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ericabraun

new: obf members august swap

EricaBraun
9 years ago

There's been a lot of talk of weddings lately, which got me thinking... Wouldn't it be fun if we were all August brides? Well, this month we are!

As a bride, your first order of business is to set up a gift registry. Sorry, no toasters or towels! Instead, list up to 5 plants or garden related objects that you would really love to get your hands on. Please sign-up and have your items listed by Aug 9th.

On Aug 10th, I will put together a list of everyone's registry items. Look over the list and see if you have any of the items being sought after. You only need to be able to supply ONE item from a person's list. Post the names of anyone you'd be able to send to (this gives a little more wiggle room when I assign partners), by Aug 14th. As with a real gift registry, sometimes you get what you want, other times you get what you get, but I will do my best to make as many matches as possible.

On Aug 15th I will assign you a partner. If you are able to match one of the items on that person's "registry" please send that, if not include a garden-related treasure of your own choosing.

Along with that, there are a few other items a bride needs:
Something Old: A plant that has been around for 50 years or more. This is often the length to consider something an heirloom. You can send seed or an actual plant.
Something New: A plant that has been around for less than 50 years. You can send seed or an actual plant.
Something Borrowed: This can be anything you'd like to send.
Something Blue: That one is pretty self-explanatory - something blue.

In total you will be sending your giftee 5 items:
An item from their registry (or an item of your own choosing if you can't match a registry item).
Something old.
Something new.
Something borrowed.
Something blue.

I will also host some garden-inspired "bridal shower" games throughout the month, so keep your eyes peeled for those!

Comments (150)

  • Pmb2005
    9 years ago

    I will guess 8 hours to can salsa.

  • Pmb2005
    9 years ago

    Ok I think I have caught up. Life has been nuts! Today I volunteered at the Humane Society because they recently took in 50 cats from a hoarding situation. So sad, but I enjoyed loving on those fur balls. I am crazy for animals. This morning I seen the coolest thing, my hummingbirds had the sun shining behind them and I could see the rainbow in their wings. Super cool! Have y'all ever grown a Lions Tail before? The hummers love it! Also while I am plugging plants, have you ever tried the Delicata squash? I never had it before we grew it this summer and they are the best tasting squash I have had the pleasure of tasting!

    Finally the kids are back to school and the girls are happy about it and the teenager is, well a teenager. All he cares about is Star Wars.

    The ladies I can send to are Shirley, Jayenne and Mary E.

    Have a wonderful Wednesday!

    \\// Promise

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Promise,

    You are the winner! I started at 6:30pm and finished at 2:30am. It took me 8 hours of constant work (no breaks) to finish. By the time I was done, I was nearly out of jars and completely out of peppers (the three bags I had bought, plus everything that was ripe in the yard). I had managed to can around 30 pints of salsa.
    When you have a chance, take a look at my trade list and pick 3 packs of seeds. Let me know what you pick and I will get them in the mail to you.

    Swap members,

    If you haven't already, look over everyone's gift registry and let me know who you are able to send to. Remember, you only have to be able to supply one item from the list. Let me know by tomorrow, as I will be assigning partners on Fri.

    Erica

  • Pmb2005
    9 years ago

    Erica

    Yay I won something! I know canning is exhausting working. DH and I have done a lot of it recently too. Very rewarding work! You have a wonderful list, it was hard to choose but here is my selection.

    Strawberry, White Soul Alpine
    Lavender, French (Lavandula stoechas)
    Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Carinatum)

    Thank you!

    Promise

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Promise,

    I grabbed the seeds you wanted, but I don't have your address. I sent you an email, but if you don't receive it, just hollar at me with your address.

    Erica

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Today is the 14th. If you haven't already, look over everyone's gift registry and let me know who you are able to send to. Remember that you only need to supply one item from the list. Let me know sometime today, as I will be assigning partners tomorrow.

    Erica

  • pinkiris
    9 years ago

    Hi Erica! Letting you know that I rec'd your wonderful selection of tomato seeds today! wow! love how you did your labels too-very nice! thank you so much =)

    I am able to send to anyone on the gift registry.

    Jayeanne

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Jayeanne,

    So happy it arrived safely. I'll get you updated now.

