Spring Green Elephant Plant Swap

I simply cannot keep up with you exhuberant NW people! Thread to thread, it's like you've all had octuple shot lattes for weeks LOL! Slow down for the old middle ager, would you please?

Analog Dog, first, sorry about your job. I'd love some of your red Crocosmia. I know people have said it spreads like wildfire, but never at my house. I'd think the best place for your dug clumps would be heeled right back into a ditch in your garden bed so they neither freeze nor dry out. There's a cold month to go before the swap.

I took the swap day off, (I work weekends,) so I will be at the swap. We are covered in soggy snow STILL for 3 weeks now, so I have no idea what I'll be bringing, but I know I have the lovely Phlox David in droves, a few 4-5 ft aconitum for a bright blue Aug/September bloom, daylilies various, perhaps a few dahlia tubers in a multitude of colors/forms.

I have a Soldagio "Crown of Rays" up for grabs- more a garden plant than a cutting variety. I'll specify more later.

Analog, Plastic grocery bags work just fine for temporary housing of plants and the posters are right: labels and traits of the plants are the most welcome thing aside from the plant itself. A cheap label is surveyor's tape written on in Sharpie ( tie around bag handle or stalk.) Cut up milk jug strips also work for labels inside pots. Survey tape is useful to 'flag' plants that are promised to others in pre-arranged trades.

Katye, are you done thinning your crocosmia this year? If not, what color/variety do you have? What might you be looking for in return?

I absolutely need to thin out my hostas. Any shade gardeners out there? I have names for some and area photos of most. There are other shade plants I can dig (if I can find them by the end of February) dicentra formosa 'Langtrees,' columbine in pink, and white. Brunnera 'Jack Frost,' Epimedium I can't rememberum, but it's nice! There will be more listed as time goes on.

It will be nice to get to meet you PNWers, again for some, and for the first time, for others.

Okay, Poochella. You said the magic word. Hostas. I'm putting in a new woodland garden. What do you have? Also epimidium. Love it, want it. Could use some Jack Frost, too. Do you know the cultivar of your aconitum? I have a couple I might be able to trade with you.
I'll likely be bringing seedlings if I can get some going by then. Some are coming up. I got a huge envelope of seeds today from seedhunt.com. i'll get many planted this weekend.

Analog, what color freesia do you have?

Poochella,
Good to hear from you! I would love to give some hostas a new home :0) Not sure yet as to what I will be bringing.

The Freesia is the basic Orange/Yellow. My crocosima is screaming hot red and are forever setting seed after the bloom.

The 4th plant is what appears to be Coreopsis vertacillata "Golden Gain" or "Moonbeam" I am terrible about documenting exactly what hybrid I have.... It has beautiful yellow flowers and has this expanding nature. I was able to chop off the sides of my plant, so you can have some of this weed too. It propagates via persistant reddish rhizomes which appear to be new stems.

I am seeking winter interest plants, and species that are either natives to the PNW or attractive to birds. I also like shade plants, as there is a good bit of it in my yard. I am also looking for some smaller trees or shrubs. We have a couple of Japanese Pears from the previous owners, which are finally coming back after being forgotten, then abused (by yours truly). But we are not wanting more fruit, only interest. The Smoke Tree has my attention right now.

Katye, I'd take pots of both sizes off your hands gladly. Are you going to Pixy's?

Poochella, good to see you! I've got shade space as well. I don't know what I'll have to bring yet, but I wouldn't mind a very small hosta. (Epimedium I can'trememberum-love that cultivar!! Lol...) I'd also love to have one super-easy "beginner dahlia" from a dahlia expert. :) I don't have any at all.

Analogdog,
Are you interested in any small Douglas Firs? I also have Native Mahonia (Oregon Grape.) Will have to go out and look see if I have any small Holodiscus discolor (Ocean Spray) in the yard that I can dig up.

Susy- you can't have just one dahlia. It doesn't work that way! But if I had to pick just one for you what color, size, or form of bloom would you like? When you tell me that choice, I'll automatically think of 4 others you simply must have to go with it. That's how it goes here.... I'll post photos or Dmail descriptions of small hostas.

