Post when you send and when you receive on this thread.
Post all of the goodies your secret pal sends to you so we all can drool over them, smiles.

Looking forward to hearing from everyone!

Tina (who needs to go weeding, argh...)

I'm a little confused about what we're supposed to send. Anything?

Anything you think your pal might enjoy.
Plants, seeds, bulbs, teas, coffees, candies/treats, garden stakes, candles, bath items, lotions, anything they collect. Like, if your pal collects tea cups, and you have a cute one you think she may like, wrap it up and put it in the box. Basically anything you want, if you think your pal would enjoy it.
Take a look at her questionnaire and see what all she has written down.

Hope this helps!
Tina

I haven't required a send date as I have faith in ya'll, LoL.
If we get folks who don't send at a reasonable time (like by the 3rd week of the month), maybe we will assign a certain shipping date at that point.

Sound OK to everyone?

Tina

If possible I would like to change my answer to the last question of the questionaire " Would you prefer to receive mostly garden related gifts from your pal?

I said mostly garden but I'd like to change it to "anything goes" because I think that would make it a lot easier for the person trying to figure out what to send.

Thanks!!!

~~~~happy dance~~~~

:-)

Tina

Tina (scratching her head)

We just finished up on a year long swap that mgood4u hosted and did a FABULOUS job!!!! Had a wonderful time!
I would like to carry on the swap for another year, and then maybe someone else from the group can carry it on for a 3rd year.
The swap is pretty basic.
You send a box to your assigned pal once a month that includes gardening items, plants, seeds, bulbs, and anything special that you wold like to add to the box, such as bath items, teas, coffees, cookies, etc.
Please, if you don't think you can dedicate yourself to a year, don't sign up. If for some reason, you HAVE to drop out, please send me an e-mail and let me know, so I will be able to find a replacement ASAP. If something comes up and you can't send one month, please let me know, and I will contact your partner, and you can make it up in the next months box.
We'll start this out as a "Secret Partner". How long we can stay anonymous, who knows, LoL. But, we can try :-).

-------
Posted by hummingbirddaisy 5a (My Page) on Wed, May 3, 06 at 16:27

Just thought that I would point out that it is a very good idea to post on your exchange page, your plant wants and things you enjoy and/or collect. If you will take a peek at my exchange page, you will see, at the very bottom, I have posted info for my RR buddies. Even though we fill out questionnaires, sometimes things change, and it's nice to keep us updated so we can send things that we know you will enjoy. My swap partner in the Hort. Anon. 2005 was wonderful. Besides sending me absolutely gorgeous plants, she always managed to send something with roosters on it (as I collect roosters). She was ALWAYS right on top of things, and was just wonderful!
Also, jot down your partners Birthday. That way, you can wish them a "Happy Birthday" on the forum, and also send a nice card with a special gift in the box.
I am so thrilled! to have all of you here. I hope we can keep the same group all year long!
There will be a special gift box for each of you who are still here when June 2007 rolls around, and have made good on sending faithfully, from me, as a "Thank You".

-----------------

I thought I would ask here before posting in the plant exchange, does anyone have any strawberry plants they would like to trade? I have a small bed of them and would like to add to it. I am looking for 12-15 plants. I have Purple Ladybells, Antioch hosta, various mints, a couple of turks cap lily seedlings and some sedum cuttings available for trade at the moment. Oh, and some noid solid purple irises.
JLMK if you'd like to trade.

Have a great night!
Tina

Where is everyone hiding? In your gardens maybe?

Well, Amy lost her brain, LoL. I told her maybe hers and mine would meet up. That might be scary with the two of them together, Hah!

What do you have blooming in your gardens right now?
At the moment, my hybrid tea rose "Tropicanna" is in full bloom. She looks gorgeous! "New Dawn" is full of buds, keep watching on her. I also have this rose blooming its little head off in this vibrant neon red/pink? It was sent to me in a trade last year as "Seven Sisters". Not sure it was IDed correctly. Maybe?