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    EricaBraun - Erica
    (Can send to anyone)
    1) Any purple or pink named daylily
    2) Tree Collards
    3) Oca
    4) Any named, blue hibiscus.
    5) Any seed from my GW want list.

    brittneysgran - Shirley
    1. Corkscrew vine
    2. Peonies
    3. Milkweed or plants for Butterflies
    4. Goat's Beard
    5. Dwarf Sunflower Seeds

    pinkiris - Jayeanne
    (Can send to anyone)
    1. Working on a hummingbird and butterfly garden....so anything for BUTTERFLIES would be perfect.
    2. anything that is VARIEGATED...
    3. any daylily or iris that is PINK or BLACK
    4. anything mini - love the mini collections
    5. Scented herbs....

    cottonwood468 - Mary E.
    (Can send to Vina, Promise, Jayeanne or Shirley)
    1 any named white marigold or zinnia or your other favorite white flower
    2 anything for butterflies
    3 great tasting tomato seeds--Paul Robeson, Indian Stripe, Cherokee Chocolate, Brandy Boy
    4 rooting hormone or fish emul fert--things a bride needs
    5 stress busters for the big day--chocolate, Wrigley "5" Rain gum, I even like sanseveria pups or whatever cutting you are rooting on your kitchen windowsill or see my trade list.

    pmb2005 - Promise
    1) Astilbe
    2) Yellow Corydalis
    3) Monkshood
    4) lungwort
    5) anything of your choice, not picky.

    flowergirl34 - Vina
    (Can send to anyone)
    1. Any named daylily.
    2. Any named sedum...I've been on a sedum kick all summer. Never had many before. Just love them!
    3. Any easy to grow annual flower seeds. Marigolds, sunflowers, or anything that's kid-friendly and easy to grow. The kiddo's have really taken off with their annual beds the last couple of years and its fun to see what will come up.
    4. Your favorite flower. Perennials or annuals, seeds or plants... doesn't matter which. I just love to try different things.
    5. Agastache: Honeybee blue (mine didn't make it through the winter. :()

  • Panhandle_Seed_Swap
    9 years ago

    Erica, I just had to post that your seed packets are AWESOME! What great packaging... I love it. Thanks for posting the pic, Jayeanne.

    Do we have any news on Carol or Melinda? I hope all is well.

    Sheri

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    It's partner day! Not everyone updated who they could send to, so I did the best with the info I had. Here are the partners:

    Erica sends to Jayeanne
    Shirley sends to Erica
    Jayeanne sends to Vina
    Mary sends to Promise
    Promise sends to Mary
    Vina sends to Shirley

    Just to recap, here is what you will be sending your giftee:
    1) An item from their registry (or an item of your own choosing if you can't match a registry item).
    2) Something Old: A plant that has been around for 50 years or more. This is often the length to consider something an heirloom. You can send seed or an actual plant.
    3) Something New: A plant that has been around for less than 50 years. You can send seed or an actual plant.
    4)Something Borrowed: This can be anything you'd like to send.
    5) Something Blue: That one is pretty self-explanatory - something blue.

    These are minimum guidelines. Have fun and be creative!

    Make sure you post here when you send you pack off and also when you receive.

    Our new bridal shower game will be starting this evening after I wake up, (got busy with the seeds and forgot to go to sleep!).

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    It's time for a good old-fashioned Scavenger Hunt!

    Each day I will list one easily-recognizable plant. Take a picture and post! Since there is such a wide variety of pictures on the internet, you must have something denoting your name somewhere in the picture. Sorry ladies, no cheating allowed!

    This game will end when someone reaches 5 points or on Aug 25th (most points wins), whichever comes first. In the event of a tie, there will be a tie-breaker question.

    This game is open to all OBF members.

    And last, but not least, the prize! The winner will get 2 floral notepads with 2 matching pens, a pack of blank thank you cards, a pack of organza bags, as well as a few surprises!

    Have fun and good luck everyone!

    Today's plant is the nasturtium.

    This post was edited by EricaBraun on Fri, Aug 15, 14 at 15:45

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    To get you started, here is a sample pic of today's plant, with my name included.

    Jayeanne,
    I have your pack almost ready. I will be mailing it out on Mon.

