WHAT IS IT: You know how the perennial flowers (the ones that grow back every year) tend to spread so much you find yourself pulling them out of the garden like weeds. If you’re like me, it breaks your heart to do it, especially when you consider how much they cost from a nursery. Well, don’t do it. Dig those "orphans" up, pot them, bag them and bring them (bare root if they can handle it) to the Great Perennial Garden Trading Party.

WHY IS IT: To have fun, indulge in light snacks and libations, talk garden talk and find homes for all of the orphan plants. Everyone who comes, unless they live at the arboretum, should be able to leave with something new and different for their garden. Sun, shade, wet, dry, woodland or bog, all plants are welcome. Seeds, annuals, bulbs, houseplants, small trees or shrubs are good for trading too. The best part is the price……free. We do request that if you have plants you can trade that you bring them; however, if you are new to gardening and do not have garden plants mature enough to divide for trading you may bring a snack to share instead.

WHEN IS IT: Saturday, September 12th, from 10 until 11 or so. Some guests prefer to come earlier which is certainly acceptable, but arrival by 10 am is recommended to allow for placement of plants. Know that the rounds begin promptly at 10:35, if you arrive later then 10:35 you have missed the party. We do it every spring in May on the Saturday of the Mother’s Day weekend and again every fall in September usually the first or second Saturday following the Labor Day weekend. We do it rain or shine. Tornadoes or blizzards, however, are grounds for cancellation.

WHERE IS IT: 15063 Durant Street N.E., Ham Lake, MN 55304. Restroom facilities will not be available at the party location. Please take care of any business prior to arrival. If restroom facilities are needed there are public restrooms 2.5 miles north on Lexington at the One Stop or 3.5 miles south on Lexington at Leezers gas station.

From Minneapolis: Take 35 W North to Exit #33 (Lexington Avenue). Go left over the freeway (past the Village Mall) on Lexington for about 5.5 miles to 149th Street N.E. Turn left on 149th, go1 block and turn right on Durant. Look for 15063 in the cul-de-sac.

From Highway 65 (Central Avenue): Fastest is to either take Bunker Lake Boulevard or Constance Boulevard east to Lexington. From Bunker Lake Blvd. go left on Lexington to 149th Street N.E. and take a left. Go 1 block to Durant and take a right. Look for 15063 in the cul-de-sac; or from Constance Blvd. go right on Lexington to 149th and take a right onto 149th Street, then go 1 block to Durant and take a right. Look for 15063 in the cul-de-sac.

From Forest Lake: Take Broadway to Lexington and turn left. Follow Lexington to 149th Street N.E. and turn right. Go 1 block to Durant and turn right. Look for 15063 in the cul-de-sac.
HOW IT WORKS:
10:00 – 10:30 Drop off your plants to the designated areas, mark them if they need identification, enjoy bagels and other snacks and talk garden talk. Take a self-guided garden tour. Fill out a postcard to receive notice of the next party, enter the raffle (optional) for one dollar for some special perennial give-aways. Proceeds are used to defray mailing costs, paper products, coffee, etc.

10:30 – 10:35 Final plant review. This is a final independent walk around to review what plants are up for trade. There are pictures identifying most of the plants and experienced gardeners are available to answer any questions. I recommend bringing a notepad and pencil to keep track of the plants you want.

10:35 – 10:50 Rounds. The rounds will be announced when they begin. For the first round each person selects 3 different plants. When everyone has finished making their selections, we start round two. Everyone selects 3 more plants and the rounds continue until all the plants are gone.

11:00 Plant Drawing (optional). Usually about 15-20 special perennials are given away in the drawing.

RULES OF THE ROUNDS:
For the first round everyone is asked to select three different types of plants. This is the hardest rule for people to follow and generates the most complaints. By three different plants we mean like a Hosta, a daylily and a cactus, not three different varieties of Hosta or three different daylilies. This is to give everyone a chance to pick some of the more popular plants. When everyone has completed their picks we begin round two. For round two you may select any three plants you want even three of the same kind.
Children are welcome to attend the party and enjoy the snacks, but they are asked not to participate in the rounds.
Be gracious, we have never had anyone fight over plants, if you miss out on what you want come next party and try again.
No moving plants to facilitate picks.
You may invite guests but be careful how you explain the party, it is not a come and take free plants kind of deal. It is a trading party and we hope that if you and your guests have plants you will bring them to the trade.
As pretty as the pictures are please leave them, we do use them again.
No guarantees on any of the plants, we don't even guarantee that they are really flowers. We do try to screen for Creeping Charlie but sometimes new gardeners do bring it for trade, after all it does have pretty purple flowers.
No taking plants from boxes/wagons or wheelbarrows once they have been picked, this is usually an honest mistake made during the frenzy of rounds.
I do not get into squabbles over whether or not attending couples can both make picks, my rule is, if you are a gardener you may participate in the rounds.

Miss you bunches :)
-Marie