Washington Gardener magazine Plant Swap June 14

9 years ago

What: A Plant Swap -- bring and receive free plants to expand your garden. Anyone is welcome with or without plants to swap.

Why: Free Plants! Last chance to do so before the season heats up.

Date: Saturday, June 14

Time: starting at 11am bring your plants for sorting by category (shade perennial, groundcover, herb, etc.) -- swap starts promptly at 11:30am -- do not be late (the swap goes fast and can be over in a matter of minutes!) - after swapping, we can socialize, snack, and trade more info on the plants we brought - we plan to conclude and be cleaned up by 12:00noon. so you will have the rest of the day to plant and enjoy your Saturday.

Place: US National Arboretum's R Street parking lot -- if it rains, we will move inside to the auditorium.

Who: anyone is welcome as are any of your friends, relatives, or neighbors -- it is FREE -- feel free to forward on this invitation

How: be prepared to BRIEFLY introduce yourself and describe your plant swap offerings

Bring:
~ a name tag - home-made or from work or school -- whatever works
~ pen and paper - you will want to take lots of notes as folks describe the plants and their growing conditions
~ plants to swap - pot them up NOW -- the longer they can get settled in their pots, the better their chance of success and survival - (no plants to share? see note below)
~ labels - fully label all your swap plants with as much info as you have - optimally that will include: common and scientific name, amount of sun needed, amount of water needed, any other special care notes, and color of the blooms (if it is not currently in flower)

What NOT to bring: common orange daylilies* and any invasive species - use this list to screen your plant offerings
*Hybrid daylilies are fine and totally welcome, but the common orange ones (aka "Ditch Lilies") usually end up with no takers and we end up having to throw them into compost.

What if you do not have plants to swap? Come anyway! Bring refreshments like cold drinks and yummy finger foods to share with the other swappers:-) Be sure to also bring cups, napkins, utensils, serving spoons, etc., if your food item requires those for consuming it.

Comments (4)

madsquopper
9 years ago
Have you or anyone done this swap before? Wondering if it's worth going to, although the location is good since we want to make a trip to the arboretum anyway. If it's over in a few minutes what's the format? I could bring a baseball bat to kneecap people to prevent them from getting to the good stuff before I do.
kimka
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes I've done a couple in various locations. They are usually pretty small compared to our spring swap. They do it pretty organized. All of the plants are put under signs by sun needs annuals, herbs etc. After a short inspection period, there is a first call when everyone who brought a plant goes up and gets a plant. I forget what second and third rounds were based on. Then depending on how many people are there vs. how many plants, there maybe more called rounds vs. when the free for all starts.

I know I've gotten some really nice hellebores and some other neat stuff. Another time, the only plant I took was a 3-year-old redbud. It really depends on who shows up.

I'm bringing a bunch of small elephant ears (like 20 maybe) that I want to give away, plus a few other things that you've already gotten from me like wood poppy and blue lobelia.
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madsquopper
9 years ago
If we go, I'll probably also bring blue lobelia (still have tons of it), Maybe some lambs ear and spiderwort.
Mandyvilla
9 years ago
I am totally looking forward to this and planning my offerings. In my past life, I was a serious hosta collector (ie, hosta snob) and traveled down to Plant Delights annually. Then came the divorce (a good thing) and the big dig and the double relocation......I could be bringing a $50 plant or a $5 plant....my priorities have changed and life is too short to figure it out. I am an impatient gardener....I want to try everything and it's killing me that I am starting all over again - I miss the mature garden...... I am fortunate I brought some of my garden with me (it was in the PSA, lol) and fellow gardeners (some complete strangers) are the most generous people I have ever met. And because of the generosity afforded me, I want that mature garden so I can pay it forward, again and again.

I was upset that I couldn't attend the GW swap back in May.....but I wasn't ready mentally or physically....This event fits my mood and the amount of time required is perfect, even with looking up a few Latin names! Thanks for posting this.....now off to see how to get to R Street from the New York Avenue entrance....it's easy to drive in circles at that place.