FYI, the Park's sale is on plant material only...does not apply supplies and things like heat mats.
Spectacular 2007 Cottage Garden Seed Swap #4
They did have a site-wide sale last year, darned if I can remember exactly when... I took advantage and got a bunch of those wonderfully sturdy perma-nest trays to use for flats of seedlings! It might have been as much as 40% off... I really need a better system for keeping track of these things!
Yes, Criiter is thinking of the same sale I was thinking of, Gram. I didn't check it out just now, and was assuming it was the same as last year. Critter it was last year at this time -- I placed one order on 11/15/06 and another on 11/20/06.
The heat mat ON SALE was over $25.00, so I don't think spending $40.00 is worth the money.
I remember you telling me to get the permanests and we had a dmail conversation on what you did with them.
Suzy
Hmmm... This current sale ends on the 19th, looks like. I am wondering just a little bit if it will be followed by a sitewide sale including non-plant products.
I don't know. I don't remember from last year.
I'm sure you saw the post from Tabasco, but in case you didn't she said, "And try to put in this code for another 15% off: 15PRKCPN"
FWIW,
Suzy
got your dmail Suzy :) thank you!!!!!!!!!!
All the posts with photos of plant shelves makes me really want some too! The first time I ever saw a set up like that was many years ago in Georgia at a friends sisters farm. They had the chrome shelves on castor wheels all lit with the lighting like shown on Wrightie's link, and boy oh boy, to this day I'm still in aw. Her home was so garden wonderful too...lots of jarred garden goodies; pickles, peppers etc overhead along the wall.
My seedlings get lined up in our sunniest bathroom all over the place; in the tub, on every ledge avail. Plus I have to keep the door closed because we have a cat that loves fresh greens!!!!!!!
Here is another way to do shelves too. This is a photo of a friend of mines set up. She always gets a better start on her plants sown indoors than I do ~
I forgot to mention that if you look closely in the picture, she uses the chains to adjust the lights up as the plants grow taller :)
edited..oh gosh...and she takes the lights off completely and puts books on the shelves when not in use!
This message was edited Nov 15, 2007 4:14 PM
Oh my gosh -- they are all so clean! I have water dribbled everywhere and the lights have actual drips of potting soil-stained water on their shields.
I have a stainless steel potting bench under lights, and that's where the heat mat is. But I also have a tall wire shelving system. This is all down the basement, and it's a working basement....nothing "finished" about it. I have a set of those walk out steps, so I can take things in and out by just walking 4 feet to the steps.
I use the chrome wire shelves from Costco/Sams and I love them. Of course the water drains right out, but I consider that good, not bad. Messy, but good. The lights are cheap, especially if you buy one here and one there throughout the year. I raise and lower mine with chains. Speaking of which, I need to buy 2 more for another shelf.
All tis is well and good, but thse 4" pots of 25 seeds each soon take up way more real estate than 5 shelves can handle, so last year I bought a cheapo plastic greenhouse, and boy! Was it wonderful! It won't help with a freeze, but it keeps the frost off and it helps those seedlings get to garden center size in a hurry.
Suzy
All the packages are winging their way to their destinations. As I said before, Saturday delivery is possible, but Monday is more likely. This time of year the mail seems to go faster, not slower, so I am hopeful about Saturday.
I really had fun with this and hope everybody is happy.
The extra seeds are courtesy of Weezingreens. She sent a big lot of them Priority mail, so the extra postage is actually being pooled and sent to her. Some people sent wayyyyy too much postage and I either sent their envelopes back priority, or I sent some stamps back to them with their seeds.
Other people who sent a boatload of seeds but didn't need as many back are Primrose Sue, Grampapa & Critterologist. You can thank them by growing the things you got and posting pictures next summer :) I can't think of a better thank you!
It is because of these generous folks that the quanity was so high, but it was from the participants themselves that the diversity was so high, so pat yourselves on the back. Everyone should plan on buying a pack of special seeds just so you can harvest for next year. Maroon was a very popular color followed closely by Purple and blue. Pinks and roses were third. PamSue and I were in the minority with mostly reds and corals for our seeds which I thought was interesting. Yellow was dead last, and yet, there were several people who said they didn't want anything yellow, but yellow flowers were on their wishlists.
I think there were 29 people who signed up, but only 20 followed through. The average number of seeds per envelope was 60, but a couple of people doubled that amount.
NO DOUBT You will receive many seeds you don't want... and for that I'm going to host a Second Chance CG Swap IN FEBRUARY. This is for the seeds you don't want from this swap, 2006 seeds you don't want, extras you have from your own flowers, extras you get from other swaps, and just all around clean out the drawer (but not older than 2005-- we want them to germinate!)
I'm not sure of the rules yet, but there will be a limit on Hollyhocks, Morning Glories, Datura, Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and other flowers I don't like. I might ban them all, LOL!. Don't get me wrong, I love Hollyhocks, but apparently a lot of people don't because I had several people say "No Hollyhocks".
