Spring Green Elephant Plant Swap

Okay Pixy ~ I have been lurking here since this thread started but haven't said anything because I don't have anything but cookies to swap! I did collect seeds from one of my big cedar trees and have them germinating as we speak. But those primulas ~ Oh My! I will make some extra special cookies (what are your favorites) if I can have some of that!

And hello, Poochella and Analog. Haven't met you yet but I'm sure I will at the swap. Nice to meet you both.

Pix,
I would love to give some of your primulas and siberian iris a good home.

Hey Pix
I am going to try to make it this year, don't know what I have yet that you would want, most of what I have you gave me, but I would love to have some of the Primulas they are gorges. I love the Iris's to but I don't know what the ones are yet.

Pixy, I would love to have a bit of the mahogany primula if there is enough to go around. Those are lovely.
Annie, I'll get several schizostylis potted up for you. I have a picture, but have not yet figured out how to transfer it from camera to computer. They are much more lovely than their name, which makes me think of mental illness. The common name is worse however, as it is a derogatory term in South Africa. Your cream colored native iris is gorgeous. If there is a rhizome or two enough for me I would be happy to be gifted that too. The other things that I could give away are steppable groundcovers....wooly thyme and brass buttons if you or anyone else would like some. They are both spreaders in the right conditions. I also have a lot of everbearing yellow raspberries which I need to dig out. I am keeping a small patch and the rest have to go.
For anyone who has a need for a low groundcover for sun or shade that is rapidly spreading, pretty, has an edible berry, but is perhaps a menace to other perennials, I have many, many pink flowered ornamental strawberries. They came into my garden as a stowaway with a creeping thyme. Please don't throw rotten tomatoes at this offer. They would do well in the right circumstances, like around shrubbery in an out of the way location to help with weed suppression. They are easy to pull out where not wanted, but spread by runners like crazy.

Holly,
I would love some of the brass buttons and a some of the strawberry.

So far I have the following plants:
Jacob's Ladder
Beaked Hazelnut, Corylus cornuta
Native Honeysuckle hardwood cuttings (Can't remember genus and species right now)
Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor hardwood cuttings
Willow Salix hardwood cuttings

Will add more to the list later.

Honeysuckle is Lonicera, the native vine is Ciliosa-is that what you have?

I'll take the primula orders in the order in which they were posted. Don't know yet how many I have, but I'll do as many as I can. Outta, anything chocolate or oatmeal, or both.

I will also have some rooted pieces of this little creeping cotoneaster. I love this. Evergreen with bright red berries, and it does not go crazy, just spreads willingly.

outta You can have some of my things to trade with everyone. I can donate you a few things if you go. I don't know how much pixy can take. So far I have dug up a bunch of the pink persicaria and knautia a rubus from heronswood some big variegated iris. The miscanthus strictus then ther is tons of things from the nursery, Off the top of my head, Ozothamnus, oaks, firs, betula utilis, golden chain, stripebark maples, philidelphus and i'm sure there will be more. Heidi

Heidi...that would be great. I live fairly close and make it over that way every few weeks (my brother and SIL live in Poulsbo and we go to their place via Miller Bay Rd. I also have a bloodhound SAR friend in Indianola, so let me know when it's convenient for you and I will come. I will certainly offer my assistance to you in the form of labor (after the 1st of March due to last week's surgery) in exchange. I have an Expedition, which can hold a LOT of stuff when the dog crates are removed. Thanks for the offer...it's very generous of you.

Heidi, I can hold lots of stuff. I will have all the seats out of my van so I'll have a large flat space, plus the empty seat up front. Does the rubus from heronswood have golden leaves?
I am interested in the birch tree. I need one. The one that is in my back bed is on its way out. It was pruned badly years ago and half of it is rotted. I haven't replaced it because I want to put another birch tree, or a jap maple there.
Is the ozothamnus the pink variety?