I also have Orange Meadowbright Echinacea blooming. The White Swans, Double Decker, Razzmatazz, and palida are in bud, but no blooms yet. The coreopsises are blooming. There are a few others out there, daylilies, peonies, hostas. I've been trying to get pics of everything this year, but I can't keep up with the weeding in some areas, and the pics look pathetic :-( I've actually had DH out there pulling weeds with me! I think I ALMOST have him hooked, hee hee ;-)
I've got'em hooked on AV's and hoyas bigggggggggg smiles!
It's only taken 12 years ya know :-)

Well, I shall quit my babblings and ramblings here. Hope to hear from ya'll soon.
Enjoy the weekend!
Tina (hiding in the weeds)

My pal's box is packed up and ready to go. Just have to get some postage on it. I had fun shopping today!

Liz

Deanie

Kristen

Hugs,
Deb

Thanks also for the reminder that this is secret. Glad I didn't get to the post office yet to mail my box because I had to open it up and remove the SIGNED note. ooops!

to my pal ---my box is going out friday..

Deb you are in my thoughts and prayers, hang in there.. erica

Oh well, this isn't the first time I couldn't manage to keep a secret!

As long as we all enjoy each other, thats the important thing, and I think we have an excellent bunch of glas here!
Gifts are great to receive, but the friendship we make is worth so much more.

My box is going out Monday to my gardening pal.
Have a wonderful weekend ladies!
Tina

Hugs,Tina

Happy Be-lated Birthday to Nitelite June 5th!
Happy Be-lated Birthday to Sguanzon June 7th!

And, we have a birthday girl for June 29th - KayEmEll!

Happy Birthday ladies. I hope that you all had a wonderful day, and that Kristen will have a wonderful day to look forward to.

Big Hugs to you all
Tina

PS If I have overlooked someones birthday, please let me know. I don't want to leave anyone out!

I'm working on my box this weekend, and will post the del. conf # on Monday.

It has been HOT and DRY here. I worked out in the gardens today and got too hot. There is so much to be done....argh.
Now I'm wishing for some of that rain I was complaining about a month back.....never satisfied....a womans life :-).

My box is ready to go out in the morning. I can't believe that June is just about over with already. My baby turned 9 on the 2nd, and my oldest turns 14!!! on the 25th. Time for the driving permit......help me!

I've already started collecting seeds. Isn't too early for that? I'm afraid I will have nothing in bloom come mid July, as everything is so early this year. I'm not a fan of freezing temps, but I do hope that our winter is a bit more stable and cooler this year. My poor gardens barely got their winters nap.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, and that all the fathers had a wonderful day today!

Tina

Hugs,
Lisa & Kayla

I LOVE everything. There was alot of thought and time put into this package. Thank you so much "secret pal" ;-)

It has been 5 days since I sent my box out. I hope it arrived OK.

Looking forward to hearing from ya'll. Where ya at???

Hi Julie!

Hugs,
Tina

Disregard the weeds. I have spent two whole days pulling those little suckers out. Have probably 2 - 3 more days of work left. Argh!

Let me share my bounty: a spectacular hanging rack with dried pressed flowers between colored glass -- just lovely. Gardening gloves -- which I always need because I go throught them "like corn through a goose" -- a darling metal and glass frog garden stake; very badly-needed metal garden markers; a set of miniature handpainted terra-cotta flower pots (secret pal -- did you do these yourself?) a clever "Fragrant Spice" trivet, which releases the exhilarating scent of cloves when a hot dish is placed on it -- hand made in Colorado. A gorgeous, healthy, bright red flowering kalanchoe, and --- ** insert squeals here ** -- Bells of Ireland and Baptisia seeds -- two of the plants on my "Most Wanted" list. Most touching of all was the lovely heartfelt note from my Pal.

In these days when people are often thoughtless, cold, and uncaring, it is uplifting and miraculous to experience such pure selfless generosity from someone whom I haven't met. Thank you, Secret Pal, for making my day. May God bless you with a rainbow.

And thank you, Tina, for organizing this swap. My wish is for everyone to experience the same joy I did today.

Hugs, Kristen

Hugs,
Deb

It's almost the 4th! Anyone have big plans?
We are going to Cedar Rapids to see my dearest friend of 22 years. Between us there will be 2 moms ;-), 7 children and 2 husbands (so I guess that would REALLY mean 9 children, LoL). We are going to go down by the river at a park and have a pic-nic and watch the fireworks over the water. I'm pretty excited as I don't get to see her very much!