Here's the deal: Weezing is cleaning out her seed drawer! That's the primary motivation for me to host another one. (It's her 2006 seeds, and they didn't qualify for this recent swap)
I do know there will be a 20 person limit and probably a 5 pack per clone/ variety limit, but I need to work out how to say it better. (You can send in 20 packs of marigolds as long as one they are different: "Bonanza", one is orange, one is big orange, and, one is gem yellow.)
Suzy
Count me in for the next one. I should have at least 4 more different kinds of seeds by then. Plus whatever I can steal from relatives, friends, and whoever isn't looking!
Cat,
Plus your Asters -- I had three of the Purple Dome and Four of the Alma Posches open today.
Suzy
I'll have more of them by then too, if you need them
Suzy, you don't have to send back any postage. I was glad to be included and to get the seeds out to folks who can use them. I'll definitely start weeding out my stash after the holidays and send you my 'weeds'. As before, please give me a poke with your garden trowel if you haven't heard from me by the end of they year.
Oh, yeah, I want in on the next one, too. I wanna see what's in the back of Weez's seed drawer ;0) And I have bunches of 'good stuff' from last year that should go to somebody who could use it. I planted as much as I could, but some folks are so generous with seed.
Suzy, that's kind of a high percentage of no-shows. Is it usually that bad?
mmmmm, I can feel the good vibrations. there's a seed package headed this way 8^)
Just to make you all drool, took this this morning,then filed them all away ,waiting to try some winter sowing. Does that mean I have to wait for snow? They said maybe flurries next week.(just being silly)
Nice stash there... I don't see any of my seeds. I should have had some northern gardener offerings... oh, well. Winter sowing should coordinate with spring warm up.
LOL... I was looking for my packets too, and I didn't see any! Gus, I guess we must not like the same colors. :-)
I see a couple of mine...I can spot the green envelopes. Wish I could find some more of those.
If you didn't see your package the seed packets are several deep,no room in the photo to spread them out.
I did see weez & critter names on packets.wish i had better recall,(bloody dock,globe amaranth,milkweed?)
I can check later, have to leave taking my Mom birthday shopping she was 77 Tuesday.
This was a fantastic swap thanks again to all
Cinda
Count me in on the next one as well! This has been so much fun! Rachel
Oooh, can't wait for my seeds! What a cool thing to anticipate...in the meantime it's fun to see others opening their "presents".
Peggy
I JUST GOT MINE AND I AM THRILLED!! THRILLED!! THRILLED!! IT'S CHRISTMAS BEFORE THANKSGIVING FOR ME THIS YEAR!!!!
:))))))))
Susy, THANKS sooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!
I'm so appreciative!!
Susan
Children, Children, Of course GGus got some of your seeds...WZ, I am pretty sure everybody North of the Mason Dixon line and west of the Mississippi got something from you. I was just afraid of the deep south, y'know?
Gram, Yes, I thought there were a lot of people who just dropped. No matter what numbers I gave, (I think I put a couple people in the no show list when they were actually shows), it was 23% and the average is about 20% (from what I've seen). I know I might have made a couple people mad when I answered their questions early on, and I didn't mean to, but sometimes I speak too frankly.
And SGL -- That's fantastic! Maybe you'll have enough seed that you can direct sow them and save the hassle of pots and jugs.
At least two more people should have gotten theirs today, too. We'll see if they pipe up soon.
I am really sorry for those of you whose envies didn't come yet. It must be very annoying to see the 'yippees', and wonder where the heck yours are! I would have sent them all on the same day, but there was a slight glitch with some late arriving, (but popular) seeds. Hopefully when you see what's on the top you'll be happy I waited.
Suzy
I GOT MINE!!! Sorry to shout, but I wanted to make sure everybody heard me LOL. I feel like I ordered from a seed catalog and just said 'Give me one of everything'. The variety is amazing! There goes the rest of the back lawn ;0)
Lawn? Grass is overrated! LOL
Cinda, Suzy, you know I was teasing... but maybe I'll start printing up my label slips on purple paper! :-)
OOHHHhhhh!!!
DH just brought in the mail and handed me the box I wasn't expecting to see until tomorrow. I've only dug into the top layer so far... Oh my goodness, I feel like I've made out like a BANDIT with this swap! Every packet I've flipped over has been something I've just, well, flipped over! There are seeds in this box that have been on my "wish list" for years. I would keep typing and going on and on about how excited I am... but I can't wait to unpack the rest of the box!!
Thanks to all of you for your generosity, and to Suzy for being such an astonishingly generous and well organized hostess!
.............no envie yet............. but Suzy before I forget, please mark me down for your next swap.....I have other seeds to share :) I would very much like to get in line for more trading with you all and Weez's 'weeds'!
ps: today, I stumbled across pictures that Weezingreens posted back in '05 of her plant lights and seed starting set up....oh wow!!!!!!! I was really impressed with your set up Weez.!!! Now I really want to get at least one rack of shelving and grow lights for next yr!!!!!!!! :))))
~Diana
Yes, my light racks start enough seedlings to supply my little greenhouse business. Eventually, they go out to the heated greenhouse in early April, then to the unheated greenhouse, then out on the tables. My lights are just fluorescent bulbs, but are always good for starting my seeds.