    For the rest of our August brides,
    Please try and get your packs mailed off by Aug 25th. This will ensure that they reach your giftee before the end of the month.

  • pinkiris
    9 years ago

    Erica, Im not quite sure I understand how your new game is to be played ..... are you posting pics and we are to guess the name of it? Or we are all suppose to be posting pics with our names? and others guess?? Sorry....yes..... a blonde here, LOL.

    thanks for the clarity Erica, I too plan to mail my package either tomorrow or Monday...depending on our crazy weather.

    Jayeanne

  • pinkiris
    9 years ago

    Sheri - Yes I agree...the seed packages were so neat that Erica had created ...I thought maybe ya'll would enjoy a photo =) I thought you were in this months swap but when partners were posted I didnt see your name....I must have missed something somewhere. Hope you are doing well too Sheri =)

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Jayeanne,

    Sorry for any confusion in the instructions. I could have probably broken it down into an easier to follow format.

    1) Each day I will give you the name of a plant.
    2) Take a picture of that plant, if you can locate one. Be sure your name is included in the pic.
    3) Post your picture.
    First person to 5 points wins. Or if no one hits 5 points, the one with the most points on Aug 25th is the winner.

    The picture I posted was just an example to show the plant + name. Any other questions, please let me know.

  • pinkiris
    9 years ago

    Ah! Ok! LOL Well so glad now that I planted nasturiums, LOL these are in my garden ....Ive been trying to locate the ones that have variegated leaves but so far no luck. Erica - hope Im doing this correctly.

    Jayeanne

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Jayeanne,

    Nice, healthy plants. And yeah, that will work fine for today. If you want to just put your name on a piece of paper and photo it with the pic next time, that would be even better! (it insures that people don't snag pictures online and photoshop their name in)

    I'll update points daily, starting tomorrow!

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    These are growing on the border of my tomatoes and peppers. However, I will not be able to get a photo until tomorrow. Photographer/equipment at band practice now.

    Sheri, you can be my maid of honor.

    Mary E.

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    That's fine, Mary. Thanks for the heads-up!

  • pinkiris
    9 years ago

    Vina - Your package is going out tomorrow morning...

    Erica - Ok...so I did it wrong, LOL...You want a photo taken with our name on a piece of paper included in the photo?? I will be ready ....LOL

    Jayeanne

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Lol. I blame myself, Jayeanne. Apparently clear communication isn't one of my strong points. It sounded good in my head though!

    But yeah, you've got it: your name on a piece of paper, included in the photo. :)

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Scavenger Hunt results:

    Jayeanne - 1pt
    Mary - 1pt

    Day 2 of the Hunt! Your plant for today is citrus. Any type of citrus tree will work.

    Good luck ladies. Hope you're all having a lovely weekend, so far.

    This post was edited by EricaBraun on Sat, Aug 16, 14 at 14:00

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    I have five Sioux tomato plants in a row. There are cages on three, short on cages here. As per Murphy's law, one of the not caged ones is the heaviest with green fruit. I just came in from cobbling it back off the ground.

    The photographer sleeps in... later with the photos. Going to the Figment Festival today. Art installations, interactive, participatory ... what are you bringing?

    Annie, the Arlington Million is today. Did you watch the Beverly D. yesterday?

    The Air Show is today ... they do fly by here. The Blue Angets, et al.

    Mary E.

  • pinkiris
    9 years ago

    Here we go, LOL Day 2 -

    I planted about 15 or so lemon seeds early spring and I had 2 seeds sprout....here are my 2 baby lemon seedlings....Not sure yet what I will do with them come winter....

    Jayeanne

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Mary,

    Have a wonderful time at the festival!

    Jayeanne,

    Great baby plants. They look like they are doing well. How many years is it going to be until they produce fruit?

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    (more info shortly)

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    (more info shortly)

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Mary,

    Great pictures! What is that citrus you have there? It looks like a lime growing on a fig tree! (I did update the post above to give you credit for the nasturtium).

  • Panhandle_Seed_Swap
    9 years ago

    Lime on a fig tree... that's funny! Made me giggle, Mary. :)

    What a great idea for a game, Erica! I may borrow it sometime. ;) I hope everyone has a great weekend.