OK, about boxes being MIA. I was really hoping for a hopping thread for this robin. TH reason for these robins is to get to know each other and hav FUN! Not receiving a box is NOT fun. Right????
It costs MONEY folks! Postage is outrageous, and filling the box full of goodies. It takes time to make those boxes special. So when only one pal sends out, and then doesn't receive, it's hearbreaking (and wallet breaking). It is also kind to post when you receive your box! My pal has had her box for quite some time now, and I have seen this gal posting in the plant exchange forum, but she has not acknowledged that she has received here. :-(
And, as far as I know, she has not sent her end of the trade out to her secret pal either. This is disappointing to me. My secret pal sent me an "AWESOME" package, and yet she has received nothing from her pal. Again, very disappointing.
I have already sent out a few e-mails as "reminders" to the "no shows", and I plan to sent a few more tonight.
Come on ladies, JUNE is almost over and July is just around the corner!!! I thought I clearly explained the rules when I posted for this swap??? If boxes are not received by July 1st, or if I don't get an e-mail letting me know why they have been sent out, you will be dropped from the robin.
Erica, this does not include you. I KNOW that you will send. You have ALWAYS been a very good trader! I, too, feel your pain. I do think you will be quite surprised at how well you are going to feel, and how soon! Just make sure to have to Tylenol or Advil around to knock off the edge.
I am very sorry to you gals that haven't received your boxes yet. We'll make things right.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend.
Hugs, Tina

Thanks so much,
Tina

A hint for those of you who may be unsure of how to put a box together. Don't treat it as something you have to "get out of the way." Make it fun and interesting.

1. Make a copy of your pal's list and keep it in your purse. When you're out and about on your regular errands, check the list and I'll bet that you'll spot something that your pal has been looking for!

2. If you're going on summer vacation, keep an eye out for special goodies when you're souvenir shopping.

3. You do not have to do it all at one or make a special trip. Set up a "Secret Pal Box" and whenever you pick up something in your travels, put it in the box to send later. Goodies will accumulate faster than you think!

4. And for a real gas-saving trip, take a walk into your garden. I'll make you a bet that you have at least one of her "wants" growing right at your feet!

5. Is your town famous for something, like a type of candy or local treat? I bet your pal would love to sample it!

With all the terrible things happening in the world today, our RR is a tiny little way to bring sunshine and warmth into the someone's life. Have fun with it!

Once again I promise my pals box will be in the mail in the morning and I have added a few extra goodies because of it being late. And I promise to do better next month. I love you guys and hope I didn't make anyone too mad at me.

Hugs,
Lisa & Kayla

I was really surprised and disappointed to see how many didn't receive a box yet! I'm still waiting for mine too.

I want to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! Be safe!

I don't mean to sound like this high strung witch. I really don't. My main concern is someone's feelings getting hurt. I want everyone to be HAPPY!!!!!!! :-)
I want this to be a FUN FUN FUN robin where we all get to know each other really well, and can enjoy each other. IF you feel like being goofy, come here! If you feel sad, come here. If you are feeling lonely, come here. If you have exciting news!, come here!!!!! We're like the "Purple Hat Society", except, instead of purple hats, we wear straw hats, smiles.
We all know things come up. Just post a message, or e-mail me, and let us/me know that you're still around. Things happen, I KNOW! So, just stick your head in and let us know.
I hope I haven't come across the wrong way, and I'VE hurt someone's feelings? That is the LAST thing I want to do.

I have e-mailed reminders to the ladies who are running behind. I hope to hear from them soon!

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe 4th!!!!
Tina

I sent my box awhile ago and haven't heard anything from my pal. My husband actually mailed it out so there wasn't a confirmation number. I hope it made it! I also recieved a great box from Amy! I've been looking forward to July's, I hope everything can be worked out.

Liz

sorry pal for being so late.