WELCOME!

This swap is to help us all get those lovely butteflies and hummingbirds to hang out a while in our gardens!

I will be posting partners on the 11th of June and the ship date is no later than the 25th.

Please send your partner at least 5 plants to create a butterfly/hummingbird garden.

Seeds do not count as plants but can be sent as extras.

Anything else that you send is extra. Keep it small and simple.

The most important thing is having fun! Yippee :)

So, here are the RULE RULES........
1. As per GW rules, you must be at least 18 years old to participate in this swap.

2. Signups go until the 10th. Packages must be sent by the 25th of June.

3. Make sure to get delivery confirmation so you'll know your package has arrived safely at its destination.

4. Oh, yeah ... and have fun!

Be sure to check back and post so we can get to know each other.

This is my first time hosting, so please feel free to cyber smack me if I do something silly :)

Looking forward to getting to know everyone better.

Allison

Karen

Allison, just one thing though... I wouldn't be telling people it's okay to smack you, Linda just might do it for real! She's not exactly smiling because she's sober! I happen to know she's been seen lately hanging out on the verandah, listening to Metallica and sipping whiskey while acting "oh so proper"!
And Linda, don't you dare deny it! I should know, I was sitting on the other side of the table offering you strawberries... ROFL!!!

GO ALLISON GO!!!

-Dan
(mmmmm, 4 days of relaxation down, 1 more to go! YEE-HAW!!)

I think you'll be a wonderful hostess Allison!

I do have to say, though, the idea of the swap was Linda's, so she should get all the credit for that one :)

Dang it! Linda never told me she like Metallica, or I would have altered her fairy box accordingly. Maybe next time :)

Hope everyone has a great day.

Allison

later...April/dirt

I only mentioned the idea Allison, you're doing all the work! So therefore, the credit should all go to you..."tipping my big white hat with puffy feather at you"..."G"

Linda, I believe the words you're looking for are "too twisted for color tv!" Anyone know which movie that's from? Get it right, and receive an Attagirl!!!

Now, let's see, on a more "serious" note, we're going to be wanting reds in this one to attract the flutterbies, what other colors?

SOUTHERN MINT JULIP

4 sprigs fresh mint leaves
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 jiggers bourbon whiskey

Crush mint leaves and sugar in a 12 ounce glass. Fill with cracked ice and whiskey. Stir until glass frosts. Decorate with mint sprig.

Creating a Butterfly Garden
Butterflies don't need anything fancy or expensive. Just a large, open, sun-filled area; some flowers, for adults; some food sources, for caterpillars; shelter; puddles; and rocks. You might consider planting an herb garden if you enjoy herbs - many butterfly species do too. Reserving a section of your yard for native flowering plants and for weeds like dandelion, nettle, and milkweed should also help guarantee a good variety of butterflies. It's best to avoid using any peticides at all.
One note for dedicated gardenners who may be appalled at the idea of actually inviting caterpillars in for lunch: very few butterfly species cause harm to garden plants. If they do become a nuisance - for instance, if cabbage whites are decimating your nasturtiums - picking the larvae off by hand is a simple task.
About puddles. Butterflies can't drink from birdbaths or other open water. But give them a damp spot of wet sand or dirt and they'll often flock around it. In some species, young bachelor butterflies most commonly exhibit this "puddling" behavior - perhaps the equivalent of visiting the local pub after work.
Butterflies need shelter from predators and wind. Ideal are hedges; groups of small trees or shrubs; or walls, fences, trellises covered with vines. Possible plantings include honeysuckle and butterfly bushes; and for vines, passion flower, pipevine, or hops.

Flowers and plants that attract butterflies....
Butterfly Weed
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Flower
Butterfly Lily
Butterfly Pea
Yarrow
Columbine
Sea Pink
Aster
Sea Holly
Coneflower
Sweet Pea
Chrysanthemum
Shasta Daisy
Gloriosa Daisy
Rudbeckia
Butterfly Orchid
Violets
Viola
Bee Balm
Monarda
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia
Cinquefoil
Potentilla
Burning Bush
English Lavender
Gayfeather
Passion Flower

Planning a Butterfly Garden
A butterfly garden can quickly become the main attraction of your landscape. These colorful gardens are cherished for the beautiful butterflies they attract.
Besides the well-known monarch butterfly, there are over 150 different butterfly species that may be found in the Midwestern United States.
Butterfly gardens will also attract other nectar-feeding animals. These include hummingbirds, honeybees, bumblebees, and moths.
Select a sunny site for your butterfly garden. Make sure that it is sheltered from harsh winds. Locate the garden in a place where you will be able to easily watch the butterflies.
The plants you select for the garden and surrounding home landscape will make a big difference. You need to provide two types of food for butterflies: plant tissue for when they are caterpillars, and nectar sources for when they have matured into winged adults.
Landscape trees and shrubs may be used to provide food for the leaf-eating caterpillars. Recommended plants include birch, cherry, Eastern redbud, oak, hackberry, plum, sweet mockorange, viburnum, and willow.
Other good food sources for caterpillars include such perennials as clover, Kentucky bluegrass, little bluestem, violets, aster, and hollyhock.
For adult butterflies, plant several different flowers to make nectar available throughout spring, summer and fall. Butterflies are generally attracted to purple, orange, yellow or red flowers.
Recommended annual flowers include alyssum, cleome, cosmos, dianthus, nasturtium, petunia, verbena, and zinnias.
Recommended perennial flowers include blazing star, butterfly bush, candytuft, columbine, gladiolus, peony, phlox, purple coneflower, sedum, stiff goldenrod, violets and yarrow.
Some herbs are attractive to butterflies. Dill, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage and thyme are good selections.
Even some weeds, such as dandelions, milkweed and Queen Anne's lace will attract butterflies.

