I just happened upon GW back in 2000 and was struck with the goldmine of info that was readily available at my fingertips. It was so cool I couldn’t believe it! So here we are seven years later and this has been one of the best blessings we have ever had. We love Cannas, Dahlias, Iris and Daylilies but we’re not opposed to anything else either. At our age, we’re going totally low to no maintenance. I’m still fully capable of killing most anything plant-related.

My name is Jeff Toothman and my wife is Lavonne. I'm short, fat, balding and not much to look at while Lavonne is the complete exact opposite. I still can't fathom, nor can most of you guys, why in the world she has any interest in me whatsoever. We are both 47 years old; we dated for two years and have been married for four. In that regard I'm the luckiest guy I know.

I run my own contracting business called Volunteer Contractors & Adjusting (what else?) we do everything in the home repair genre. As a general rule most of my jobs are insurance related losses. I worked in the insurance field for a couple of decades so I have a background in both worlds which helps a lot. So if you need some work done....

Lavonne is the Cash Manager for Willis Group Limited, one of the three largest insurance brokers in the World. She’s the smart one and deals with all the money.

We live in Nashville off of I-65 and Harding Place on our little place that we refer to as Cheapwood (partly because of our proximity to Cheekwood but mostly because I’m incredibly cheap). The back-story is that years ago Rob Ogletree (MountainGrown) lied and said that our place looked like Cheekwood and I corrected him saying that it was more like Cheapwood (because I'm so cheap) and that nickname has stood for six years now. So if you see me refer to Cheapwood in a post then I'm talking about our place and not misspelling Cheekwood. Our place looks nothing like Cheekwood at all.

We have two dogs now, a Border collie named Arthur that I inherited with the marriage and a little terrier mix that we rescued the day after the 2006 Spring MTPS. His name is Tipper. His addition to the household helped me get over the previous day’s debacle.

Most all of the landscaping in our little acre came free courtesy of our friends at the Middle Tennessee Plant Swap. It has saved us thousands of dollars!!! If you haven't gathered by now, (What planet are you living on?) I was "volunteered" at the 2004 Fall Swap to be the MTPS Secretary by Mona Lisa White and Jan Hobbs to take over and be the Swap Nazi. In spite of that, I still love them both dearly! Mona is our Secretary Emeritus and Jan is our incredibly gracious Hostess. Those two ladies deserve all the credit in the world for getting this Swap stuff started and for continuing to make it grow. We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude for without their hard work there may not have been any plants swaps in Tennessee other than the ones for the specific flower and plant clubs.

If you haven't been to a MTPS then you have no idea what you're missing!!!! We have met the most wonderful and generous people on the face of the Earth through the Tennessee Forum and at the MTPS. I look forward to meeting a bunch of new folks as well as getting reacquainted with all the regulars at the Spring Swap on Saturday, May 19th at 9:00 CST. ;-)

Also, if you're just a lurker then get on here and post! Nobody's gonna bite you!!! If you're shy like me and don't feel like you have anything worthwhile to add to the normal posts then now is the time to step up and be counted. All you have to do is say hello! Dang, you might even enjoy it. Don't worry you aren't required to be as long-winded and as in-depth as I am.

NEXT.......

I'm divorced, I knew I shouldn't have married a younger woman that hadn't settled down yet, and my 83 year old mother lives with me and I do the best I can trying to take care of her.

I spend what free time I have trying to keep my house up, gardening and surfing the web on this site and another gardening site I just found out I couldn't mention because I guess this site is afraid of other forums that don't depend on advertising to keep them going.

Hopefully, I'll get some time to visit a plant swap this year and meet some fellow Tennessee Gardeners.

NEXT!

We've weathered the storms okay thus far - the swath from Kentucky down to Louisiana blessedly has only given us rain and winds here in my area of Giles County - though the more recent stuff had this county and Limestone County (next county down across the line/in Alabama) closed schools ... thankful I/we homeschool but feel very badly for those in Enterprise, AL.

Our temps of course have dropped below freezing tonight, though we've had some nice days. It's causing havoc with all plants not already killed. I'm finally into the swing of seed swapping now (normally I'm arranging in October and active by Yule at the latest but this winter I was preoccupied trying to save subtropicals, tropicals, cacti and succulents - and didn't succeed worth a flip). "Meeting" new people here on GW nationally and internationally - getting back into the swing of gardening "circles" I guess... even while I'm holing up more than ever -- returning to "where" I need to be, "grounding" myself with the botanicals - stretched myself too thin with too much volunteerism the last several years.

Must confess, I actually avoided GW for many years and stuck to genera or theme specific "groups"... did plenty of reading and research here on GW even though I didn't formally sign up as a member until recently - came out of lurk mode in that respect I suppose.