Suzy........The package came yesterday, and it felt like Christmas or my Birthday.....So many wonderful packages of seed and the majority them I do not have or planted....I am so looking forward to spring to see what will come up.
I almost feel like I did not contribute enough seed to this swap, you guys are all amazing, and Suzy, you are at the top of that list. Thank you so much for the time you put into this project. I wish there was a way I could have helped you. Perhaps I can time my visit to Batesville with the next swap.
Again, Suzy THANK YOU SO MUCH...
Deann
I should have said more yesterday when I got my box, but I was overwhelmed! I just can't believe what I got. and the packages are all so neat :0)...what great ideas! and everyone was so generous with the seeds. I could never plant them all if I lived to be 150. The best part is, they are things I wanted. I am building a cottage garden and they are perfect. Yes, I know this is the CG forum and that was the purpose of the swap, but I swear 99% are things I don't have yet. Some are things I didn't even know I wanted until I got them LOL
And I was too dumb to send a big enough envelope for the return, so Suzy had to scrounge up a box for me. Look at this! It's like a treasure chest. Or a...a...a seed box ;0)
I can't wait until summer when we all start posting pics of what we are growing. We definitely need a thread just for the results of this swap. Thanks everyone who participated. And heaping thanks with a cherry on top for Suzy with whom all things seedy are possible.
~ jan
Yes.. I was thinking the same things.. We need a continuation thread with the results of the seeds on this swap.. I'm already making plans to aquire free compost from the county.. A truckload on which to broadcast this seed and directly sow in and keep it watered in. There is so much..there is no way on earth I could ever ever start these in nice seeds in trays under lights or even wintersown pots and jugs.. and then move them into the garden.. there are just too many seeds! (if that is possible) I have gone through them once and now I'm going to have to take the time to study them and find out all about the treasures I really have.. There are some I might have questions about too.. This really is a gardeners Christmas come early and thanks again Suzy.. I'm also very grateful to all of you who contributed seeds!!! Some of you didn't put your names on seeds, so I don't know who they came from, but I am grateful..very grateful!! :)
Thank you!!
Susan
I can hardly wait to get mine! This is sooo exciting!
So far, so good, I really hope the people on the coasts get theirs today.
Yes, I remember now, seeing WZing's basement set up -- what a hoot! It was wall to wall shelves with aisles of shelves, all with hanging lights. Last year I went to Florida with a friend in April for 5 days, and Mr. Clean had to water for me. I actually had to put sticky notes on each pot or flat as to what days to water. When I got back, all I got were complaints about how hard it was and how long it took. And I only had *2* shelves and a potting bench! Imagine what would happen if I had her set up LOL!
Gram you arranged those packs! LOL!
Whoops, EVERYBODY put their names on their packs. Every person put the things on the packs that needed to be there. What happened was I ran out of some common things -- PINK MALVA was one, but there were others, and I knew it early on when I was looking at wishlists....
I was in a round robin in the RR forum right then, so I snagged some things for you guys and put my seeds back in the robin. Those seeds I got may or may not be fresh, they may or may not have the Latin name, but I figured you could consider them extras and either use them, or put them in the Last Chance Swap.
Just wanted to clarify that they were extras and not from the swap, per se.
Fingers crossed the rest of the envies get delivered today!
Suzy
I am STUNNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ("thrilled" doesn't quite capture it!). This is better than Christmas! I have soooooo many seeds that if everything germinates, I will have to start a nursery business.
Thank-you! Thanks-you! Thank-you! to every one who participated. and especially thanks to Suzy. After the week I have had (don't ask!) opening my box of seeds was a total delight!
Oh, btw, I picked up a wire shelving unit (6 shelves) (perfect for starting seeds in doors) at Costco today - Measures 72" by 48" by 18" - cost less than $80. :-) DH is going to put a bow on it and give it to me for Christmas (along with the florescent grow lights - but he doesn't know about that yet!)
HOOOOORRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!
Suzy, when I start seeds in the basement, I use small propagation trays with drainage holes. These go into holeless flats and are covered by clear plastic dome lids. Until the seeds begin to come up, I mist the trays and inside of the dome lids with a spray bottle of water. This is a once a day thing, as long as they have lids. As the trays germinate, they are moved to a flat with fellow seedlings. This flat has no dome lid and the trays are watered from beneath. I water enough to keep them happy for the day, but not have the trays floating around in there. Once they have developed true leaves, I can begin transplanting to 4 cell packs that go into holeless flats. They remain under lights in the basement until early April when I can take them out to the heated greenhouse.
We have 6 light racks. Each one has 4 shelves, and each shelf holds four flats. We butt two back to back to give them extra strength. All in all they hold 96 flats. Later we turn on the halogen light as we run out of room under the fluorescents. As you can see, we start a lot of plants!
oh . . . so DH is fixed for the next five Christmases as well - a new plant light rack each year - that might not work - with all these lovely seeds I probably need six now!
Gosh, I am soooo happy!
You are so happy that I can't help but be happy!