Top Ten Butterfly Garden Plants and Flowers
If you want to plant a garden that will attract butterflies in great numbers, you have to pick the correct plants and flowers. There are two types of butterfly garden plants that need to be used: nectar producing flowers, and butterfly host plants.
Butterfly garden flowers make the sweet nectar that adult butterflies feed on. Butterfly garden host plants provide a place to lay the eggs and food for the larvae.
By planting both butterfly garden flowers that feed the adult insects, and butterfly garden plants that provide habitat for the larvae, you will attract more types of butterflies to your garden and yard.

Butterfly Garden Plants for Eggs and Larvae
Butterfly garden host plants are where the butterflies prefer to lay their eggs. They are chosen because of what the larvae, or caterpillars, eat after hatching. Obviously, these plants will be chewed up by the larvae, and might do better at the back of the garden or hidden behind another tall plant.
Different butterfly species need different butterfly garden host plants. Some of them include alfalfa, clover, herbs such as dill, fennel, and parsley, plantains, cabbages, sunflowers, milkweed, and nettle.
Some butterflies prefer to lay their eggs on trees. While planting new trees just for your butterfly garden can be impossible, having these varieties around will help attract more of the colorful insects. Some of the most popular trees for butterflies include sycamores, willows, locust trees, aspen, elm, and flowering fruit trees such as cherry and peach.

Butterfly Garden Flowers for Nectar
If your goal is to attract the maximum number of both butterflies and species of butterfly to your garden, you must plant a wide variety of butterfly garden flowers. Butterflies are thought to like pink, red, orange, and yellow flowers the most. They like trumpet-shaped flowers and those with broad petals that provide a good place to land.
Some perennial butterfly garden plants and flowers include: aster, bee balm, black eyed Susan, chives, coreopsis, daisy, hibiscus, lobelia, milkweed, phlox, sedum, and yarrow. Some annual butterfly garden plants and flowers include: cosmos, impatiens, marigold, nasturtium, sunflower, verbena, and zinnia.
Many types of wild flowers are also great butterfly garden plants. These include goldenrod, milkweed, nettles, and thistle.
Planting the two types of butterfly garden plants will ensure that you attract the maximum number of butterflies to your garden. You must provide both nectar producing flowers and butterfly garden host plants for the caterpillars.

And here's what I'm finding out about hummingbirds.....

A good hummingbird garden takes more than just flowers for the hummingbirds.
Aside from the nectar filled flowers which you will grow, a good hummingbird garden must also consist of an entire habitat for the birds.
Make certain that there is always fresh water available for drinking as well as for bathing.
Create both sun and shade areas in your hummingbird garden. Hummingbirds need a place in shade to perch as well as to build their nests.
Willows and Eucalyptus trees provide nesting materials which your hummingbirds will use, along with bits of leaves, spider webs, moss, and lichens to build their tiny nests.
Hummingbirds must feed 3-5 times per hour and your hummingbirds may become reliant on your garden for it's food, but there may be periods when there are no blossoms from which they can get nectar. It is a good idea to provide hummingbird feeders hung about thirty feet apart throughout your garden for these times. The best color for a feeder is bright red to attract the birds from a distance. Never fill your feeders with anything but sugar-water mix of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Do not use food coloring of any kind, and never, never use honey. (Honey can develop a fungus which can be fatal to hummingbirds)
Keep your feeders clean and filled!

Hummingbird's Favorite Flowers
Keep in mind that hummingbirds are attracted to flower colors and nectar, not fragrance. Some cultivated hybrids produce less nectar than their wild counterparts, but they still make excellent additions to your hummingbird garden.
PERENNIALS---
Bee balm
Butterfly weed
Cardinal flower
Columbine
Coral bells
Cosmos
Dahlia
Delphinium
Flame acanthus
Foxglove
Fuchsia
Geranium
Hollyhock
Lupine
Monkeyflower
Penstemon
Red hot poker
Sage
Scarlet sage
Speedwell
Verbena
ANNUALS---
Cosmos
Mountain garland
Four-o'-clock
Touch-me-not
Flowering tobacco
Nasturtium
Petunia
Spider flower
Zinnia
BULBS, CORMS & TUBERS---
Tuberous Begonia
Canna
Gladiolus
Iris
VINES---
Bougainvillea
Cardinal climber
Flame vine
Honeysuckle
Lantana
Rosary vine
Trumpet creeper
Trumpet vines
SHRUBS & TREES---
Abelia
Azalea
Bottlebrush
Butterfly bush
Catoneaster
Eucalyptus
Flowering currant
Flowering quince
Fuschia tree
Hibiscus
Lilac
Mimosa (silk tree)
Strawberry tree
Wild lilac
Weigela
Invite Hummers to your garden. . .
Jewels of the bird kingdom, Hummingbirds beguile us with their glorious colors and remarkable acrobatics. They hover, fly forwards, backwards, sideways and upside down. Their wings beat up to 200 times per second, and they reach speeds of 50 mph. Make them regular visitors to your home by planting their favorite natives, plants that evolved with hummers and bloom just when they need them. Gooseberry (Ribes lobii, divaricatum) is a favorite: it may be responsible for their early breeding season. Migrant hummingbirds arrive with the flowering of our red current (Ribes sanguineum) in March, another cherished source of nectar. Review the list of nectar sources below to help you choose your next garden addition.