I'm not as old as dirt, I just look it. Happily married, with children and critters, have grand plans for the property I secured, heavily involved with rescue/rehab for domestic animals and wildlife, run a private Sanctuary, hope to be able to provide botanical (educational and/or sheer aesthetics) to the public in the future. Rather philosophical and quasi-spiritual about plants - "Hedonistic Horticulture" is how I label it for myself... historical, medicinal, culinary, magic(k)al, conservation, preservation, amateur (very amateur) botanist... have inevitably become more personally intent upon open-pollinated and heirloom varieties of plants, notably the edibles. Do landscape design gigs when opportunity presents itself and ummm well, plants are pretty much in virtually every aspect of my life. Even won/earned as an All-Star Garden in 2006... pretty proud of that, but doesn't mean I can't effectively kill just about anything. :) Like to try new things, and tend to perservere with those that I REALLY like the looks of or have a use for, but fail with over and over - eventually a door opens and I find my groove with a species or genus or what have you. Learning from the wise and even now, while trying to grow many things, working things out for low to no maintenance as I age because physical limitations have already begun.

Really, really hoping to attend the MTPS in May - that's my plan anyway (but you know how it goes, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that)...But in preparation, if there's anything on my trade list that you'd like started and brought or seeds brought for you to start yourself, by all means, let me know...think I've got the link put in correctly at the bottom.

I just recently found this website, even though we have been on the internet forever (since the days of text only browsers for anyone that might remember lynx). Have been busy reading through the informative and interesting posts and been fascinated by the idea of a plant swap. we have put the date on our calendar but it's too early to know whether we'll be able to go.

We have successfully fought the kudzu and our garden (after 12 years) is still a work in progress. we like carefree plants that survive and thrive without supplemental irrigation. i collect iris by colors and have been known to knock on complete strangers doors to ask for a little division of one that caught my eye in their yard.

I was a young farm boy from Nebraska, picked up a pretty country girl with five children from Illinois, adopted all and took them for visits across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

We have lived in the country for over 20 years but have now settled to city gardening. My garden plot has shrunk from an acre to about 40 by 20 feet but is enough for me to feed quite a few friends. My past motto has always been "if I can’t eat it I won’t plant it" but wifey has gotten a bigger stick so I do devote some time now to the bloomers.

Do love this state and you folk, it most definitely is our final home. Always remember my first garden in this state, I had to cut down a few trees and plow up what appeared to be a virgin area. There was one area of my garden that grew fabulous veggies, much better than the other area’s. My neighbors finally let out the secret that I had plowed up their neighborhood still.

Probably won’t have much to offer at the May swap unless there is a demand for some Datura. If I’m not in Nebraska or Illinois in May I would like to meet you all, but May is the only decent weather month up north.

My name is Rae. I'm 27. My other half, Ryan, and I are full time artists and own a retail shop~gallery in downtown Gatlinburg. (We both sculpt. He paints and I also spin and crochet) We've been together for 7 years now.

About 3 months ago we grew our roots a litte deeper and bought our first place. We found 7 acres on the outskirts of Gatlinburg, near Cosby, TN. We LOVE it !!! We are at the dead end of a dirt road. peace and quite (unless we're drumming that is, lol)

I am new to this site and to gardening. Our land is very diverse (and none very flat) so I'm planning a variety of different gardens. Mostly keeping it wooded but a few spots here and there for specific plants. This year I'm starting with veggies and herbs. (eventually I'd like mushrooms, bamboo/water area, and some fruit) The last owner has a fair amount of flowers started. Since we got the place in fall (and I didn't think to ask) I'm going to have to wait and see what all comes up. So far lots of roses, hydrengeas, tulips, and green buds shooting out from the ground in every flower bed. We are also fighting a ton blackberries (good thing I know how to make wine;).

We used to joke when we first opened our store (it was in a very slow locale) that we retired early. We wake up each day and piddle. Now piddling has become constant work and we love it. I'm excited to sculpt our land and watch the seasons change. I appreciate the hands on help that I have found though this site and look forward to getting to know a few folks.

happy growing season,
~Rae

All of you regular old-timers ought to be embarrassed! It's 6 to 0!!! Where are you guys?

And horribly busy here lately. I'll catch up soon.

(Besides, I can't access my photos from work anymore so I can't post images of you to illustrate my points.)

We have lived in TN about 32 years. Raised our 3 kids here, and now our grand kids are here, too. I taught oil painting for a number of years until bad health put a stop to it. Had classes for kids, home-school kids, adults and private lessons. I really miss that.

