MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!

Here is the basic information:

Date: Saturday, May 15, 2005
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00pm
Place: Shelter #5, Hilliard Municipal Park, Hilliard, Ohio.

The park is on Veterans Memorial Dr. (This road is formerly called Cherry Tree Drive. It was changed and is still known as Cherry Tree Drive on Yahoo Maps or Map Quest etc. - although the street sign now says Veterans Memorial Dr.)

TRADING MATERIALS: plants, well rooted cuttings potted up, bulbs, shrubs, happy seedlings, garden ornaments,& bundled garden magazines, etc.

(PLEASE MARK ALL PLANT MATERIALS WITH THE PLANT NAME AND CARE REQUIRED!!!)

POT LUCK: Please bring a dish to pass with serving untensil & your own beverage We will provide plates, plastic silverware, napkins & cup. It's a good idea to mark your serving spoons etc. with your name.

DOOR PRIZES: If anyone wants to donate something for the door prize, please feel free. Last year we had several really neat prizes!!

This should be a wonderful chance to share your passion for gardening, meet other avid and learning gardeners, have a festive and delicious meal, acquire some new plants & share your extra's. Please come with a happy and sharing heart. Bring pictures of your gardens, flowers, etc. - if you like!

This is the plan for the day:

10:00 -12:00 - people arrive, sign in with name and number of plants, get name tag, put plants in viewing/swap area, put dish to pass away, visit with other gardeners & start viewing plants.
Noon - have lunch
After lunch - door prize(s) awarded
1:00 - swap begins
After swap - more visiting, pack up & goodbyes.
We must be out be 3:00 pm.

I've been to many swaps and really like this swapping style - a ROUND ROBIN. (people have liked it over the years, too) Round one - everyone select one plant. Round two - everyone select one plant. Round three - everyone select 2 plants, round 4 eveyone select 3 plant, round 5 everyone select 4 and so on and so on. This way everyone gets a chance to get some of the plants they really have on eye on. This works well and people have been very pleased in the past. Everyone should be able to take home as many plants as they bring.

Some tips for the day would include bringing a folding chair (sometimes needed), a box or container labeled with your name to put your new plants in after swapping & bring and mark your serving utensils for your dish to pass. If you have room in the car...bring an extra table, just in case.

Hilliard Municipal Park can be found by getting into Columbus, then go to the outerbelt, I-270, and getting off at Cemetery Road Exit. Go west (towards Hilliard) on Cemetary Rd. Stay on Cemetery Road about 2 miles until right past Main Street (a traffic light). At this point you still go straight because Cemetery Road joins with Scioto Darby Road. Go about .4 mile down road until you get to Veterans Memorial Drive which is on the left.

Veterans Memorial Drive/Hilliard Municipal Park is off of Scioto Darby road right across from Hilliard Heritage Middle School. (NOT hilliard Memorial Middle school - that, you'll see first.) Another landmark is that Veterans Memorial Dr. is where you see the Shaver Medical Center. Shelter #5 is only about 1/10 mile from the park entrance. You stay directly on the park's main road and go .1 mile and turn right (just past all the flag poles). You'll turn right again quickly into a parking lot directly in front of shelter #5. The shelter just left of the children's playyard.

For a map...go to Yahoo.com, click on maps,& click on driving directions. Then put in your address and Cherry Tree Drive, Hilliard, Oh for precise directions. REMEMBER - the MAP will say Cherry Tree Drive - but, the ACTUAL STREET SIGN says Veterans Memorial Drive. It street name was changed and the map programs don't have the new name yet (It's been over THREE years now...but, they still don't have the right name - go figure!!!)

Alot of info here, I know.

I hope you can make it.

PLEASE EMAIL with RSVP so we can get a head count.

This should be a FUN, informal day to share our love of gardening! I am contacting some of my gardening friends & alerting the Gardeweb.com people & the a local garden club. My friend, Mimi is putting an announcement in her church bulletin. Hopefully we'll have a good crowd. You should bring a gardening friend, too.

Please email with any questions.

HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THE SWAP!

good gardening...

...Beverly

...Beverly

Betty, your list is looking great. Lots of goodies, indeed. We are getting lots of rain here in Ohio today..Hope some came your way!