Hummingbirds are an American (North and South) treasure, found nowhere else in the world. Four hummingbird species reside in, or regularly visit, The Pacific Northwest. Anna's hummingbirds are year-round residents west of the Cascades and in coastal California. Seasonal visitors include Rufous hummingbirds, seen throughout the Pacific Northwest, and Calliope and Black-chinned hummingbirds, who are found east of the mountains. For detailed species information and pictures, visit www.hummingbirds.net/species.html (see also resources, below).

Hummingbird nests are diminutive works of art: built with spider web and plant down on horizontal tree branches, they are just large enough to contain a few small (jelly-bean sized) eggs and the warming breast of mama hummer. The nests are decorated with lichen, which provide camouflage. Amidst the tree canopy, they all but disappear.

Hummers love water - they are very fond of mists and sprays. If you plant a garden with a combination of their favorite native nectar sources and a misty fountain, hummingbirds will entertain all summer!

2 1/4 cups sugar
6 cups tablespoons
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 12-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 1/2 tablespoons creme de menthe syrup
fresh mint sprigs

Combine sugar and water in saucepan. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in lime juice, lemonade concentrate, and creme de menthe and heat to just below the boiling point. Be careful not to let the mixture boil. Remove from heat and chill to form a thick syrup. For each serving, pour 2 tablespoons of syrup and 10 ounces of chilled water into glass of crushed ice and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

serves 8.

2 1/4 cups sugar
6 tablespoons water
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 12-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 1/2 tablespoons creme de menthe syrup
fresh mint sprigs

Combine sugar and water in saucepan. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in lime juice, lemonade concentrate, and creme de menthe and heat to just below the boiling point. Be careful not to let the mixture boil. Remove from heat and chill to form a thick syrup. For each serving, pour 2 tablespoons of syrup and 10 ounces of chilled water into glass of crushed ice and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

hope no one makes that first recipe. if they do, I'm not paying to get your teeth fixed! LOL!!!

Linda, no more whiskey for me kiddo! LOL!!!

That's a lot of info on the butterfly and hummingbirds, it will defiantely come in handy!

KILL THE LAWNS AND MAKE ROOM FOR MORE FLOWERS, HEHEHEHEHE

Today I tilled under the whole area where my lawn used to be. I'm gonna be taking pictures this summer as it all progresses, and will post them as soon as I figure out how to do so.

Dan, you were a busy bee today, sharing drink recipes and all that great butterfly info and the Steel Magnolias quote! Thanks!

I love lemon bee balm too. I have a big chunk of it in my yard. Hubby keeps asking what I'm going to do with it all. Um ... does it matter?!?! It smells lovely!

It was suggested we all post a little bit about ourselves, so let's hear from everyone.

I'm a court reporter, serial crafter, horseback rider, and officially now a gardener! I'm married. I've got more animals than I can count, and as Linda knows, I am a Gemini and an enabler.

Allison

I'm married, I have an almost 18 year old daughter (hence the gray hairs), I love to write (have some stuff published), love gardening, crafts and needlework. We have 7 cats and three dogs that take up some of my day also...and I don't work..I was a floral designer for 10 years...now I just play.."L"

Allison, I don't know if I can play this month or not yet, I will let you know by the 10th.

I AM THINKING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ONE HUMONGUS (SP) BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE GEMINI'S!!!

Smiles,
Pixie

There may be a preponderance of geminis here, but I'm a virgo. Born on the 13th of September, and it was on a Monday night, not a Friday like some of you might think. Ahem! I've still got the corner of the magazine where the delivery nurse wrote down all the pertinent info when I was born, how cool is that?

What else to tell you all? Hmmm, 42 years old, single, have 2 kids(cats) named Jason and Bump, had my first "garden" at the age of 3 and have been gardening ever since! Love the music of Metallica, AND celtic music, along with the likes of Van Halen, Marilyn Manson, Joan Jett, Andrew Lloyd Weber, and anything that's being played on my favorite tv show, c.s.i. I work as a rural carrier, get bossed around by my 2 boys, and love the beach. And somehow, for some reason I can't figure out, I have a reputation for being a mischievious troublemaker. I have absolutely NO idea how that happens!!! hehehe

Oh, before I forget, I made some mint julips tonight, using just the lime juice, lemonade, and creme de menthe. Y'all need tah try some o' that, it was jus' special!!!

Oops, gotta go. There's a 30+ pound cat leaning on my shoulder, telling me he's in the mood to be petted. And when he wants to be petted, Jason gets petted!!!

Y'all come back now, y'hear?

-Dan'l

If you haven't already, please email me your home address so I can get it set up in a file to match up partners.