We have a canoe rental as well as the campground, and so I am busy from March until the end of Oct with the phone as well as well as answering canoe submissions on the internet, and helping with the canoes all summer. Don't know how many more years Jim and I will be able to keep up the pace...we aren't spring chicks anymore.

Am looking forward to seeing all the oldies again and meeting all the newbies at the swap on May 19th. If anyone wants to camp along with Marianne, just let me know so I can reserve a campsite for you. We have some reservations for that weekend already, so the sooner you get your reservation in the better.

Do you realize that it is only 10 weeks and 3 days until the swap??? Get your plants/seeds etc. planted now so they are in good shape for the swap.

SEE YOU AT THE RIVER

Jan

If you haven't gone to that thread yet here is a really great link to info on everything Roses you need to know.

Now, post your roll call message if you haven't already done so. Thank you. :-)

I am married, no children left at home (not counting dogs and fishes) and work as a 911 dispatcher.. Hubs and I both are very into the outdoors and are ready for warm weather to come and stay...

Right now I am back on here checking just about everything but mainly looking for some relief from the d*@( fire ants that have taken over our place... :(

Hope ya'll are having a great weekend :)

By all means come to the swap even if you don't have any plants. I have known people that have gotten plants on sale, seperated them and potted them up and brought them to swap. Also there are garden crafts, magazines books, canned goods that you did yourself, all kinds of garden related items that you can use to trade with. At the end of the swap all the plants not traded are given away in a free thing so you will go home with plants, I guarantee you. We would love to meet you, so come on down.

SEE YOU AT THE RIVER

JAN

My name is Carol & I live in Lexington, TN. My yard is still pretty bare since we just moved in a year & half ago. I have been to a few of the Middle TN swaps & loved them all.

I am 37 years old & have been married to my best friend in the world for 9 years now. I've worked as a fleet manager of 60+ truck drivers for the past 13 years, but this year I'm changing to a different occupation. I am doing property inspections & working for myself. This has allowed me so much more free time & I am really looking forward to gardening this year.

We don't have any children in spite of trying for years. This has resulted in a very spoiled Cocker Spaniel in the house, outside a Black Lab, & my gardening buddy "Lil Pus" a Himalayan mix kitty.

I was watching PBS today & happened to catch the show Marty did on the Middle TN plant swap. It was a great show & I've saved it on my tivo. Watching it made me want to check in here, so here I am. :-)

Always happy to meet other gardeners.

Good deal Bryan! Sorry about the subterfuge. Make sure that you come to the MTPS on May 19th. We can probably hook you up with some stuff to take back to that new home.

I am a dispatch clerk for a trucking company for the last 5 1/2 years. My husband, Greg, is a police investigator at the local police department. He has been with them for 17 years now. We are both 40 yoa and have 3 grown children and are expecting our 2nd and 3rd grandbabies this year!!!!!!!!!!

I don't really know alot about gardening and have almost a blank canvas at my house. I hope to get some great ideas from here!

Nice to meet all of you!

This is the year that I will put some plants in the ground! Anywone want two crepe myrtles that need some sun? You'll have to come dig them out though. Actually, I have three. I would love to trade for dogwoods or redbuds if possible.

My name is Jason; I am married to Melissa. We live on a large working farm just outside College Grove at the bottom end of Williamson County. Among other things, we board horses and raise natural beef for sale in the Nashville area.

I am 35 years old, with a bachelors degree in Agriculture, and I also work as the TN state rep for an Ag/Biotech firm based in Lexington, KY.

I love to garden, but farming keeps us pretty busy during the growing season, so we mostly stick to veggies and natives in our large yard.

Haven't made it to a plant swap yet, but would love to get there as soon as time and weather permit. We could use some rain; I can't believe how dry the ground is for mid-March.

I was all set to come to the fall swap, only for fate to slap me down again. But "I" will show up as soon as hubby's health will allow.

Y'all keep up the info and great work on this site. I am living thru you all.

My name is Ernie. I retired from the Army in '92 and bought a tiny house in Marion county (near Jasper). I divide my time between fishing and vegetable gardening. I don't know anything about flowers because if I don't eat it I don't plant it. I have raised beds and a lot of containers. I also love to can what I grow. I hope you all have a wonderful gardening year.

Eaglebug, welcome to the TN Forum. You two need to come to the Swap as well. I'm sure we can find some things for you to take home and plant. Sorry, but I have to agree with your husband; no to the Privet. You'll NEVER be able to get rid of it. There are so many other nice options!!! My best friend's wife loves hers so I recon it's just different strokes....

Lani just do what you can. We understand. This MTPS should be another great one so we'd love to see ya make it.

Ernie if you already have your new 2007 H&F license then you can fish at the MTPS too. We set-up right beside the Buffalo River. You can bivouac at the site. Jan and Jim host the MTPS and it is on their campground and canoe rental business that we hold the Swap.