Outta, I can bring your stuff to the swap for you.When I go up to Heidi's I'll just get whatever she is donating and you can take stuff from that to trade, or to plant. Whatever you want to do. But really you do not need to worry too much about having stuff to trade. There are many new gardeners who come to the swap and take home lots of plants without trading a thing. That's because people just want to find homes for the plants. They don't necessarily need plants in return, and some people really do not even WANT plants in return because they have too many. so don't worry about it.

This message was edited Feb 3, 2008 8:11 PM

Pixy and outta, Most of the plants are in 1 gallon pots. The birch is from heronswood. It is one of dans collections I think it is also in arrowheads descriptions. It is a green leaf semi dwarf I think to 20' with exfoliating brown bark. I think it is one of the best shedders compared to acer griseum. I also have golden chain trees oaks . The reason I need to get rid of so much is that I usally buy wholesale in blocks of 25 or more sometimes and I can't really expand the nursery too much more due to lack of water. I have already expanded a little and that is it. I have ordered more things. I have found that most people at the nursery would rather have a larger plant and pay more money. I personally love to grow thing so for me I can buy a whole lot more little things. Also when I bought plants at heronswoods sale I had to buy the whole block which coukd have been 200 plants which is alot for me. Pixy the pink stuff is about a 8'x8' section. I hope that tilly will come before and get some things if she can't make it. Some things are a little sad so they need a little love. Also I dig things up from other peoples yards like next week more plants and I can't pot them all up. We can fill pixys car first then if there is more we can call in outta for back up. I just hate to throw things away. I am so happy to have you all. I have already doanted about 10 trucks to other garden clubs. I have problems thowing things on the compost pile. Some of my clients have the best compost pile I used to love to go and scrap through them I have found some good finds there. Heidi

Heidi and Pixy ~ It's hard to not worry about having nothing in exchange, I guess it's just my nature. But the plan sounds perfect. Pixy, let me know when you are going to Heidi's and maybe I can come by anyway and meet you both. Depends on which day. Our SAR dog workouts are almost always on Sundays. Our next workout happens to be in Silverdale on Sunday, the 17th. It truly is a no big deal drive for us since we drive all over the western part of the state for training. Let me know when you need me and I'll be there.

Here is a picture of my pink schizostylis just after the first big freeze in November. I thought I had also purchased a salmon colored one, but they both bloomed pink.

Mauryhill, I have some salmon ones called oregon sunset. Want to trade?

And the pink flowered strawberry, lower left, below the evergreen blueberry bush. The little red berries are lingonberry which is the groundcover I was trying to establish around the blueberry bushes.

I'd love to ,Pixy. I'll bring some along to your place on the 16th.

Great! We'll dig some of the salmon colored ones while you are here.

Hi all,
I am trying to go back through this thread to get ready for Saturday's Green Elephant. One big problem is that NONE of my hostas are breaking ground yet at all, and I'm thinking they'll have to be mailed out later, as I'm not too keen on just hacking into the beds blindly. Actually, all perennials are just barely peeking through, if at all. Is anyone else having this dilemma right before the swap?

I can find the dogwood for Analog Dog, ( photo later today: it's about 4 ft tall, Analog.) the purple Sibi.Iris and the creamy iris, lamium and epimidiums; corydallis is up too, but I'm afraid all else is barely visible or invisible.

I don't mind mailing stuff later, or sending it along with someone to a work party, if you guys don't mind waiting. I won't be unpacking dahlias until much later in March or April, so those will be mailed or delivered somehow too.

Outtamygourd, How do you do! I want to bring you something just for your devotion to one of my favorite causes: Search and Rescue dogs. What a wonderful service that is! What might you like to try? Sun, shade? Sticks, bones, tennis balls? Just say the word. Phlox David, purple asters? Geranium Johnson's Blue? ( I have to see if they're up yet, but I'd gladly divide and share.)

Those of you who have listed plant desires above, let me know what you think about later delivery, or mailing. Meanwhile, I will be digging what I can find, like a dog after bonemeal..... Looking forward to meeting new faces and familiar ones too.

Hi Annie –

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday. I think the swap has crept up quickly for some of us. I’m not even sure who all is planning on coming.