Allison

Those drinks sound YUMMY !!! I could use one right about now.. 6 hours at the airport today.. sheesh!

Hugs everyone!
Wendy / sassybutterfly_2008

Deb

Just a quick question...

Could it be possible that I be paired with someone that wants less plants and maybe more gifts?

I am a newbie gardener, so I do not have many plants, but I could send some other cool things for the garden and outdoors to attract butterflies and the hummingbirds.

I have about 7 hummingbirds that hang out at around my house. Well at least 7 that I know of. They sometimes let me get really close when they are on my porch feeding.

I would love to join if the right partner can be found for me?

Please let me know :)

Allison

But the wedding was more than worth it!!

For those who don't know me very well (do we still have any of those?!) I'm Kathy, newlywed as of Saturday, May 24th to the most amazing man in the world! My husband (Ohh! How I love being able to say that!) Cliff can't stand it if I'm not smiling :) I am also a mother of five biological children and three 'foster' daughters- two nieces and one ex-sister in law- that I've raised. The three girls are all grown and gone now, and my children are 20, 18, 15,10 and 8. Four boys and a girl, with my poor Tiffany stuck in the middle! I'm an Office Administrator/Manager by trade and am looking to start my own business doing remote office work from home. I started gardening as soon as I could toddle out into the gardens. My Grandfather and Daddy taught me :) They were the gardeners in the family. I've always had at least veggie gardens (Imagine feeding all those kids!) A year ago the kids and I went through something no one should have to and ended up having to move away from the town that we'd lived in for four years to get away from my psycho ex-husband (my 2nd marriage, NOT my children's Father)so, I had to leave my gardens and everything in them. I started over here from nothing, and I do mean NOTHING! This yard looked like the house had been newly built and the yard a contractor's special. (Can we say EWWWWW!) So, I've been correcting that :) I now have two circular beds in the front yard along with a large half moon and a smaller half moon. In the back I have LOOONG fence lines and am waiting for the things there to come up along with a gazebo full of plants and a large veggie patch that I have to fight over with the grass that won't grow in the rest of the yard.

Wow! That got long... and as you can tell, I like to talk! At least where I can type it all :) So that's enough about me for now.. OH, wait! I'm a red headed Capricorn!

Kathy

I officially have a new favorite drink ... carrot cake martinis!

1/2 oz Bailey's® Irish cream
1/2 oz butterscotch schnapps
1/4 oz cinnamon schnapps

Fill mixing cup up with ice. Add ingredients. Shake and strain.

Yummy! So good.

Hope everyone had a good day!

Allison

Deb

Hope everyone has a fantastic day!!!

Dan

1 can of frozen lime-aide
5 light cans of beer
vokda

Put the can of lime-aide in the blender. Fill the can from the lime-aide with vodka, add that to the blender. Then mix. Slowly add the 5 beers, and stir. Makes 5 servings.

(((Do not turn the blender back on once you add the beer ... I had quite the blonde moment with that last year ... this drink is better if you actually drink it as opposed to wear it)))

It doesn't sound that good, but it tastes just like fizzy lime goodness, and you don't even taste the beer.

Kathy and Christie, I've got partners for you both who would like more gifts than plants, so if you're still interested, email me your home addy and I'll put ya on the list :)

Have a great day!

Allison

My new Husband introduced me to a drink this year. Now, keep in mind, I'm not really one for mixed drinks. I'm more of a whiskey girl :) Wild Turkey, Jack Black, brandy straight up or beer (not that I can get real beer in Oklahoma!)And I don't drink Mountain Dew either. But this drink is really refreshing after being out in the garden all afternoon and evening!

Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice (Sonic or Braum's ice works great!)
fill halfway with Hypnotic
finish filling with Mountain Dew

It's got a light, slightly fruity taste. The Mountain Dew cuts the syrupy taste of the Hypnotic.

It's become my favorite evening drink after working outside :)

Kathy

* 1/3 shot Southern Comfort
* 1/3 shot Grand Marnier
* 1/3 shot Amaretto
* 1 splash Orange juice
* 1 splash Pineapple juice
* 1 dash Grenadine
* 1 splash 7-Up
Yum!

Well, since I came up with the idea for us to tell a lil something about ourselves on the other thread, guess its about time I share my info - duh - lol!

I am 48, newly married 11 months ago to the most wonderful man! We were living together when Katrina hit our hometown and wiped us out. After 3 moves in two years, we have finally settled and are back on track. We bought our home in November and as I talked about in an earlier post, are in the process of remodeling/renovating. I have two children from a previous marriage, a son 29 and a daughter 22, that are both on their own. I have two granddaughters 10 and 7 and a grandson 2. My son and his g/f have been together 4 years and even tho they are dragging their feet getting married, I still consider her my DIL. Unfortunately I don't get to see my granddaughters but hope one day they will be back in our lives. My daughter is a college student and has no children. We have a small dog/child named Precious that is 5 years old. I was in the legal field for 23 years and recently became a stay at home wife. Am thinking I will probably go back to work in the fall, at least part time. I have always loved flowers, plants, gardening and my first garden was when I was about 10. After my divorce from my first husband (kiddies dad) I mostly rented and could never have an in-ground garden. used to do lots of containers - mainly house plants that I grew outside and tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets. I am very excited about owning a house again and be able to plant out various gardens. When I started coming on GW a few months ago, I had just quit work and had nothing in my yard except trees, azaleas and some ferns. Thanks to the generosity of many and lots of my dear husband's money LOL I am accumulating many new plants to create my gardens. Despite the fact that his favorite flower is "a dead one" he is extremely supportive and helpful. I have enjoyed meeting the many different ppl online and consider a few close friends now. Ok enough rambling LOL

My favorite drink is Trader Joe's Honey Moon Viognier. I am diabetic and thus all those mixed drinks with sugar in them are forbidden delicacies. Now if you can figure out how to make a mint julep using the leaves from your stevia plant as the sweetener, let me know!