Analog dog, "screaming red" is right up my alley. They don't go to seed if you cut the blooms, so I'm up for the crocosmia. I'd also welcome the coreopsis verticillata in yellow/gold. I have some C. moonbeam and, again, nothing spreads here (except Bishop's Weed and buttercup LOL) so that would be welcome too! Let me scout about the yard and see what winter interest things I might bring you in return.
I have a couple dogwoods that have lovely red branches. They are attractive to humans, don't know about birds.

Pixy, I'll post what photos of hostas/ beds I have. I'm sure the epimidium is rubrum and I believe there is a tag still out there. There's a mini epimidium as well. Got you down for the Brunnera "Jack Frost" and no, I don't know what variety of aconitum. They came from Pike Place market. They're about 4 ft tall.

Rachie R, Hosta photos coming your way too.. Some are wee petites of 6- 8 inches tall and some are 2.5 ft tall and 3 ft wide.

I have a patch of lamium "Golden Anniversary" that is yellow and green and much better behaved than the white/green leafed spreader (which I also have in white, pink and lavender blooms despite trying to kill it for 8 years.) I can dig some 4 inch pots of that too for shade or part sun.
Here it is, bad photo. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/poochella/shade%20garden/lamiumgoldenanniversary.jpg
Here's the basic lamium with pink bloom - oooh - and a buttercup thrown in as usual! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/poochella/shade%20garden/lamiumandlamiastrum0004.jpg

Sorry about the blur and the color combo LOL but here is the Dicentra formosa 'langtrees' It's a blue green tone, about 12-14 inches tall with spires of white that keep on blooming from early spring to frost. Gentle spreader here.
I can split that basic green/white hosta too. Please don't plant them together!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/poochella/shade%20garden/dicentralangreeswithhosta.jpg

Below is one shot of one shade bed and items up for dividing/sharing. I'll dig up more photos as I can.

I have Tall Bearded iris in purple and white. Siberian iris in rich velvety dark purple. Both 3 ft tall with the blooms. Both up for grabs, I need more dahlia room. I'll add more, as I think of things.

Pooch-
I would love some of either of the hostas and I would love to try some ginger as well! What are you looking for in exchange?

Rach-Do you have any cedar tree sproutlings? I am always collecting those to screen the yard in various places. And the deer are always chomping the little ones. A Doug Fir sprout would be welcome too. Otherwise, I can't think of anything I want or need.

Another view with a few more things: White columbine, no name, but it's hearty and pretty, blooms early. Spiderwort 'Sweet Kate' is a pretty golden foliage and is in Plantfiles. Corydallis no-namus in front is a nice little patch maker in medium blue flowers. Pretty much any hosta here is dividable including the good old plain green elongated leaf ones in back, the white/green in center.

Here's a pretty good hosta image link
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hostas.be/images/Foto/web-Hosta-Wide-Brim-.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hostas.be/hostafoto%27s.htm&h=480&w=640&sz=49&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=21q6bEVb_azYwM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhosta%2Bwide%2Bbrim%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en%26sa%3DN

Here are some more, mostly hostas.

Pooch- I wish that I had cedar seedlings. I have one cedar tree plus two additional that I planted after we built our house. I have alot of small douglas fir seedlings (about 2 feet tall) how many would you like? I would love some of your blue Corydallis no-namus (sounds very official!)

RR:
Douglas Firs? No way, my yard is way too small. Mahonia and Ocean Spray would be nice!

Pooch:
You got the crocosima, and the Moonbeam is just a guess, but I am pretty close. The dogwoods would be interesting. Hostas would be nice, too.

I am not a total native freak, but I want to keep my garden accessible to all the critters. I am trying to develop a shade garden on the north side of my house, where only a mud puddle exists right now. And a garden in full sun, and do something with my backyard swale.

Poochella, I will look for cedar seedlings for you. Who knows? Maybe the neighbors won't notice.

I'm interested in the following: (just to put it all in one place)
Brunnera
Epimedium (both kinds)
Lamium 'golden anniversary' I was about to order that one, so good timing!
Dicentra formosa
Hosta in the front left in your first photo. I may have it, but I can always use more.
Hosta 'striptease' if you are dividing it.
Hosta 'what were you thinking-um'.
Just about any of the mini hostas. I am doing part of the front door bed with minis.
Corydalis blueus. I have 'blue panda' if you'd like some of that one. I think it is shorter than the one you have.
Some of the dark purple siberians.