BTW, I forget that maybe all of you don't know about Jan & Jim Hobbs. They are the kindest, most generous and hard-working Christian couple that you'll ever meet. At their own personal and professional expense they started this Middle Tennessee Plant Swap along with Mona and David White. They volunteer their time, energy, efforts at the expense of their business to us for free. So if you and your family, church group or company want to do a camping and canoe trip then why not go to a company that you know and trust? Help support our friends that have supported us for these many years. Contact Jan or Jim at their website buffalocanoeing.com for your reservations.

As usual, you can go to the MTPS website at midtnplantswap.com or email me with any questions about the Swap.

It's great to see all the new folks but where are all you old-timers? Ya'll are really disappointing me!!!

My name's Marty and I've been to a swap or two -- they're terrific and all you new folks need to come on down to the river to meet some great people and have a wonderful time.

I'm married with grown sons, two grandkids, six dogs and two cats, and a half-acre vegetable garden. My day job is as the propagator at a nursery -- right now I'm doing apple grafts, did over 100 today. And I'm transplanting the thousands of seedling native azaleas I started in December. I'm also on Volunteer Gardener, a show produced by the Nashville PBS station. I'm the blabby one of the segment hosts; in fact, the producer has quit timing my segments because I always go on longer than I'm supposed to. I also do landscape design in my spare time. Basically a plant geek, I guess.

Speaking of Volunteer Gardener: hey, Chattanooga area people, I'm looking for locations there to shoot some Volunteer Gardener segments. I'm pursuing Reflection Riding, of course, but if any of you guys know of somebody's great garden to visit, or a good nursery or some such, I'd love a lead on it. And actually if anybody anywhere in TN or near TN (I've shot in Huntsville, AL) has something they think oughta be on the show, let me know. They're always looking for new, interesting subjects.

Marty

Jan

We haven't been to a swap yet but I sure do love peeking in on Garden Web! This is my second roll call and there is something very comforting about reading bigorangevol and the old timers' posts.

Very Happy Spring Wishes to Everyone!

Somehow, no matter where we live, we take over flower gardening at the neighbors!! Landscape next door was abandoned for 6-7 years. So we tore everything out divided our perennials and started it over! Now we will have nice views from our family room.

Our daughter, cried after about 2 years here (1/3 acre) said we had run out of space to plant even one more flower!

For those new couples gardening hang in there, your styles will merge to something you both will love. My husband still remembers me telling him his flower beds looked like he vomited in color! I won't live that one down.

Folks Marty has been our guest lecturer at TWO MTPS's and has featured us on the Volunteer Gardener TV show. She is simply awesome!

Sara, Stephanie, Mary and Jay we will be expecting to see you at the MTPS. You can't imagine how much fun it is. Our demographic is anyone with a pulse and a love for plants.

Steph shame on you for still not making a MTPS all this time and the same to Jay. Who said that you were a lurker anyway Jay? I was reluctant to make the drive with our piddly little stuff the first time but the reason I've been hooked and so passionate about it since is because it's the most fun two days of the year spending it with the greatest folks I know. So if you haven't been before, just make the freakin' plunge!!! You will be so happy you did and the plants, food, lecture and camaraderie will make sure you continue to return year after year.

Jan, how many have we had to this point? Is it over a dozen?

I am enjoying reading the posts from all you newbies and hope to be able to meet you on May 19th. It will be Christmas in May for you! You will start some deep freindships that will last a lifetime...you will cherish these new friends and will look forward to having a reunion with them 2X a year...and that is what it really is...a reunion!

SEE YOU AT THE RIVER

Jan

Are you sure you have wild chives, Allium schoenoprasum? Wild garlic, Allium vineale, (what most people around here refer to as wild onions) is much more common in Tennessee. I noticed the USDA doesn't even list wild chives as a native or as an introduced species for Tennessee (some other sources do list it as being present but not common).

Brandon

I'm almost 31 yr old (bday on the 28th), I've been married for almost 4 years and I have a 14 moth old daughter. We bought our house almost 2 years ago and it had bare minimum landscaping. I've slowly been changing that,but it'll take awhile. I'm the classic gardener, more Ideas than I have money to implement them. :D

Gardening: I grew up helping my grandfather with his vegetable garden. When I got my own place I also developed a tremendous interest in herbs. Pass-along plants are dear to my heart and I LOVE daffodils. Our farm has two knobs and a holler. In the holler are several springs, 2 creeks and some ponds. We only grow hay for the farming bit, but I have a vegetable and herb garden as well as many flowers.