I have 4 children - 29, 26, 23 and 16 - and 2 stepchildren - 30 and 28. All together, that is 4 girls and 2 boys, with the oldest and youngest being the boys. My son was so happy when I remarried and he finally got a brother! I work in a university library doing interlibrary loan, so I always have plenty of boxes and padded envelopes to recycle for trading seeds and plants. We have 2 cats and a dog. My oldest daughter got married in September and everyone else is still single, so no grandchildren in the foreseeable future.

I have always liked to grow things, but since I discovered gardenweb, trading, and wintersowing, my yard will never be the same. I went crazy planting salvias last year and this year am trying to add more native plants.

Becky

I was thinking they were Elmer Fuddpuckers. I hit the webtender with those ingredients, and that's the name it gave me, though it only called for 3 beers instead of 5.

Tonight we have a thunderstorm rolling over us, and I've been sitting here able to hear the thunder above me for the past couple of hours. Occasionally I see lightning outside my window, and sometimes I hear the rain falling on my roof. It is soooooo peaceful! This is my kind of night!

I want to join this swap too please. Since i have been away for so long i guess I should tell a little about myself for all the new to me peeps. Ok so here goes. I am a momma to 2 kids. My daughter Scoutt is 8 soon to be 9 this summer and my son is 6. they both have their own gardens as well. Feels good to be in the yard all summer as a family instead of cooped up inside. I am glad they enjoy it as much as me. I stay at home for the most part. I work for a few months out of the year to give us some extra cash. Oh heck who am i kiddin..it is for garden stuff and plants...lol. I am an artist. I dapple in everything from painting to photography. I love taking pics in the garden. I am 34 years young. Hubby is a mail carrier too Dan. I put that in the other thread from the fairy swap but thought I would put that tidbit here too.We have 3 cats and a newly aquired one that someone dumped. Happens alot in my neck of the woods. Good thing is he is the sweetest little fella i ever saw. He is super nice. Bad thing is whoever dumped him had him declawed...grrr. We have been trying to get him to come inside but our other 3 fellas keep pickin fights with him. It certainly has been something trying to get them all used to each other. We named him Sampson. My other kitties names are JiJi-from Kiki's delivery service if there are any japanese animation fans on here,Ash-our fat long haired seven toed kittie and porkchop our tiger kittie that was also dumped but when he was just a tiny kitten. We found him up in our truck engine. Everyone gets a kick out of our cat being named that cause we are vegetarians. HAH too funny. Oh and i like Metallica too Dan. Been listening to them since they first came out. I like a variety of music. I love lots of older stuff like swing and bigband and anything rockabilly. We live in an old farmhouse that we are renovating. I have lots of different types of gardens. This year we added in the fairy garden and an herb garden. Next year hoping to finally accomplish my Asian themed one.I do things in a cottage style here. We have lots of butterflies and hummingbirds in our yards so looking forward to this swap.

Here is a pic of Sampson. I couldn't resist putting it up. He is just so adorable. He follows me out in the yard all day long.

I'll write a lil bio tomorrow.. we just got back from a dinner buffet.. gonna roll myself over to the comfy chair and vegetate awhile... hehe

Hugs!
Wendy / sassybutterfly_2008

Make a cup of hot tea
sugar to taste
add a whopping dollop of Bailey's Irish Cream

"smacking lips"..works for me..."L"

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

Allison

and Linda? feet off the table kiddo, whaddaya think this is, your birthday??? that's not for another 16 days!!!
some people's kids!

anyone want a drink before I sit down?

and I'll take one of them there jeeewwliipssss!!.."G"

Well I guess I should go on into my 'tell-all' story about ME. Typical Georgia Peach..lol Blonde hair, green eyes. I've just turned 37.. tho I've decided to stay 36 for the rest of my bdays.. I dunno.. just like the number. lol

I have 3 children. Josh, who just graduated and turned 18. Zach, skater boy, is 14 and adored by all females within a 200mile radius.. *sighhh. Kaylie just turned 11 and is bubbling over in hormonal moodswings..and FASHION, yet still secretly plays w/ her barbie dolls...lol None share my thrill with gardening, tho Kaylie does like to make lil fairy beds and entertain the stories I tell about them. I'm divorced, ages ago, but have a special someone in my life. We've been 'together' nearly 5yrs now. And I met him online.. yahoo chatroom to be exact. So there ARE some real ones out there in the cyber world to be found! lol He moved down from Canada a year ago and we're working on the visa junk so we can finally get hitched!