Folks, by the way, we now have 69 people that have shown interest in coming to the swap.

...Good gardening and digging and planting....Beverly

If anyone is traveling through Columbus, and has a shovel, you are more than welcome to stop by and if you see some things you want - please help yourself. I have way too much stuff and winter sowing has been successful beyond my wildest dreams.

What do you want? I probably have a lot of it. I have tons of different ground covers, sedums, rudbeckias, etc.

I was worried about my WS seedlings not being big enough to bring to the swap, and I'm still not sure about some of them. So I set a basket aside, and started tossing in garden-related things as I went thru my closets this winter. I have a topiary frame, several packs of copper and aluminum tags, a few garden fairies....

I'm still not sure how big they'll be, but in the rain in the evening this week I've potted up about 30 plants because they were too big for the containers anymore -- and that's just four of the 47 varieties! My cuttings have been very successful -- even tho' I'm winter sowing all my seeds, the entire kitchen table is still taken up by plants -- this time with curly ivy, kalanchoe, and scented geranium cuttings.

I think I'll bring along several friends, just to keep me from coming home with too many plants...

Count down is 4 weeks from today!! Fun.

good gardening all...Beverly

BTW Alison. Last year I had some things that I stared from seed that were small. I potted them in plastic cups and marked them 3=1 swap. I thought that would be fair as one can't always tell how seedlings will fare. (Pun intended!) Any way, I have heard that several did well and survived the winter.

Oh Boy!!!!! I'm so jazzed about this swap!!!

Mimi

What would be the best thing to bring food-wise (for fear we end up with 69 batches of brownies )?

And the problem with that is....?

If not, I always like brownies. ;-)

As usual, I'm bringing a mish-mash of huge and tiny plants. I'm running out of large pots, so I might use recycled carboard boxes for my larger trades. I'm bringing plenty of seedlings, too. Potted up about 50 goatsbeard seedlings today, and hopefully will get them finished tomorrow. Got the trollius finished, too. They may be small, but I'm sure they'll have takers! :)

Jeanne..sounds like you're getting to it! What fun. Bring your plants in whatever works. I may have some bigger things in plastic food bags with handles myself. Trollus and goatsbeard...oo la la!

Gettin' excited.

...Beverly

Folks, we are over 70 people now. Fun, fun, fun.

enjoy spring...Beverly

My most-desired (any varieties):
lily of the valley
hosta
ferns
thrift (also called phlox here in Ohio?)
butterfly bush
astilbe

Thanks in advance! I can't wait to meet everyone!! I'll be there bright and early with dishes in tow!

Gosh, it's GREAT TO BE BACK IN OHIO!!!!!
Gina

I'm so glad that we have this swap. I have so many things potted up that Beverly and I were wondering what we'd do with all of them if we didn't have the swap. Friends, family and neighbors are only so friendly about taking my baby plants! It's a comfort ti know that they will go to good homes where they will be appreciated!

I'm so excited! I hope that the rain this weekend means that we will have a warm sunny day for the swap this year. Not that it sould stop us if we don't!!!!!

Mimi

I plan on bringing some Nepeta Walkers Low starts and since you are organizing so much of this, consider it a hostess gift! Wonderful, fast growing plant! I also have some neat varieties of hardened off tomatoes, various house and sedum plants, plus if I have any Evening Scented Stock starts left over, I'll bring those. Insignificant little annual that PUMPS out fragrance the minute the sun hits the horizen. Now if I can just figure out how to transport so many seedlings....

Nancy

I have so many plants potted up. I've been giving things to friends, neighbors and relatives - just like Mimi mentioned. I swear they must mutter under their breath, "Oh no, she's coming with more plants for us." Still I have around 60 plants already potted up for the swap...with some others that need to be. I'd have a very full compost bin if not for the swap.

Mimi and I laugh about the iris that have come from my yard. The previous owner of my house had LOTS of a pretty iris plant with purple, yellow & white on it's flower. I had an unbelievable amount of these iris. Almost everyone on my street has them, everyone of Mimi's street, many people from Mimi's church, all of our friends, 4 or 5 people in Michigan, several people in Pennsyvania - plus - lots of people from the swaps over the years. It's amazing.

