Why Do You Participate In Secret Trades

Ok ya'll fess up, why do you participate in a secret trade?

Personally I do it to hopefully meet new friends. Plain and simple, no other reason on my end. To me if I receive something I already have or don't like then, I either have a bigger plant/clump or I find someone who does like it and give it to them. I want to know why everyone else does it. Apparently others do it for other reasons and I'd like to hear about them.

So, lets hear those reasons.

This message was edited Saturday, Sep 8th 10:02 PM

I pretty much feel the same way. I love to give others what is in my garden. There may be nothing on my trade list that they are looking for but when you send them that surprise package full of new plants you really do make a new friend. I do love getting surprises too and the anticipation is great! You are right it doesn't matter if it is a plant you already have there is always room for more! Last but not least I love checking in to see how excited everyone get's when their secret trade arrives and they have recieved new plant's and a new friend!!!!!!! Jody thank's for doing all the work on this secret trade, you did a great job!!!!!!!! sue

I joined in at first because I was excited about getting new plants from a friend (everyone here is my friend until you tell me I'm not). Let's face it, I'm plant greedy.
But when I started putting together my list of what I was going to send, I got more excited than ever. I tried very hard to give my best. I would have loved to have been there to see my recipients reaction. I wanted to please her so much. I too love reading the thread and seeing the excitement that people expressed. Of course, getting my own package was a huge thrill. I wish it could have been like that for everyone.
I know you invested a lot of time and energy in this. I really appreciate it. And I know I'm not the only one. Thank you Jody!!!

edited because Jody edited hers

This message was edited Sunday, Sep 9th 5:18 PM

Jody,
I do it because I like the friendship and suprises and all those need little packs of seeds. I love, love all those little packs of seeds. Can you see me floating on a seed cloud? I hope more to make some friends here also. Most people are very nice and I can get some answer for my questions here and nobody tells be You Should Know That. Sometimes I just like reading what others have to say. Am I rambling? Yes I am, I know I am please get me my medication. :)

Forgot to add. I am a little bit of a smart alec so if I say something that might hurt your feeling for goodness sakes don't let it. I have an extremly weird since of humor and besides that I can't spell.

LOL Honibee! Skip the meds ad put on a cd of the flight of the bumble bee! That way you can buzz to the music and we will all enjoy the flight! You just buzz on and keep us smiling!

I have been involved in several round robins that are still out there somewhere. They sometimes get bogged down but they are still fun! I haven't tried a secret trade but it sounds like fun so I will be watching for the next one!

I think the secret trades are plain ol' fun! It doesn't really matter what you get .... It's just darn fun to open the box up! I've got some neat plants in secret trades and it has opened my eyes to different things I'd never really considered growing. I enjoy picking out the plants to send too. Seeing if I have any of their "wants" or anything different they might like.

I enjoy the giving as much, if not more than receiving. I also look forward to seeing if plants that are native in one area can be adapted to another region. Oh, and I do name my plants according to the sender's name.......so if I am ever gonna get one of those Zaneymuse plants every one is talking about, we just got to enlist her in the next trades. All plants are good in their own way.

"eyes"

LOL Eyes! no need ta wait! I just finished drying the seeds and there a a lot of them not yet spoken for. Just Email me your address! I will be mailing them out this week and another envelope will not matter to the post office!

[ Removed by member request. - Admin ]

I just thought it would be fun. And like poppysue, its so darn fun to get a box of plants, and open it up. I even feel that way from my mail order boxes, LOL. Also I love to get things and give things to people on these boards, who I talk with, but never meet. As I walk through the garden, I check on the clemitis from the sale at one board, the azalea from the auction at another site, the lilies from another message board sale, and a few of the plants started from seed from other people on the web who we have exchanged items or plants that were sent as little "extras" with other stuff traded or purchased. So I guess it reminds me of people or places on the web, fond memories of people, I may not have kept in touch with.

Ok I'm gonna be honest with everyone here. When I started trading plants all I had to trade were mondo grass, lirope, cast iron plants and iris. I didnt get too many trades going with those. I had a few other things to trade but, was a little scared to send rooted plants, until I did get a few trades and SASE and saw how they did survive in the mail. As I purchased a few more plants and added to my garden, I began trading those. I enjoy sharing with others but I was new to gardening last year and I found it as a great way to get really great plants. But now that I am not necessarily a newbie anymore and have been gardening for 2 years, and buy new plants almost weekly during spring and summer, my reasons for the secret trades has changed.

Now that I have a larger selection and a few interesting plants. I can offer a little more. I enjoy sharing what I have in my garden. I get so excited to see that I actually have something on someones wish list. I enjoy walking friends along my flower beds and say this one came from so and so.or someone in Illinois or Maryland or Texas or Ohio....I love the look on their faces when I tell them how they arrived to Alabama. I like making friends on the net and some I still email almost daily. I too like reading the post when people get their secret trades. I wish I could be there when they open their boxes. Its like Christmas.

I'm like Zanymuse i'd like to be envolved in the secret trade,i have a few things i could send.I just filled an order for someone at the birds & blooms site,i'm still waiting to hear if they made it in one piece or not.Anyone want a purple passion flower? uh i can't spell either ,HoneyBee you are funny,you and Blooms will get along just fine.

I havent ever done a secret trade either Zany wanna start one??
I certainly can understand the excitement though. I remember getting a box of orchids from HI this spring! I almost knocked my DH down to get to the maillady!!

I think all of us here are very eager and happy to share what is in their gardens. I dont hitnk any of my friend leave my yard without taking something home with them. Wonderful garden raids!!

Wow! I'd love to partipate also!! B eing reletively new to DG I've never had the chance of doing a secret one yet!! Looking forward to it...although my gardening experience os somewhat limited- I know I can pull together a few surprises!!!
would also love to be involved in A round robin in the near future!!!
-JSS

Zany, looks like we have a lot of people that missed the last one, want to start another?

Oooh, me too please! I don't know how I managed to miss the fun of the first one, but I'd love to participate in one. Just somebody please spell out the rules for us newbies, so we know what to do and when, where and how to do it :)

Wow, ya'll, how did you miss the last one, hehehehe.

I do love these responses though, especially Poppysues...they are just plain ole fun...so true!

If everyone promise to be nice to me, I'd be willing to organize another one for ya'll.

tiG, drop me an e-mail about it if you'd like.

It may be a bit late for any northerners, so if you really want another one you should get it started asap.

This message was edited Wednesday, Sep 19th 4:27 PM

Let's get it on then!!! LOL Jody you are nominated! All in favor say I!