I am currently just a stay at home mom, used to be in administrative office work/travel agent/bookkeeper/human resources. Had a wonderful remote office job til they gave the job over to India...(arrghh!!) Haven't been able to find a gig as good as that one that gives me the flexibility I need to take my oldest son for all his medical procedures and operations. Josh has Spina Bifida. Now with my mom in Stage IV Cancer.. my time is filled taking her everywhere she needs to go as well. So earlier this year I started piddling in the yard.. thought hmm I'd love to really GARDEN this year. That's how I found Gardenweb. Thru a search engine when I was looking up a particular plant. Now I'm so incredibly addicted to this site, I can't imagine being without it! Gardening has become a much needed passion for me during this time of dealing with grief and anger and sadness with all my mom is having to deal with every day. It's become a wonderful outlet for me. If I'm mad, I go sling some hard nasty red GA clay! lol If I need some picking up, I take a walk in my garden and admire the new flowers that arrive everyday. It's very healing. And besides that, I'm making some wonderful new friends on here!

So I'm VERY happy to be a part of all this and hang out with all of you! and I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE butterflies!

Hugs all!
~Wendy / sassybutterfly_2008

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 'S office,

Was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder,

'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman.

'I'm a Mom.'

'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' Said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself In the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,

Efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out.

'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and Looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.

Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,

In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest, 'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply,

'I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't)

In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out).

I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)

And already have four credits (all daughters). Of course , the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers. And the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she

Completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,

Testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!

And I had gone on the official records as someone more Distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'

Motherhood!

What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers 'Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations' And great grandmothers

'Executive Senior Research Associates?' I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts '

Associate Research Assistants.'

Please send this to another Mom,

Grandmother, Aunt, And other friends you know.

May your troubles be less, Your blessing be more,

And nothing but happiness come through your door!

~W

I have a graduate degree in child development (3 of my 4 kids are adults and the 4th is in high school). I am currently studying feline-canine interaction.

Becky

Smiles,
Pixie

in tallas' world cole is probably one of the dragonflies :')) he would be a fairy angel. she likes them to she thinks they are so soft looking. LOL and special. i told her they remind me of being angelic. she asked me what that meant, i told her they glide thru the air and if you touched them it would be just wrong because they needed to be free. she said MOMMMM that's what i said. and put out her arms. i don't remember that. but ok. lol so we agree'd they are angelic. that making him an insect of a special nature. MANY HUGS pixie (((HUGS)))

And now, it's outside to plant the maters!

-Dan

Becky

Yes, that is snow there in the background. The hummers are tougher than we generally realise.
Hope you enjoy the pic.
Beth b

Hugs everyone!
Wendy / sassybutterfly_2008

i grew up in New Orleans and now live approx 30 minutes away so its no vacation for me, altho I do love to spend a weekend morning in the French Quarter, drinking cafe au lait and eating beignets, browsing the art galleries and antique stores and of course the flea market! We are going to Jamestown Kentucky for a family reunion and staying in a resort on Lake Cumberland. I can't wait!

I am not looking forward to the root canal - I am such a wuss when it comes to dentist but it needs to be done, I have put it off long enough!

The baby shower is for hubby's niece. It is the first baby being born in that generation. Everyone is excited about it.

I will def stop in and say hey sometimes. I just hate to commit to something that is going to be hard for me to follow through with. Have a great day! Hugs Em

i used to get grossed out when my mom's cat would cough one up!! yucko!!! Hugs Medo

ohhh here's another one!!
Listerine therapy for TOENAIL FUNGUS.... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

ya know, for the time of the year it is, show them pretty toe's off!! LOL :')) have a great day!! Medo

Well, our honeymoon is officially at an end. Cliff went back to work this morning. It's been a busy two weeks and I've missed all of you!

Updates: Well, as most of you know, the wedding went wonderfully and was everything I'd dreamed of and more! We got some wonderful pictures. I posted a few and more will be available soon for those who want to see them. I'm still waiting on the ones from the digital shots.

I've still got to write my Thank You cards and get them mailed. We've just spent the last two weeks relaxing, working in the yards some and spending time with the bratlings.

Speaking of my bratlings, well, even the older ones were living with us while they got back on their feet after having to move up here because my insane ex kept stalking and harassing them both at home and at their jobs along with the fact that my mother wanted the house back that I was buying from her (and almost had paid off- less than $9000 left) to *give* to my brother because he can't seem to keep a place (ya know, that happens when you don't pay your rent). Anyway, enough of my dysfunctional family stuff (and my rant! :P) So, I had the four grown kids Faye (28, one of my "foster" daughters, actually a niece that I raised), Charlene (my first husband's mentally retarded sister that I've raised for 20 years), Tommy (20, my oldest biological child) and Jarret (18 and just graduated high school!) living with us. The week before the wedding, after Jarret's graduation, which his father and step-mother came up for, Charlene moved back to Texas with her brother (my first husband and my kids' father). For the first time, he is being responsible for his family. His mother also lives there and Charlene wanted to be nearer her. So, I think it has the potential to be a good thing for Charlene. I hope so.

A week after the wedding, Faye left to go back to Alabama to visit her two little ones, then will be moving to Ada, OK in a month with one of her cousins. I think this will be really good for Faye. She'll get to see her kids, whom I know she really misses, and she'll still have family around her, something Faye very much needs.

