! It's been and up & down summer, and I'm just behind on everything... but I'm sure not going to let that make me be reluctant to have friends over! LOL When I was in grad school, my tiny studio apartment got so overwhelmed at times, but I'd still manage to find places for half a dozen people to sit, and I'd turn out a decent meal from my cranky little stove, and we'd just have a great time.
I am just so excited about seeing everyone!!
Critter - my little townhouse has: 3 teens - 1 four month old - 3 dogs (55lbs and up) - 4 ratties - plants on any and all flat services (I'm too embarrassed to count) - if it's not the plants it's plant "stuff"!! Believe me when I say your place will be perfect!! When faces with the decision to clean or play with plants I ALWAYS choose the latter.
Hose has a home at Happy's.
Hmmm... Happy Hose.
I thought I would take a moment to stop in and say... *sniff*
I hope everyone has a great time tomorrow... *sniffle, sniff*
Because I won't be there, and I will miss you guys... "Wwaaaaaahhhh!!!"
But alas, I will be at the other far corner of VA... *snub, sniff, sniff*
For those of you travelling to Critter's, be safe...
Y'all have a wonderful time, and someone please take lots of pictures to post!
Happy Mid-Atlantic Garden Day, and good weekend to all!!!
Karen
Chantell- that 's the right attitude! Plants First.
Sympathies to the non attendees!! Hart- I think you were getting nicotiana seeds from me, I will mail. They're teeny!
Thanks, Sally. And thanks for remembering.
I'll have lots of seeds later this fall. If you all would like to do a Mid Atlantic seed swap, I'll be happy to sort them. That way everyone only has to do one mailing.
The way we did this in the seed swaps Pepsidrinker did last winter and spring, everyone lists what they have, what they're looking for. For example, Critter is looking for coneflower seeds, Sally has coneflower seeds. Or Sally has enough coneflower seeds for five people so the first five get dibs on those seeds. You pack up your seeds in packets (I have a nice Word based template if anyone needs it, some people used the little jewelry sized zip bags.) Each person has a number. You number each packet based on who it goes to and of course label it with what it is, growing info if you have it. Then mail your seeds to the organizer along with enough postage to mail seeds back to you and an address label for yourself.
The organizer sorts them and repacks them and mails them back out.
Hart, I'm planning on participating in lots of seed swaps this year, so count me interested.
With the postage rate increases ("fat" bubble envelopes now count as packages and cost more to send), that's an especially good idea for this winter.
Is everybody ready??
;-)
I have gzillions of seeds. However, I will likely get an early start. I'd like to begin sowing in December, dogs willing.
Yup - I is ready - got enough Pina Colada mix to float a boat :-)
Who is bringing the boat?
:-)
Wrightie, I think if we're going to do a seed swap we should definitely do it early enough for everyone to wintersow if they want to. Maybe have everything back to everyone around mid November? Now I'll stop hijacking this thread.
I wintersow seeds well into Feb and even March... and if previous years are any indication, I don't generally have my seeds dried, dechaffed, bagged, and labeled until after the holidays. But that's fine, I can sit out the Big Seed Swap and just do some trading & sharing on my own!
Critter - Hope you all are having a blast today!! Sorry I had to miss it! - Suzi :)
We did indeed have a blast, and we missed everyone who wasn't here but made sure to get in a lot of extra hugs...
My thanks to everyone who came and brought goodies to eat and plants to share and most of all just brought their own wonderful selves... If everybody else had half as much fun as I did, then it was a very successful gathering! :-)
I'm going to put my feet up and polish off the last strawberry daquiri... Hoping everybody has a safe drive home!
*HUGS*
Critter I am so gald yo had a nice day... Kevin had the day off as it turned out.. He came home lastnight and said he was off but I did not want to start driving lastnight and to long to start in the morning... So next one... Then I think is funny DragonFly who lives not to far from me calls and asked if I wanted to go to the one in NC with her... By then I had already made plans... I surely missed you all.... Are you or someone really have a winter one? I hope so...
Hugs,
Susan
We DID have a wonderful time, and Jill is the consummate host. Lovely, lovely, lovely time. And her garden is glorious.
Thanks so much, Jill! it was great to see all your many plantings and you are a great source of info too.
Garden room envy !!! Your hanging plant rod gave me an idea for my laundry room...
Seems not so long ago, I didn't know you but posted a compliment to your front flower beds picture. Little did I know it was the tip of the iceberg.
I will lay awake thinking about what I'm doing with these new acquisitions.......
Oh my - just came back home - Chantell & I stopped for dinner - dogs mighty miffed at me being gone that long, cat is walking around howling right now - nooooot happy - ah well, they will get over it - had a great time - many thanks to the hostess and thanks to everyone for a great time and so many plants I wasn't planning on! I'll load pix tomorrow - Sally - you ain't kidding about Garden Room envy - Jill's deck and garden is one thing - the Garden Room is awesome!!!!!!!!!