Ever since we bought this place, I have made periodic trips back to Louisiana to dig up daffodils and other heirloom plants from my grandparents' and great-grandparents' places. Right now there are thousands of daffodils in bloom and their fragrance is wafting in through the open window as I type.

Last year I decided that a 51yo woman could garden easier in raised beds. Mike built me four 4x8 beds. Those worked so well that last weekend he built me 6 more. These will be my vegetable garden space from now on. I will be planting heirloom tomatoes, summer squashes, beans, peppers, cucumbers, and whatever else strikes my fancy and there is room to plant. Here's a photo of one of the beds last year:

I've also got several beds planted with garlic, onions, saffron crocus, green asparagus and purple asparagus. We've planted an orchard of figs, plums, peaches, quince, apricots, pears and cherries. Also muscadines, scuppernongs, strawberries and blueberries. Last year we planted pecan and walnut trees.

My grandfather always told me, "Just keep planting." I have taken that advice to heart. :-)

Here are some of my daffodils:

Becky

My name is Joe. I'm soon to be 43. I've lived in Tennessee all my life and in the Nashville area for the last half of it. I'm married to Cathy (2nd wife) and have three grown kids (by first wife) who thankfully are (mostly) on their own. We have a house on 3.5 acres in rural Goodlettsville. Three cats and two dogs.

I suppose I've been involved in gardening in some way most of my life. I can remember stepping down the seed potatoes as a kid, and then digging them up later on. Planting corn and beans. Picking tomatoes for canning, snapping endless beans and peas. Then when I was old enough it was time to run the tiller!

Needless to say I got burned out on it after a while. Still had to do the grass cutting and weed eating, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I found a renewed interesting in helping things grow. (I almost said making things grow, but that's God's job.) Since then I've gotten better at figuring out what will work best where. Well, as well as a man can. And have even ventured back into the vegetable gardening end of things a little.

Photography took over as my main passion about three and a half years ago. (Gardening is seasonal and does take over in the spring with maintenance all summer long.) I'll be the guy at the swaps hiding behind a camera and a ridiculously long lens. Except for when I'm helping someone unload/load their car, directing traffic or eating.

Let's see...what do I grow? Lots of Angels Trumpets. Daturas, poppies, lavender, hydrangeas, elephant ears, daylillies...pretty much anything I can get at the swaps and will come back for me. We've got a lot of lansdcaping to do still.

Here's a good idea of what to expect at a swap. This is one of our better ones in spite of what Jeff's initial expression might imply. But oh was he to learn what WOULD merit such an insane look.... (Sorry buddy, nothing personal. This is just the best set of photos of a swap that I have.)

Spring Plant Swap 2005

Rebecca

I don't post much , but read a LOT. I am Janice from Smyrna, a 64 yr old widow who is learning to garden in a small courtyard garden. I sold my house with its high maintance landscape and moved to a wonderful condo in Smyrna with large flower beds and small lawn area that is mowed by a lawn company.
I grow tomatoes, peppers, herbs, annuals and perennials. About the only thing that I can't have is large shrubs like I used to have. I miss the lilacs:)
I have had a love of gardening since I was 18 yr old.

Janice

I live in the Pineview community of Perry County.. just north of Linden with my wonderful hubby and 4 kitties.

Blessings,
Carolyn

Nice comeback on the post though. That first one was so weak!

I can't tell you how much I love seeing all the lurkers come out of hiding!!! You guys have got to come to the MTPS. I couldn’t be more serious about anything. You will be reformed and converted. Your life will immediately change for the better. As a lifelong shy, introverted, bashful, quiet and unassuming wallflower… making our first MTPS brought me out of my shell entirely. Now I’m a new self-assured confident man. Better and cheaper than therapy, it will work wonders for you too!
:-)

Ann

PS - Jan, is your white verbena blooming yet?

We have a lot of folks come to the MTPS from West TN; you need to join us May 19th!!!

I'm April. Been active on GardenWeb for a couple of years now, though I had lurked on it for longer. I live in Madison and usually try to schedule things so I can make the swaps. I can't overemphasize how fun it is, and how nice everyone is. :-)

I garden in Madison, TN, with my very lenient hubby Chip and my two large mutts. We only have about a third of an acre, but at the rate I am replacing lawn with garden, it's probably a good thing I don't have more land or I'd have to garden full-time! As it is, I'm way behind on pruning things, though the cold snap we are expecting this weekend makes me feel a little bit better. :-)

When Chip and I aren't doing something to the garden, we fence (he teaches fencing at Cohn Adult Learning Center on Monday/Wednesday evenings), explore and survey caves, backpack, and are avid history buffs. Somehow, in the weird landscape of my brain, all of these activities are interconnected with my great love of plants, particularly native or heirloom varieties. For example, I think we are the only people I know of who have a fencing strip in their garden! ;-)

Anyway, that's more than enough from me -- see y'all at the swap.