I don’t have a hosta in site yet, either.

Poochella ~ Wow...thanks! If I had room in the party barge, I would bring Chile dog along as well just to give you a great big ol' bloodhound howdy (slobber involved), but his travel accommodations take up the entire back of the barge. As anyone on this forum can tell you, I am complete and total neophyte and don't really have a clue. I have no idea what I even like yet, only that I love very colorful and very fragrant. At this point I am probably leaning toward shade/partial sun because the only part of my property which is anywhere near prepared is the north side and the Quarter Acre Wood, which are both quite shady. So thanks for the greeting and in preparation for my "pot ghetto," I will take anything!

U"U

I hope everyone has a great time and comes away with some good finds. Sorry I can't make it but work work work. I can't believe winter is over. Everyone is excited about spring and I get stressed I never get as much done as I wanted. I had a million things to do today plus landscaping jobs and people were in here shopping. Just nuts.

Ok, folks, I have packed up and isolated and verified they did not die in garage for the last month. Actutally they seem to have done quite a job of propagating themselves.

Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'? - appears to be still dormant.
Freesia - sprouting bulbs everywhere
Crocosima 'Lucifer' - some sprouting, but mostly dormant
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum' (Black Eyed Susan) lightly sprouting

The Coreopsis and the Rudbeckia are bagged in a very trailer trash way in 5 or 6 more or less generous masses.

The Freesia and the Crocosima are loose bulbs in large bags containing about 100 of each. The C and F intergrow due to a stupid moment after hours of gardening about 5 years ago. I kept them loose, so we can chat about what the two bulbs look like and you guys can take the risk on which ones come home with whom. While the bulbs should look different they sure look the same too, when trying to pick them apart.

Pooch: I am looking forward to the Dogwood! And I will plan to bring a 4'er home. Thanks so much!

Since I haven't piped up for all the offerings that have been mentioned lately, just expect I will want several of each ala mode. Shrubs and Trees I will be pickier about. I have several gardens I am going to develop this year, as I have a good bit of finished compost and I now have a plan. Scarey, huh? And I have plenty of full sun, part shade and shade areas. I believe in "the pop in anything when starting a garden, rearrange later" theory of garden development.

If you all want to part with unwanted houseplants or cuttings of prolific ones, I will take them. We are just building up a collection of houseplants and anything will be accepted, especially succulents.

I used to have a nice succulent collection back in 88 but the winter of 89 killed most of my plants when they were on the back porch for Christmas, and I was out of town. Snow stayed on the ground all week that year. The slime was gross.

Annie, I am not going to be able to come to the swap (my son is in a concert that day, and I will be 'pressed' in to service ironing, my least favorite task- can't leave him to do it or the suit might end up with a large hole). Sorry, rambling. Anyway, I gave the pink schizostylis I dug up for you to Melissa (Pixydish). I hope you meet up with her to retrieve it. If you have any plants for me, I would be grateful to get them another time, like at a work party. We'll touch base sometime this Spring or Summer I'm sure. Maybe I'll have something else you might like by then. Holly

Ack! They are buying my plants!! I have to find a way to make it up there for your March sale. It's killing me.

Poochella, I can wait for whatever is not up. I'll take whatever is ready, and bring yours with me. In spite of our early spring, which we completely deserve after the last two years, I don't have much from the garden. I have tons of stuff from Heidi's place, though.

Hi All,

It's looking like I'm not going to be able to make it this time. I'll be at Rachel's the next week, though.

Annie, later is just fine with me. I'm working on new beds right now, so later is actually better for me. :)

Outta, I'm counting on meeting you at Rachel's instead of this weekend. Is that still going to work out for you?

Analogdog, I've got a too-large-to-mail jade plant that needs a new home. It's a rescue from my mother who insists on potting them up in pots that won't drain and I'm out of room. It needs TLC, but I think you can handle it. How can I get it to you?

Pixy, maybe we could go visit Heidi sometime this month if you've got a free day?