Ah....Becky...go to the b-room then give them a treat...they'll forgive you!! LOL Still stuffed!!!
Jill - a huge thank you for a wonderful day...great company and conversation...I promise to over come my PSTD regarding the skeetters!!!
Thanks to everyone - incredible food, drink and despite my swearing the opposite...beautiful plants that were brought home. Ya'll are great.
Missed you Ruby, Susan, Wrightie and Karen...can't wait till the next one....Becky?
This message was edited Sep 8, 2007 11:55 PM
Jill, you're the hostess with the mostess (no idea how to spell that)! To quote Bec "Plants what plants?" It was the end of the evening until everyone started to realize they had to take the plants they brought back home if we didn't get down to some trading. Sooner than later, at whoever's place; spring, summer, fall, or winter, we should do it all again!
This message was edited Sep 10, 2007 7:58 AM
It sounds like everyone else did have half as much fun as I did!
You should see that room in winter... so many plants that Jim says you can hardly turn around. 5 banana "pups" had to go live in that corner of the dining room instead. I love it -- especially with half a dozen pots of scented geraniums! On "watering day" when I've brushed against them all, the whole house smells wonderful. (Now, aren't you sorry that Sally is the only one went home with SG cuttings?)
Well, clearly we shall have to gather here again in winter! I've been talking about doing a Midwinter Tea Party here for months, because I missed it last year when I didn't do it. I see Groundhog's Day falls on a Saturday... that could be a propitious day for a gathering of gardeners!
Actually, with so much less going on out in our gardens during the winter, I think we should plan to get together *several* times, LOL. It was just so good to see everybody that I can't wait to do it again!
You know, I can't believe we didn't make it out of the kitchen and "garden room" when we were inside the house... I tried a couple of times to move people to the comfier seats in the family room, but everyone wanted to gather around Grandma's kitchen table... I'm sure that would've made Grandma smile!
Becky, I didn't realize you'd left all those mixers until you were long gone... good golly, I don't even know what to do with them! (I did put stuff into the fridge, that much I could figure out, LOL.) I know you were putting a lot of different things into those wonderful pina coladas... the mixer, canned pineapple, flaked coconut, coconut cream, coconut milk... could you please give me a general idea of the ratios you were using for a batch? If I were guessing, I'd say a can of coconut milk, half a can of coconut cream, half a can of pineapple, a handful of flaked coconut, and "enough" mixer and ice... am I close?
Good morning, Jill--and everyone else,
Seems I am bringing up the rear in my "Thank Yous", But at my "advanced age"...:o)...I just came home, unpacked everything and went straight to bed. Had a message from my Sister that she will be coming here today, not tomorrow as planned. One more guest I will be taking to out HD annual Crab Feast. That starts at 7PM as we do not close the store until 7 on Sundays. The we will all hustle to set up all the tables and chairs etc in out "Grand Ballroom"..............aka as the Lumber Aisle. It is the widest aisle in the store, and we hold all our parties and store meetings there--even out annual Christmas party. Now-that sucks!!!!!
What can i say that hasn't been said before?
Thank you so much, Jill. I know it isn't easy to entertain a bunch of people, but you sure made us all feel right at home. Your house is beautiful and so is all your plants and Gardens. I heard there were a lot more "garden related" stuff in your basement (from Bobbie) but we never got a tour "down there".......Hmmmmm.....
I sure liked the "grazing" type of eating. We just needed about 10 more people to eat everything, but doggie-bagging some stuff to take home will be much appreciated.
Sally---I HUGE thanks, again, for driving!!!! I got home without a hitch--3 lefts and a straight shot to I-97S.
I will now upload all my pictures and post hem on a separate Thread. Comments or corrections welcome.
xoxoxox Gita
And THANKS to miatablu !! who graciuosly was the last guest out , on purpose, letting herself be stuck with cleanup!!
Miata. you are one heckuva good cook. And Rick(right?) is one friendly sweetheart.
And thanks to Jim for allowing the invasion of biddies! What another nice guy.
Critter - Pina Coladas - use 2 cc of rum per drink, Ice, 1 part coconut milk, 1 part coconut, 1 part pineapple - blend well and add to taste with coconut, cream, pina colada mix etc etc.
I sure did appreciate Bobby's help, but I didn't make her do too much scrubbing! ;-)
Becky, it sounds like I should just "wing it" then with the pina coladas... LOL @ "etc etc"... like "The King and I" !!
What were you planning to add cream to? You left a half gallon of half and half that was unopened... or was there another one that went all in to the previous batches of pina coladas?
Yup - wing it - I had the 1/2&1/2 as back up for when coconut milk ran out :-)