I am getting excited. I hope we have good weather this year..no matter. We'll have fun.

good gardening...Beverly

Anyone have yellow prarie coneflower? Or mexican hat seeds? I'm sure I lost about all of my winter sowing seedlings probably planting out too soon or the frost - whatever.

I also have a milk jug container full of nepeta seedlings - don't know if they're walker's low or six hills giant. I'll bring em if someone wants them. The perennials forum assures us walker's low is the superior plant - so what the heck - take a chance!

I have a ton of cool things to exchange. For those two seeds.

Folks...the count is now 74 people have shown interest in coming to the swap...wowser!

good gardening...Beverly

Unfortunately, I already have plans that weekend, and don't have anything to trade anyhow. But it sounds like this is an annual event? If so, I will start preparing for next year! :o)

Diana

I have Yellow praire coneflower that I planted last year. I need to divide and relocate so I can pot up a few for you.

I'll be in Hilliard this weekend visiting my girlfriend. Let me know if you want the plants this weekend or at the swap.

George

...Beverly

I'm bringing my girlfriend who is new to perennials and trying to convert from annuals. I'm bringing the plants and she's bringing the covered dish (I hope she makes her big bowl of incredible, caloric potatoe salad). I also have a co-worker who might come. She's trying to find some plants for her local elementary school. Can't wait!

Nancy

I went today and finalized the covered shelter. I requested 24 picnic tables and they turn on the electricity. I'll bring a couple more big tables and a card table/chair for signing in etc.

Our count is inching up to a possible 78 people! It could be a garden happening!!

think swap....Beverly

I still need to dig up my Stellas and mums. I gave a bunch of them and some Oenethera (sp.) to my neighbor today. She hasn't learned to run fast enough when she sees me coming with a plant. Teacher appreciation week made for a good excuse to give some to the teachers. I still have lots left for the swap! Oy Vey!

I bought the plates at Sam's Club. Hey Beverly, how about I bring a couple of packs of napkins from my storage? It might keep us from having to use our pants for wiping! Ya think! Now is the time that we all start thinking of the little things. So far we've remembered all of the necessities. I'll be bringing a big table and a couple of chairs. I guess that I'd better get out the roaster to be sure that the Cavatini will be hot!

It will be so much fun!!!!!!

Making new friends, eating good food, and gardening...what could be better?

Gina

Hope it doens't rain this year...no matter - we have a shelter & we won't "melt" if it does.

I have over 60 things potted up.

We have quite a few people donating door prize goodies, too. Thanks everyone.

..Beverly

Everyone else, I wouldn't worry about having little to trade. It looks like I'm going to need two cars - a wagon and an SUV to transport mine and I don't anticipate bringing more than a few home.

If you're concerned about low numbers of trades, contact me and I'll pot up a bunch in your honor. Really, it's no problem.

I have lots of ground cover, vinca minor, pachysandra, sweet woodruff, green and yellow moneywort, lamium etc. that could all use thinning. If anyone wants to stop by and grab a bunch feel free.

I'm looking for:
helianthus angustifolia, swamp milkweed
epilobium angustifolium, fireweed
caltha palustrus, marsh marifold
eranthus heymalis, winter aconite

I have many sun-loving perennials, a large selection of rooted antique roses, and a few nicer shrubs and understory trees. Please contact me for my list. Thanks!

I'm looking for swamp sunflower, not swamp milkweed in my post above.

See you soon...Beverly

We are getting close folks!

I was just saying to Mimi. I am sure the swap will be great fun..but, I DO think that this group wins "the prize" for having the most conversations (140+ posts) about a swap and get-together!! Yay us!

I said I was done digging but, today I dug up a few more extras.

...Beverly

Hey people: If I put PER, BI, and ANN on the markers, everyone knows what I mean, correct? I also have a personal one called RAN that stands for re-seeding annuals.

Seems it's also, Sun, Shade, and Pt. Sun.

Does that work for everyone?

ALSO - some things, like sedum, I don't know the individual names of - I hope that won't be a problem - heck you can see the thing and ask questions I suppose.