P.S. Ann Bell, I'll be happy to take some of those rose campion volunteers off your hands. :-)

I'm Johnny and my wife is Lori. We own a home that was built in 1903 that is located in the middle of Soddy Daisy. Our city limits border the northern city limits of Chattanooga. I work at TVA as a fire fighter and my wife and I are both volunteer fire fighters for our city. I do vegetable gardening in 23 raised beds using the square foot method. This year I'll be planting a few flowers in my beds to brighten things up. I'm kinda like geneo on the eating part. My wife was pretty much of a city girl so she leaves me to my gardening but she does like to have some flowers out in the front yard. The house is only about 30 feet from the road so I can't plant too much there. Lori even allows me to do all the canning just as long as I clean up the kitchen when I'm done. When I started my seedlings in the kitchen last year I thought I might have pushed things a little too far but she did allow me one corner to put them in just a long as I cleaned up all the potting mess I made.

I would like to make it to the swap (would me my first) but with my work schedule I'm limited on what I can do at times. Lori is allowing me to replace the floor in our laundry room that weekend. She's not real happy that we won't have hot water for about 4 days but it is kind of hard to replace the floor with the water heater sitting on it.

This evening I will be covering things up in my garden since we have that cold snap coming in. I rushed things a little bit. My strawberry plants are in, potatoes are up along with beans and cucumbers. They should survive but if not I'll plant again. Next year I'll probably wait until after Easter to plant most items. Live and learn. Happy gardening.

I've been a lurker off and on and spent most of my time at the seed swap forum until I caught a case of tomato fever.

I'm gardening again and it feels so good! Moved up to Murfreesboro to be with Mr. Wonderful (aka Joel) and was able to bring most of my plants with me. Literally had more plants than clothes! Joel has been more than indulgent - we have a new bed that spans the back yard and it's already filling in nicely - I can send time lapse photos to prove it! Almost kidding - I do take photos to show how it's grown but many changes are only discernable to loving 'mom' and 'dad'. Did I mention moving the greenhouse? Well, it's settled in nicely and we're waiting to see how it holds up to hail.

About us: Both of us are shutterbugs, who love to camp, read, and cook! Joel cuts hair when he isn't cutting the lawn, cycling, playing guitar, or making bonsai and I take some time away from yardwork to walk with Luci (our sooner), pretend to cycle (novice), sew, start plants, and if there's time left I do bodywork and massage. Will happily barter services and give discounts for plants, seeds, pots, or dirt. Seriously, If I were outside the city even chickens would be welcome! Please be good to your bodies. Take time to stretch a bit, use good body mechanics, select the right tools, take frequent breaks, drink plenty of water, and some sunscreen would be nice too.

Okay, jumping off my soap box and going back to the plants:

Guilty confession: my tomatoes are in the ground - have been for at least a week - no apologies - no good reason - just a bad case of spring fever :)

Plants I'm worried about: roses with buds and tender new growth, oak leaf hydrangea, peonies (that survived a death sentence at Lowe's so they might make it), sweet shrub with buds, mock orange, and a few others.

If it really gets down to 22 degrees is there any hope? I plan to bucket/mulch/cover all that I can.

On the bright side the insect population might be decreased and there could be hope for cuttings!

Any advice is greatly appreciated - feel free to contact me if you're in the area and want to talk plants!

Looking forward to lurking less - anna

I am Gail and live in the Hillwood neighborhood in Nashville...I have been a gardenweb member for a long time but am a pretty inactive poster. I started with daylilies I bought at Gilbert Wild over 15 years ago and now primarily garden with native plants; they are more likely to thrive in my clay soil and limestone bedrock! This weekend my garden will be draped with old sheets to protect some of the blooms, sigh! I can't cover them all....and just when all the iris have stalks sporting blooms, too bad.
Gail

For all of you that have tons of plants that need splitting and you have no place to put them or nobody to give them to, why not bring them to the MTPS and share with those that are just getting started. You can't buy good Karma like that!!!

I know that last week took a toll on all of us. Everything at Cheapwood burnt-up except for the Bee Balm but we'll get through it and everything will eventually come back. I realize that some of the plants this year are going to look less healthy than what we are use to seeing at a MTPS but you know as well as I do that by June they will have recovered and be off the hook blooming their little heads off.

You can bring some water plants or anything else you can scrape together.

If nothing else, just bring some food and some good conversation. It will be well worth your trip!!!