So much of my stuff hasn't made an appearance yet that it's hard to know what my extras will be later on. I can bring any of these to Rachel's next week if anyone is interested. Here's a few things that I can find right now (nothing too fancy, really, but pretty reliable) Pulmonaria "Purple Haze" that grows like crazy but is still pretty sleepy, some Coreopsis 'Nana'- short, does spread, but very gently and is easy to dig up, Aubrieta with white flowers because I need to work on the bed they are in, some Lysimachia Alexander, possibly a chunk of my Autumn Joy Sedum, or a baby start of it.

Susy ~ dagnabbit! I was soooo looking forward to meeting you Saturday! But the anticipation will make the meeting all that more joyous!

Susy, maybe we can do that. I'll look at my calender and my checkbook. I really don't want to miss her sale.
I'd like some of your pulmonaria if you are bringing some to RAchel's. I love any and all pulmonaria and don't have that one.

Can't go to the Swap, but going to Rach's

Hey Pixs and Suzy, let me know the date, I'll try to meet you there. If I can.

Heidi, if you have any thing to send to Rach's I can send my DH to pick up.

Suzy>> Purple Haze ? Got to look it up. That is the name I gave my upper garden,
May want it.

I'm planning on going. I'm in the same dilema as everyone else. Not many plants are showing thier faces yet. I will have the douglas firs for Poochela and also will bring:
Jacob's Ladder
Native Honeysuckle hardwood cuttings (Can't remember genus and species right now)
Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor hardwood cuttings
Willow Salix hardwood cuttings
Mahonia
Whatever else I can find in the yard tomorrow! Rachel

Pooch- I can get the plants from you later in the spring. No need to mail them :0)

I have the following plants for people:

Poochella:
Corydalis 'blue panda', the schizostylis from MHF, a leaf

Rachel:
Primula 'mahogany sunrise', siberians should have sent you home with them today

Outtamygourd - primula 'mahogany sunrise'

Tillysrat - primula 'mahogany sunrise' - I can give it to you in april at the Dragonfly fieldtrip

Mauryhillfarm - Primula 'mahogany sunrise' - I should have given it to you at the work party! Are you coming to Rachel's work party? Or the Dragonfly fieldtrip?

Thank you Pics.

Pixy ~ Thanks! I've been struggling with primula...they're everywhere right now and so many adorable plants. Just looked at a picture of the mahogany sunrise...it's GORGEOUS! PERFECT!

Pixy, sadly I can't go to Rachel's work party because I have a class I have to attend that day, but I am going to try for the Dragonfly trip. It might be a stretch though, because my family has to go to Ellensburg the day before (son in high school music event). Otherwise, I go back and forth to the Olympia area fairly often, and we like to take the back route sometimes, just to stay off the freeway, and could come by on one of those trips.

Is the Dragonfly trip also going to be a work party for Heidi? Always happy to weed or wheelbarrow if I can go.

MHF and Pixy ~ DH, Chile dog and myself are going to be on Vashon on Sunday. Maybe MHF & I could meet there for an exchange? Be more than willing to do so ~

So I could give you her plant? that would be excellent if you can work it out.

Hey Pix -

Do you think you could part with a little start of your Arum (is it italicum?) that you have under your rhodies in back?

Pixy ~ You bet! Be glad to. We'll be there working our dogs all day, just have to figure out a meeting spot. And if it doesn't work out to meet, perhaps I could leave the plants with Jim and Charlene and set up a time for the exchange. My schedule will allow it if MHF's does.

Great, Outta, I'll bring MHF's primula with me tomorrow.

Katie, I can do it one better. I have some really nice arum from Heidi that has a larger leaf and creamy variegation. I can bring you some of that. If you had rather have some of mine, let me know. That's no problem. I think she says that hers gets very large leaves. She didn't remember the cultivar, though.

I'll take Heidi's since it's already up and you're looking for takers for some of her stuff. I'm okay not knowing what it is - I have lots of "mystery" cultivars out of here.

Thanks, Melissa!