Tell you what. How about I just come up with my shovel and my van? LOL!


Analog, I have what I believe is a native dogwood that I've recently dug up starts from. I'll try to find a photo of what I have. The blooms are fairly insignificant, but then it has dark colored berries that the birds love. It's also a small tree, topping out at about 15 feet, with a nice canopy. The one I have has been here for many years, so I figure that's as big as it's going to get. I'll see if I can give a positive ID for you.

Oh good, thanks Analog Dog on those plants. I will welcome them. Do you have a preference on the hostas' ht or color? I will put another photo or two to follow.

Rach R, would I be greedy to ask for 3 fir trees? I never look askance at a good tree. Plus then I can give one to Murmur for Arbor Day! {{{{Murmur!}}}}

Roger Pixie, got your list in the Trade Tracker; along with RR's and ADog's. Yes, I'll take another corydallis, they are early and easy! Thanks.

More unobstructed view below. 10:00 is Strip Tease, lower left behind daylily is Wide Brim, center low one in green/yellow: does this qualify as small/low? White and lt green taller one at 3:00. Does any one want some of that? It's about 18" tall, 24" maximum as I recall. Lav flowers on all. Uppermost to the back: I had its name once and it may still come to me.....

Okay, it's solidago and it's not Crown of Rays it's a low grower, ~ a foot high, x 3 ft wide. It blooms in Aug/September, bright yellowy gold flaring out on green low foliage. This plant has been there since 1999 and has not spread, nor seeded.

This might be it-
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=F620

If no one wants it, I'm killing it. It's too big to mail.

Susie and Rach, I'm working on finding more small hosta ideas for you, so watch this thread. And give me dahlia ideas, Susie!

Pooch- Greedy, no way! Let me rephrase the question "how many do you need?" I will be digging and potting them up in the next week or two. We will be building a garage and I am going to save as many natives as I possibly can before we have the area bulldozed and prepped for building.

I will list more natives tomorrow morning. Was going to do it this afternoon but got sidetracked pruning trees, putting a pump in my new pond, adding dirt here and there, talking to the plants, coaxing the hellebores to bloom, etc, etc :0)

Wow - you guys have been busy bees today.
I had to take notes to keep up!

Pooch - I have Emily MacKenzie Croc - a sizable clump. It's yours if you want it. (I've got a few more, same size.)
If you still have Aconitum, Asarum or Brunnera left, I'd be interested. I would also like your suggestions for maybe 5 Dahlia: I have read lots, but am basically looking for excellent performers for our region: Sturdy stalks, profuse bloomers for CUT flowers.
I have a preference for 4"+; colours: yellow - orange - red & mahoghany or purple.
There are just so many & I can't get specific info for those that do well in a more rain-prone/cool climate. Appreciate any ideas.

Sue - I plan on going to Pixy's unless it is pouring rain, or sn*wing. But do you want them before then? Also - will dmail about the seed.

I think the little hosta in the middle of your last photo, poochella, may be Sunspot. I've got that one. It's a nice little variety and multiplies pretty quick.
I've got you down for some of the 'blue panda'.

Poochella, I think the dahlia should go to Katye-she's defined what she wants much more than I have. I've also gotten tons of flower seeds for this summer that I'm going to try. I don't even know enough about dahlias to answer your questions, so I think I'd better put that on the back burner for now. Maybe we could talk about that again in the fall after I've thought it through? I'll know better what I need for the spot I'm thinking of after this summer. Your beds are very nice. I like your combinations. The dicentra formosa 'Langtrees' is very nice, as is the corydalis. Does the 'Langtrees' spread as much as the common pink one?