...Beverly

If you have room in your car - bring a card table and portable chair. I have 24 picnic table for the shelter.If not - some people may have to sit on the gound...good thing we like the ground!

If anyone would like to volunteer to sit at the check in table for 30 minutes or so..we might need the help. At the check in table people sign in with name and number of plants and fill out paper for the door prizes.

BTW..we have some neat things people are donating as door prizes.

I am getting excited!

Do your "non rain dance" for Saturday, please.

see you soon....Beverly

As I recall, last year was wet and unseasonably cool -- luckily we're gardeners and shrug off anything short of a monsoon!

I'll be bringing at least one and possibly two people, Bev; will bring a card table if I can squeeze us all in the car.

I'm making some signs to point the way from the Hilliard Cemetary Road exit to the park. There will be one at the confusing spots like the 5 way intersection. They will be white with sparkley green arrows and say something like GW plant swap. (They are not done yet but I bought the materials today.) I got weather proof stuff so that if it rains they will still be good. I'm thinking that we can use these every year. Look for them if you're unsure of your navigational skills!

Mimi

How about I bring foil tape, duct tape, china marker, sharpies and mini blinds in case markers get lost? I have a pile ready to go if that will help. Call me the marker lady - how about that? Everyone can relax and not worry if something happens, because I will have the emergency kit? Would that help take the pressure off?

I have some seeds also.

I CANT WAIT!!!

We are all getting excited!

...Beverly

The other night, they actually pulled out chairs so they could watch me move dirt.

I can't wait to learn so much this weekend! I know I know nothing...

Evan..yes, our neighbor's think Mimi & I are a little touched with all the gardening. We think it's quite normal...for us! Before you know it..you'll have your neighbor's planting your left overs and getting the bug too.

...Beverly

See you Saturday!

Folks, the count now is 92. Don't freak or celebrate or whatever... - this includes all the "maybes", too. You know...Someone says, "I am coming and maybe 2 friends". You see, I've included the maybes in the count.

Rain or shine..the swap goes on with 2 people or 100. Fun!!!

Later, friends...Beverly

Gina

That was a tip from a gardener who does farmer's markets. Water the night before and let drain.

Folks....it may rain on Saturday.(We don't really care!!) You might consider throwing an umbrella in your car - just in case it's pouring and the plants have overflowed out of the shelter onto the surrounding grassy area. You might want to use an umbrella in that situation. - or you might not. That's up to you.

The count is now.....94.

...Beverly

Wow..the prom - hope your daughter has a great time!

See you Saturday...Beverly

Now, weather.com say AM thunderstorms - I say - bring it on! We can take it!

If worse comes to worse, a nice veggie tray, or fruit trays from teh grocery are always welcome. I'm trying to find my recipes I put together earlier for this event! So much to do!

A little rain won't hurt us...we're no shrinking violets...were gardeners !!

See you tomorrow.

BTW...Betty (&Ron) from Michigan got in town yesterday. Life is grand!

...Beverly

Bev, I'm bringing a crock pot with a hot dish -- do we have much in the way of electricity?

Uhmmmm...crockpot goodies!!!

...Beverly

I've already started the sauce for the Cavatini, my plants are potted, (well most of them;) ), and I've put the 500 detail things I'm bringing on the sun porch to wait! DH will help me to load up the long table and all of the other things so that I can get there bright and early TOMORROW!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!

How about cutting up little slices of frozen cheesecake (elis of course) and drizzle with my homemade raspberry sauce? maybe put them in cupcake cups - a little slice of heaven for everyone? mmmmm.

Can't wait to see what everyone brings! Oh yes and the plants too!!HHAHAHHAHAH.

Plants are ready to pack up into the car. Tables,signs, and LOTS of "stuff" are ready to go in the car.

I am excited and psyched!!!

...Beverly

See you soon....Beverly

Can't wait to see everyone!
Mimi

Now I have to get planting.

Despite the rain...we had a wonderful turnout of approximately 75 people today. We had about 1800 plants and items for swapping.....WOW!!! I know I got some really neat things & I hope you did too.