Tommy and Jarret have found an apartment here in Edmond and moved out this week. They both have good jobs and their third roommate seems to be a stable young man just a little older than they are. The apartment is nice and clean and in a decent area around the collage here, so the boys will be able to make more friends their own ages and will be close to the collage for the fall semester.

Whew! So, we've spent part of our honeymoon packing up and helping kids move. Along with all of that, my daughter Tiffy went to church camp and will be home tomorrow.

For the moment, the house kinda has an empty feel in it with just the two little boys and Cliff and I here. But, it's going to be nice and quiet again!

We've gotten all the name change stuff done for me, and we did all of Cliff's insurance stuff last night (UGH! Talk about depressing for newlyweds!) But, the nice part is that the kids and I will have his federal employee insurances now, which are much better than what we have had. But still! Doing life insurance stuff and like 10 different beneficiary forms was really a downer! I'll admit I started tearing up! But, like the wonderful man that he is, Cliff started cracking jokes. Then snuggled me and told me he wanted to make sure that I was well taken care of should something happen to him.

So, the short of everything is that we've been really busy, got to relax some and the official honeymoon is over and it's back to our normal schedule. The house sure seems empty, especially with him back to work today.

Kathy

So far for this swap I have the following members. Please let me know if I've forgotten you and missed something. Partners will be posted the morning of the 10th.

LindaRuzicka
Allisonlwise
Medontdo
Dan_the_mailman
Happyseed
Kalena67
Tammy0924
Diene
Debbya
Ramazz
Christieb199
Scouttiegirl
Lvingdedgrl
Jaleeisa

Pixie and Wendy are still on the maybe list :)

Hope everyone has a good day. I'm heading back out on a search and rescue mission now to find my plants that washed away last night (AGAIN!!!!). Wish me luck!

Allison

Wouldn't miss this one for anything! :)

Hugs all,
Wendy / sassybutterfly_2008

Have a great day, everyone :)

Allison

I will be posting partners on the 11th of June and the ship date is no later than the 25th.
2. Signups go until the 10th. Packages must be sent by the 25th of June.

But, rules were meant to be broken, weren't they? LOL!!

POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!! POST!!!

I'm just waiting to hear back from Pixie if she is going to play with us. So as soon as I hear back from her, I'll post partners.

One more day of suspense :)

Ya'll have fun, this will be a great swap.

Trina

I think I already know who my partner is, since I can not really trade a whole bunch of plants, but would like to receive plants in exchange for the gifts I buy. :)

Ok, so I think that I have my box almost prepared.

Does anyone have ideas for things that I can purchase that will attract birds and butterflies? You know besides that feeders, and baths?

I am sorry that I have not chimed in lately. I have been dealing with something that I am sure you all do not care to hear the whole story but I will tell a short version of it.

One of my Labradors escaped from my fenced in yard. I was out of town, Jason (my s.o) hung signs up everywhere with no response. When I got home, I made bigger signs and went up to about a 6 mile radius of our home. I finally received a call from a gentleman and he said he took my dog to the humane society. I was so excited! Well I called them, and he was not there.

So needless to say, the humane society adopted out my dog. I called them, sent certified letters, hired an attorney who has sent letters, put ads in newspapers, contacted tv stations.... all with no response from the humane society.

All I was asking was a simple phone call from them, to the people who adopted my dog... and ask them to give me a call.
Not asking for much, you know. I wanted to do this as soon as possible, in hopes that the 'new' family would just give my dog back. Now it has been almost 2 weeks, and they are getting attached to MY dog everyday.

So this morning my lawyer advised me, if we did not receive a response, that we were going to go file suit. So that is what we did. I believe this weekend there may be a friendly protest that is going to be arranged.

Anyways, I guess that was a long version as well. But trust me, it goes in way more details that that, with the exact dates, features of my dog, collar, etc.

I also guess I have not properly introduced myself as well. I am Christie :) and I live with Jason, my s.o. I will be 25 this Friday, he just turned the big 3.0. in April :) I have been with Jason since I was 19. We bought our house when I was 22. When we first moved to our house, it was such a nightmare inside, so the past couple years we have been working on that. And this year, I have finally had the chance to do a few things out in the garden. Although I found the forum a little late to wintersow, I still tried anyway and so far I am loving it. I can not wait until fall so I can have a real start at at.

I travel usually for work on a weekly basis and I go to school on the weekends. So when I am home, I try to do as much as I can outside whenever my nose in not in the books. I recently just hired someone to clean my house and I discovered that is amazing. I normally always found myself traveling all week, and then coming home to clean-- not fun at all, especially when I had all this planting to do :)

I am loving this forum, and I look forward to making friendships while I am here.

I hope all the Gemini's have great birthdays!
Here is a picture of me and my favorite lady in the world!

And here is a picture of my boy that I am missing!

Anyone else care to post pictures of themselves?

Christie

And on another topic, as some of you know, my new brother in law and his wife started adoption proceedings for two adorable little boys just before Cliff and I got married. Well, my BIL works for Geico and they are running a promotion where he'll get $15 for anyone he gets to call in and get a quote. That's all, just a quote, you don't need to buy anything :) You just call in for a quote and give them his promotional code. If you do, please make sure you use the code that way he gets credit. And who knows, you might find your rates to be cheaper :)

The number is 1-800-342-9070 and his code is 120907.