Katye, Pixy's party is only two weeks from tomorrow. I can wait. I probably won't have my seed swap seeds by then, anyhow. I would love to have a little of the Emily McK crocosmia, though. What are you looking for?

bedtime. a good rest. a desire to go work out tonight. hot fudge. no housecleaning. sanity. barkless dogs. non-begging dogs. a son that remembers - anything.
And that's the beginning of the short list.
Actually, I don't know what i'm looking for, and if I do, I probably cannot afford it!
I will probably be wanting more plants after I have fished rocking the front yard, something that requires rocks, which requires $, which requires work. This is one work-party that i would not foist on anyone. so, i will come up with something else like a "bring me a plant that represents you" party. Truly I would love to create a PNW garden with plants that you all have grown, or is some plant you cherish. I have designed the RM garden - it's xeric & devoted to those folks. Hopefully, I'll be able to pull that one together this spring & the PNW garden by mid summer. Of course, I'll have to include the Motherland, section for my favourite Brit.
At least it's Friday & my life is not spilling out on every-channel-all-day news. I have food & a roof over my head and I am not obsessed with much more than what has potential to grow in my gardens.
Awaiting the arrival of March - one day closer!
Life is good & pleasant.

Ah.... hmm, I don't have any of those. I'm particularly short on sons and houses that don't require cleaning, and most unfortunately, hot fudge.

That sounds like a fun party. Would we be required to dress to match the plant?

I think the dogwood I have is either Cornus obliqua or Cornus amomum.

Whoops! Didn't mean to interrupt! That does sound like a good party, as long as I can wear whatever I want.

RachR- how many firs...? I'll take up to 8 fir trees. But don't pot them, just put them in a bag, if that works. Maybe you have to move them sooner, if so, pots will work fine. Whatever works for you. Bring more, if the alternative is to kill them with a bulldozer! I'll hold them for anyone else interested.

Okay: Susie, you're getting a dahlia or 3, make room for them. I'll Dmail you ideas as I owe you for the hex seeds :) The D. langtrees are a very gentle spreader, easily contained in a little patch. I've given so many starts away. My regular dicentra (pink/white blooms) doesn't seem to spread here either! Does it in the real world? Mine is only about 3 yrs old.

Katye, I'll Dmail my best ideas on your requested colors of dahlias but not until tomorrow sometime, as I have to sleep and soon at that. No need to worry about 'cool rain-prone weather:' we're in the heart of dahlia country! You're down for ginger, brunnera and aconitum. And YES to the lovely Emily McKenzie. Two crocosmias in one day- score!!!!!!!. Thanks you guys.

I wish I could help you on the 'what are you looking for list' "Son that remembers," LOL "Barkless, non-begging dogs" HOOT! I wish you well on your rocking project. Sounds heavy.

Pixy, I googled and Plant Filed and can only find hosta "Little Sunspot" for a hosta name. The photos I saw didn't quite look the same, but I might have missed "Sunspot." How tall does yours get and is it the same basic color scheme?

Alright, off I go. If I missed any requests through this thread, or you have one to make, just pipe up please or Dmail me.

Pooch,
I can wait to dig up the firs until the day before the swap and put them in bags for you. I will pick eight lovlies for you :0) I will go out and count how many will be available tomorrow morning, I know that I have at least another 4 in addition to yours will add them to the "available" list.

Will post an available list tomorrow. Sleep well everyone.

No, it's Little Sunspot. I thought I had typed that, but guess not. Must have gotten ahead of myself again. That's the one. tomorrow I'll walk around and look for cedars for you.

My Little Sunspot has a brighter contrast between the yellow and green than Poochella's. I think the green is darker. This is mine from last summer shortly after I got it. I think Pooch's is something else.

she's a cutie - quite a sunny-looking plant for this dreary weather.
Sn*w tomorrow, anyone???

Little Sunspot's tough, too. She got a couple of hours of direct sun and only bleached a little. (Have some Hosta adjusting to do this spring...)

Sn*w?
No thank you, but it was kind of you to offer.

I have little fir trees I will be donating and other trees and shrubs.. I also dug up bunches of that pink persicaria. I will try to list what I have. I hope to load pixys van. I hope she lays tarps down.