I bought a little "cottage" in South Nashville (off Nolensville). It had *no* landscaping. I've been planting pretty hit or miss. I'm trying to loosen up about it and not worry so much. Part of my yard is on top of an old gravel parking lot so I'm trying to plant an "alpine" garden. I've also started some lasagna beds which are producing nice soil--slowly. I've just taken my first trips to BATES--lovely. And, I've planted some foundation plants this weekend. Lots more to do.

Maybe I'll see ya'll at the swap. (Never been...sounds great...but nothing to swap and dad's in town..so we'll see. Fall for sure--I hope!)

I have known people who have bought plants on sale and divided them and brought them to the swaps....we also use seeds, gardening books/magazines, garden type crafts, anything garden to swap with.

Hope to see you on the 19th

SEE YOU AT THE RIVER

Jan

My Name is Kathi Pulley, My Husband is Steven Pulley. We live in Waynesboro, With my 4 kids, and When Stevens kids stay over, well that makes 7 total!

I don't know how many plant swaps I have been to so far, but I remember being nervous the first time I went, but everyone there just makes you feel so welcome, it's like you have known them all your life. :) Such an awesome bunch of folks.

I have always loved playing in the dirt, mudpies when I was little, and now Just watching things grow, and there is nothing like a nice home grown tomato. Except maybe picking an apple off a tree in New Hampshire and taking that first bite.

I hope to see everyone at the swap :)

Thank you Kathi! It's always nice to hear how much folks enjoy themselves at the MTPS!!!

R. Joe Reich here, hence the screen name, but most people never get it. :shrug:

Short Version:
--------------
I moved here about a 1.5 years ago from Detroit, recently bought my first house in southeast Antioch by the Four Corner's Marina, and my wife is due with our first child in only 5 weeks (today)!

Long Romantic Story Version:
----------------------------

I moved to Nashville back in October of 2005 from Detroit in an effort to get away from an ex-girlfriend. We had been dating for just under six years and it dawned on me, shortly after buying our first house together, that the relationship really wasn't going anywhere.

She never wanted to have children and was so obsessed with her equestrian hobby that she never had time to spend with me. Now I know why daddy's never buy their daughter's ponies...they'll never come home.

So I packed up and moved here to Nashville, with whatever fit in my Toyota Echo (sub-compact) without a job or a place to live lined up. All I had was the address of a girl I went to high school with down in Columbia.

Whatever you call it, fate, destiny, karma, etc. I had gotten here on a Friday, had a job with a 15% raise by Monday and a perm roommate situation by the following Wednesday that wouldn't require rent until my first paycheck which was going to be a month away.

After about two months of getting settled in I managed to score a first date with this hot little chicka that I found online that first week of isolation, but she had routinely blew me off except for this one first time.

Came to find out that she had moved her at the very same time as me up from Miami, FL - talk about meeting in the middle, heh - and I don't know, something really sparked, I had a second date the next day and we've managed to spend every day together since. We managed to wait a little over six months before getting married - at her mother's pleading - and we now have a little one on the way in ONE MONTH!

We just bought our first house in Southern Antioch and I'm trying to figure out how gardening is going to work down here because the soil (and rock) conditions are vastly different from both of our previous experiences.

Oh, and I managed to lose a little over 75lbs. since I've moved here...

Congrats on the new baby to come...he/she will have you wrapped around their finger in a week.

SEE YOU AT THE RIVER

Jan

Everyone- I'm gonna see if I can get to the swap although I don't have anything exciting to offer. Maybe some columbine babies and some seeds? (I don't do canning or make jam or anything....this year I hope to make some fun stepping stones so maybe I can bring those next year!)

Cheers!

Hope you get a chance to.

Jan

1. We had some black mulch put down by our lawn guy last summer. This spring as we were digging in the mulch, we have noticed a white "dust" or fungus inside the mulch. We have noticed that where we disturbed the mulch an orange thing grows for a few days. This orange thing is about 12 inches wide and looks like foam insulation. What is the white "dust"? Good, bad or indifferent? What is the orange thing? Is it connected to the white "dust?"
2. Has any one tried to use wet news papers to keep weeds at bay? I read in a "pass this to ten other people" email about how you can use wet newspapers under soil or mulch.

Thanks for your help, Beth in Antioch

PS I wish I could come to the plant swap, but having another camping trip to go to. But I have some sunflower seedlings, if someone local wants to come and get them.

We just got the news and our place in in the works. Hello all my name is tamara hubby is tom and we are moveing to greenville county to or OWN place 4.6 acres this summer. He is a farmer from PA and I a gardner from FL. We have lived here for 1 1/2 years now. We shall be keeping some trees but I am planning a formal herb garden and animal friendly plantings all around our place. We are both big on wildlife so I have selctions I will be basing on that plus we will have our own animals. In other words growning our own food.