The bonus he receives for this will got into the fund to pay adoption fees for them to adopt Aiden and Xavier.

I want to thank any of you who do this. Charles and Farah have wanted children for many years, and now they have the most precious babies and are very happy :) Cliff and I called in and got a quote, even though Geico is who we have our insurance with. They have excellent rates for a reasonable cost, especially with him being a rural postal carrier. So, maybe this can help some of you as well as Charles and Farah :)

Kathy

So sorry to hear about your dog. I have only dealt with the SPCA and I know they have a policy of holding a stray animal for a week before putting it up for adoption. I had to pick up my two terriers (now deceased) when they decided to tour the neighborhood. Several people had already signed up to adopt one of them, but because of the 1 week wait period, no one could take them. I am very surprised that the Humane Society does not have a similar policy. Do you know how long your dog was actually at the Humane Society?

The dog I have now is from the SPCA, and they require that each animal get an electronic chip implanted. He also has an ID tag on his collar, as do my two cats.

I hope your protest and other efforts will attract the attention of the family that adopted him. Maybe your local newspaper will pick up the story and give you even more publicity.

Becky

I never can find any of that good stuff, either. I have some good plants for this swap, but I will have to work on the cute stuff.

Becky

Just thought you should know that Allison...

HINT!...HINT!...HINT!

Partners will go up in a few minutes. I just need to check my list and tweak a few things :)

OKAY! Drumroll, please!

LindaRuzicka & Dan_the_mailman
Allisonlwise & Kalena67
Medontdo & Scouttiegirl
Happyseed & Tammy0924
Diene & Lvingdedgrl
Debbya & Christieb199
Ramazz & sassybutterfly_2008

Happy Swapping!

Allison

The weather in Western North Carolina is hot, sticky and no rain... It isn't usually this way at this time of year. Normally I wouldn't be using the air conditioning yet but it's been on for a couple of weeks. I do believe global warming is starting to show!!! Take care, Sonja

Allison

You're doing a great job with this swap Allison, keep up the good work!

(HUG)
Linda

if y'all are tired of those thunderstorms, we'll take'em here in Michigan. I love falling asleep to the sounds of thunder! But, man, does it ever make the boys want to cuddle with Dad! LOL!!! it'd be funny, if it weren't for their claws!!! OUCH!!! QUIT PLAYING WITH MY TOES AND GO TO SLEEP!!!

Here's my email like you asked.
countymounties@neo.rr.com

~Jessica

Allison

Deb

Karen

I was at a deck party awhile back, and the mosquitoes were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared.

The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby.

I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works! In fact, it killed them instantly. I bought my bottle from Target and it cost me $1.89. It really doesn't take much, and it is a big bottle, too; so it is not as expensive to use as the can of spray you buy that doesn't last 30 minutes.

So, try this, please. It will last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog house. During the summer, I don't leave home without it.....

Pass it on.....all your friends will appreciate the information.
Medo

We had a lovely weekend in Colorado, but it's nice to be home. While I was gone, the darn bind weed took over, so I've spent an hour now trying to pull that up, which does absolutely no good of course.

FYI, I'm having my wisdom teeth taken out tomorrow, so I'll probably be MIA for a few days :)

Hope everyone has a great day!

Allison

Tracy

Karen

Hope everyone had a nice day!

Allison

I'm going to head out today and do a little shopping for my partner. Should be fun.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Allison

We have been having some very nice weather. Temps around 80-82, and very little wind. I need to water tonight though. Things are looking dry. Finally I have a night this week where there is no Squirts/Little League for the boys. It is my parents' 44th anniversary today, so my family, my sister's family, and my parents are going out for supper. Tomorrow I probably won't be around, I have a long distance wedding to go to in the afternoon, but will check in Sunday.
Have a great week end everyone!

Karen

Many hugs ~ Medo

If you want to hang a plate for butterflies, you can also use a plant hanger, insert the plate like you would a plant and hang it from a branch. Butterflies also like rotten fruit.

(grinning ear to ear!!!)

Linda~Visit over at the brugmansia forum. The folks are super nice.I met 2 of them several months ago.I'm a brug/datura newbie so here is what little I know:Brug/Angel Trumpet flowers point down & datura/Devil's Trumpet flowers point up.

Brugs are easy to start from cuttings.Have heard that with brug seeds,color will be a suprise, but I think over 50% of the time seeds started plants end up white blooms. Cuttings are a better bet for truer colors.
Datura are usually started from seeds.Will post a photo of one in bloom before summer ends(hopefully). I have a double yellow & a double purple.

A photo one of my brugs

later...April/dirt

My box is ready to go out, and I need her address.

Deb

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Allison

I feel bad that I didn't get to play with you guys this month. It looks like such a fun swap but I had to pass with how busy it has been around here. I love the book that you got Diene.

I am now at war! I had some deer stomp through my new flower bed last night and they chomped off all of the buds from my lilies that were getting ready to bloom and most of the foliage to my Malva Zebrina. I was so frustrated! I am having a big party this coming weekend and was looking forward to them blooming when people were over. I will be making Galiums stinky deer repellent recipe to ward off any future visits.

Score: Deer 1 Tracy 0