Hi Poochella, I hope your liatris (from the fund-raiser) did well this year. Mine looked fine until late summer, then kind of dried up. I haven't grown them before, so I don't know if that's part of their normal life cycle. My son had a great time in Mexico refurbishing a kindergarten. His group got together enough funds to buy some supplies for the class as well.
I don't know if I can make the plant swap, but I sure would like a purple Siberian iris if I do get there. I don't have cedar trees, but I do have a few schizostylis lily (pink) that bloom in the Fall until frost, if you are interested. Holly

Hey, as far as lining the car, tarps are great. I was worried about stuff slipping and falling over in my Escape. So, I took several bags that I got at Ikea that are made for storing comforters, etc. They're about 8" tall and easily 3ft square and have a top that zips. I folded the top back and put all the plants inside the "tarp box". Kept the car nice and clean and nothing tipped over on my drive. When I got home I just rinsed out the bags.

Schizostylis are nice plants. I just got some of the pink from the neighbors (it was so nice that it decided to grown under the fence into my yard!) and I'm hoping they multiply well for me.

I just skimmed last night and now I'm going back and re-reading.

Wow, Poochella, Thank you! I'm excited! I will make room. I'll wait to hear from you! :)
My pink D. Formosa has been in the yard since 02. It started off as a little 4" pot size and I've allowed (Heck, wanted) it to spread in this particular area and now it takes up an area underneath my 3 vine maples and in front of some ferns. I'd say the patch of it is 4-6 ft long and 3-ish feet deep, roughly. Looks very nice and soft. I think my fairies hang out back there when they want some quiet time.

Looks like mine was mislabeled, which I guess is not unusual. Yours looks more like the photo on Hostalibrary.org, susy. Thanks for posting it. Now I need to ID the one I have.

No worries about the van! I will be prepared. I will be taking the middle seats out and putting the backseat flat so I'll have the entire back area. I'll just drive my van up to the plant swap and I won't even have to unload it, since it's less than a week after my visit to Heidi's place. Good timing!

Well, Pixy, whichever Hosta you and Poochella have, it's a very cute one.

Wish I were better at saving tags. I always think I'll remember what a plant is, but that is but a dream. I like all the little hostas above!

Yes, Holly, the liatris did great! Mine usually end up in a vase, but left on the plant, they do shrivel and dry up by August or so. Glad the fundraising supported a good cause and let me know if there's another one in the future. I'll reserve a chunk of the purple iris for you- see it below, although the bee dusted and dirtied up the petal a bit. And I'd love to try a few Schizostylis lilies. The photos I searched are lovely.

Thanks to Rach and PIx for tree scouting for me. Don't break any laws harvesting them (Pixy!) but I will gladly host any and all.

Susie , Dmail for you either tonight or tomorrow. And I love your hosta there! Your d.formosa patch sounds heavenly and happy in its spot.
Katye, Dmail for you too on the same schedule.

All: there is one more iris, I believe a Pacific Coast Iris or a hybrid that I need to thin out. It gets about18-24" tall in clumps with early and long lasting creamy/yellow/purple blooms and grows robustly in part sun. Maybe Cattledogs can help me i.d. it? Photo, if I have one, to follow this post.

Here is the bloom mentioned above. My note said "2ft tall"

Nice pictures-and beautiful flowers. Is that bee really just landing? You must have a great camera to get that shot.

Geez! Put me down for some of that creamy colored iris! That is fabulous. Are you digging up your entire yard? I'm looking forward to the day when I have large clumps of things that need dividing.

Oh, also I have some schizostylis that may be a different color. It's called 'oregon sunset', I think. I can bring you some of that to put with the others.

This message was edited Feb 2, 2008 8:24 PM

I do have extras of these siberian iris. They came from my mil many years ago so I do not know the name of them.

I have a couple of other things that I am sure of right now. I have two plum tree seedlings that I rescued from certain destruction last year. They are about 4-5 feet tall. The kind with the pink blooms and red leaves.

Poochella, no cedar trees yet, sorry. But I did come upon 2-3 large douglas fir trees that I know the neighbor will have to get rid of, because they are right on the shoulder of the road. I know Rachel is bringing you doug firs. If you want these let me know. If not, I'll save them for someone else.

I am dividing these primulas, called Mahogany sunrise. I've got enough for a couple of people to have some. I love these guys.


also have sedum tricolor that needs to be reined in.