Thanks to everyone that came and brought such wonderful potluck food, fun and interesting plants, and such good cheerfulness despite the rain. Thanks to all that brought such GREAT doorprizes. That was wonderful. It made it so much fun. Of course.. a thank you to Mimi - my backyard neighbor, good friend, and partner in crime (I mean gardening fun.) She made those terrific signs that everyone said were so helpful.

Hopefully...next year!

Good gardening & planting....Beverly

this was my first time at a plant swap what a blast. I think every one went home went lots of great plants, I know that I did.

Beverly thanks so much for a great day. Mimi thank you also you two did a great job.

Thanks to Beverly and Mimi of course. Now that I know what we're dealing with, I'm making plans for plants for next year. Great to meet folks in person.

I brought 105 plants, 20 pre-arranged trades and a dozen or so non-plant items. I only came home with 18 so I consider it a great victory of restraint! Yes!

Thanks to Betty for the lovely woodlands, George for the prarie coneflowers (have your girlfriend call me and I will set her up with a bunch of plants), Alison for the 4:00s (I still have low germination), and Beverly for our quickie trades!

"and of those 1800 plants, 800 of them came home with my wife"

Thank you so much! I had a delightful time, and next year I will have so much more to bring...

Whoever made the little cinnamon buns with raisins - MMMMMmmm!!! And that warm pasta in the red sauce in the giant heating thing with the carrots in it. Magnifico! Wish I hadn't gotten too full to try the quîche.

My plants had the tags made from computer mail labels stuck on long green twist-ties. Seemed like they were getting blurred after getting so wet. If anyone has any questions about a plant I brought, feel free to email me. Pls. put "plant swap" in the subject line so I recognize that it's not SPAM.

It was so nice to meet and re-meet everyone!

Karen and Nancy

Glad you all had a good time! I got some wonderful additions for my garden...am thrilled! I was amazed at the great variety of plant material - fabulous!

good planting...Beverly

I had a great time!!!! I was wonderful!!!

Trish

Thanks for all the hard work in setting this up. We all had a good time and ate way too much. I planted everything and my flower beds are full too. In fact when I put that last lily in my lily bed it gave a little belch and said no more please!

Rebecca

George

I had so much fun, and got such wonderful plants. And I had a chance to thank some of the folks I've gotten plants from in the past. (Genie, the mock orange was in full bloom Sunday!)

It's always wonderful to get a chance to hang out with other gardeners. As always, I come home from the swap planning how I'll do more/better/more easily next year.

Perhaps I'll start by getting there a little bit earlier.....

Thanks again, all!

I got such terrific plants. I love siloam Daylilies and I got one - yay! DH (Murray) got his tomato plants & he's jazzed about that.

I hope to get everything planted this week as time allows - probably will.

Thanks again to Mimi and everyone for making it fun and making it work.

...Beverly

I love all my new plants that came home with me!! It'll be so much fun to watch them grow and to know that they came from friends.

Gina

I need a couple of recipes from the swap (see you can even get recipes, I hope)
Homemade bread that looked like it was made in a bread machine, I thought that was great and would like the recipe.
also the little cinnamon rolls were yummy, was that just cinnamon rolls made small? Somehow the tasted different and I would love that recipe also. You can mail me privately or post it on here for all! Hostalavista Babee! Linda

If any of you have any 'swapping' left in you and live near or feel like driving to Deerfield, there will be a plant swap and covered dish luncheon here on June 12th. Just thought I'd mention that. Between Akron and Youngstown. So far there appears to be about 2 dozen interested attendees. If you have no more plants to swap we will understand (800 out of 1800 plants ... someone is as bad as me) (95 plants taken ... again, as bad as me). There will be Door Prizes, Silent Auction, a garden themed craft project for those interested (very quick and easy) and of course extras available for those new gardeners or those unable to bring a plant. Oh, and we will have a local crafter of soap and other realted items.

Perennial, houseplant, water/bog garden plants, tree, shrub, veggies, herbs .... it will all be there.

Cheesecake ... with Raspberry sauce ... now that is just not fair.

Mimi - thanks for all of your valuable information given. I really appreciated the input.

Stardust

...Beverly

Stardust

Sorry for the confusion...