    Sheri

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks, Sherri. There are a lot of bridal shower games, but most don't adapt well to online endeavors. This, however, was one that worked. Although now I'm a little suspicious that Mary might be trying to pull a fast one on me!

  • lilangel181
    9 years ago

    The only citrus around here is the lime wedge in tonight's pad thai... And I forgot to put my name on it, too! Hehehe.

  • brittneysgran
    9 years ago

    Love the game Erica..

    Too dark to get pictures now though.

    Shirley

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Lol, Laura. If only pad thai grew on citrus trees! I would be such a happy camper!

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Offspring Unit posted the photos for me. It looks like I have nasturtiums in the lawn, but that is the edge of the garden, direct sowed in July. The leaf at the top is on a pepper plant, a Jalapeno from seed saved from a pepper my son ate.

    The lime is on a Morus rubra (mulberry) LOL short of citrus trees in Chicago. I do save lemon seeds, haven't sprouted any though. Nice work, Jayeanne.

    Mary E.


  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Mary,

    You know, I did actually think that you might have had some sort of exotic citrus that had some really non-citrus-like leaves. I'm afraid Sheri might have tipped me off with that giggle though.

    As for mulberry trees, I certainly wish they grew something as useful as limes. I have one in my front yard and this year I've been on a mission to pull off all of its branches before they get more than a couple feet (I had it pruned back to nothing last fall). I think I'll let that picture slide and still give you a point for creativity.

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks for the great pictures, ladies. Here's a point update:

    Jayeanne - 2pts
    Mary - 2pts

    And the hunt continues! Saturday's plant is Watermelon.

  • Pmb2005
    9 years ago

    This year I had so many watermelons I didn't know what to do with them all. In past years I hadn't been able to grow them at all! We counted 22 of them on our first harvest.

  • brittneysgran
    9 years ago

    Promise-Gosh I wish I lived beside you I love watermelon. I actually had to take one I bought back to Wal-Mart a couple of weeks ago. When I cut it it was all white like the inside rind color. It had never ripened I guess.

    Good job ladies good luck to the winner.

    Shirley

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Promise,

    Glad to see you joining in the game. Great picture! I have to say that I am jealous! I tried to grow several different types of watermelon this year and none of them flourished.

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Maybe we can get our squirrel in one of these photos. Promise, you rocked this one!

  • pinkiris
    9 years ago

    Day 3.....

    Mary - I have no idea on the baby lemon seedlings, Ive always wanted a patio lemon tree so I thought I would try a few seeds...it took awhile for them to sprout. I may need to find them warmer homes here soon.....

    love all the creative photos! =)

    Jayeanne

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Hello

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Seeing lots of watermelon pics today!

  • lilangel181
    9 years ago

    These beauties are growing on the fence right outside our back door. My first year trying to grow watermelons!

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Laura,

    That is absolutely awesome! I love it!

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Hey Laura,

    I clicked on your picture (yes, I was hoping for a closer look) and came across your photobucket page. I assume that's your cat. I have a silver tabby that has that same ridge of silky black hair down his back. Mine gets a mohock when he's scared. Does your cat do that too? I think it's the weirdest thing!

  • lilangel181
    9 years ago

    Erica, thats Zoe and shes a snugglepuss. She's an indoor cat whose developed an obsession with the outside world. She snuck out through a hole in the screen door in back to help me garden that day. (The stinker!) When scared its not so much a moehawk as a puffball :) We call it "the kerfluffle"!

    This post was edited by lilangel181 on Mon, Aug 18, 14 at 0:59

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Laura,

    Yeah, cats are definitely stinkers! Both of my cats are indoor cats, but Houdini, my tabby, is constantly breaking out of the catio my hubby and I made. My other cat, Meow, will come out front with me to garden. He's the good boy. He actually stays in the yard with me.

  • EricaBraun
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Time for a point update:

    Jayeanne - 3pts
    Mary - 3pts
    Promise - 1pt
    Laura - 1pt

    I have to admit that I was tempted to give Promise and Laura an extra point for having the plant, but then I decided that Mary and Jayeanne actually went to the effort of going to the store and taking a picture, which is a hell of a lot more hassle. So, everyone got a point!

    Monday's plant: Rose Bush.