Well, MTPS is too far for us to make might there be an ETPS? I tend to like to go native when possible. I find many native plants are never used and hard to find sometimes. Even though they might be the best choise for many people. I am still in planning stage since we did not know when all this would happen. Guess I shall be very busy this fall.

It's great to meet you all. I have lots to learn about TN gardening.

There is an East TN plant swap but you just missed it by 11 days; sorry.

There is also the Mountain Madness plant swap in the Knoxville area which was 18 days ago.

You're only about 200 miles from where I am I think...

I'm sorry to have missed out on the plant swap here in Knoxville. I wish there was another one sooner!

Take care all.

My name is Chris (Christine). I've been hanging around GardenWeb for a couple years here and there, but I don't post much usually. I've learned a lot here. To be honest, it's difficult for me and probably some others to just "jump right in".

I live about 25 miles north of Chattanooga. Closer to Cleveland TN. I've been here about 8 years. I've had the opportunity to garden in very different enviroments/climates in New York State and in southeast Texas as well as TN.

I'm 49 and have been growing plants literally all my life. I am obsessed with all kinds of plants. I planted my first tree when I was 4 years old (it's still alive and well) and had indoor plants since I had my own bedroom at about 10. The women in my family gardened (food and flower) as far back as I know of which is my Great Grandmother, so I come by it honestly so to speak and was around it constantly as a kid. I'm afraid I tend to be a little self-righteous in that I think there is no more noble pasttime or hobby or addiction or obsession than growing plants. After all, that IS the balance of nature... none of us can survive without them, plant nut or not!

I have not been to a swap, but would love to attend one after reading many of these posts. Although I tend toward being a loner, I've always found plant people to be the best there are... kind and down-to-earth. I have down-sized my flower beds this year and would love to share my plants. I have a particular fondness for shrubs (and propagating them) and a fairly good collection of indoor plants.

I wonder how long it takes to keep straight who is who and from where in a group this large???? I've posted in a few different threads to try to find out who lives in my area, simply to narrow things down and connect with a few people. A group this large can be a little overwhelming.

Thank-you Jeff for starting this thread. It's a great opportunity to learn about a lot of the people on the group and also introduce myself to you all.

~Chris

My DH and I moved here almost five years ago and we're finally getting our yard more organized. This year I have a perennial garden and a few smaller annual ones. We've also planted several trees and I can't wait to see how it all looks next year after they get settled. We have about five veggie plants and five watermelon vines growing and we'll wait to see how all that turns out.

Thanks for starting this thread. It is nice to see so many "neighbors"!! :)

~Kat

Happy Gardening!
Tina in TN

I'm south of Nashville & have a very modest veggie garden, that I hope to expand next year.

I'm hoping to make it to the MT Plant Swap in the fall!!

Thanks for all the info you put up here...

Today millions of green beetles (not Japanese)are swarming in our yard. Apparently they have just emerged from the ground. At first I thought they were locusts but this is not the year for that special treat. My neighbors to either side appear to be swarm free. Is this happening in anyone else's yard? Wonder what these uncoordinated, fly into everything insects like to eat?

By the way, welcome to the Forum!

i love gardening.....and have done quite a bit in my garden.....making hedges, planting shrubbery, groundcovers, doing wildflowers, and planted some berries (blue, black, and yellow/red raspberries).

i was wondering what those pesky green bugs were. they just seemed to hover and go after some norwegian spruce trees that i had planted. after spraying, they seemed to vanish in an hour. ??? sorry neighbors.....hope they don't eat you out of your garden.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_beetle
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/junebeetle.html

Welcome to the forum!

I live in Chattanooga in what used to be my in-laws' house. When we moved in, there were already some hostas, two crepe myrtles, several azaleas, forsythias, two peonies, and a few other things.

Well, I am working towards ridding myself of the forsythia. They are lovely, don't get me wrong, but I find them entirely too evasive. And to me, it is simply too much work to keep them trimmed back to a manageable size for something that blooms for only a week or two.

I can happily say that I've added much more than taken away. I have planted cannas, daylilies, roses, bearded irises, and clematis. I definitely have plans for more roses and daylilies and cannas - just not sure where I will place everything.

I am currently trying my hand at rooting some rose cuttings. I have Seven Sisters, Mr. Lincoln, and Climbing Blaze all struck. It is hard to not check for roots, as I am not known for my patience, but I have managed to leave them alone for the short time they have been in their pots.

Finally, my husband and I are anxiously awaiting the birth of our second son. My due date is August 25th, but it could honestly be any day now. Our first son is 7-1/2 years old, so this is almost like having a first all over again. Although we're certainly out of practice, we're looking forward to experiencing all the 'firsts' all over again.