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2024 Spring Plant Swap

What: 2024 Spring Plant Swap
When: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Where: The home of Rick Moses, Derwood, MD

Registration Began: March 2, 2024 Register
Trading Begins: May 1, 2022
Trading Ends: May 29, 2022

This swap is being hosted by Rick Moses (RickM). Directions will be posted the week of the swap.

If you've never been to an in-person swap, don't be shy! After all, where else can you go and hang out with a bunch of people talking about plants with enthusiasm? Of course, we can't forget about the food!


Swap Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Time: Noon until . . .
Who: NGA Members and their guests (scroll down thread for list of attendees)

As with past swaps, we will be using the Seed Swap tool here on the NGA site. A link to the swap will be posted when available.

Useful Links:
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What you've bought/dibbed
What you've sold

Swap Control Panel
Swap Events Log (Adds, Deletes and Dibs)
Complete Swap List

Last Updated: 01-May-2024 10:00am

Attending (User ID, From):
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© Rick (RickM, Derwood, MD)(Host)
© Sally (Donnerville, Damascus, MD)
© Francine, (TanteFrancine, Falls Church, VA)
© Jill (Critterologist, Frederick, MD)
© Ralph & Mary (RalphGamba, )
© Robin (RobinBunch5)
© Terri (AspenHill, Lucketts, VA)


Pot Luck Lunch... Who's Bringing What:
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- Rick: Grilled chicken skewers, Smoked Italian sausage, Baked Beans
- Sally/Donner: Dumplings


Misc Stuff... Who's Bringing What:
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- Jill: Paper plates/bowls, Washable/Reusable plastic cups & flatware



Gift Table:
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As in past swaps, we will be having a gift/door prize table. Please consider bringing something, new or gently used, for the table.


Notes:
Please remember to bring a chair for yourself and your companion or guest.

Please reach out to friends, family, neighbors to invite them to join us! On the "increasing participation" thread we've talked about extending plant/seed swap invites to people we "know" (to avoid a horde of folks in search of free plants and free food with no other interest in our forum). We've also mentioned that people should feel free to do shout-outs from various social media platforms about our forum here, in hopes of attracting new participants to both MAG and garden.org .

Also, if you notice posts in other forums where somebody has given a mid-Atlantic location but isn't active on this forum, please invite them via tree-mail (so as not to disrupt the thread) to the forum and to the swap!

reserved

If anybody would like to add items to my greenhousemegastore order before 11 pm tomorrow (3/4), please treemail me to LMK. We're up to the 15% discount and free shipping level.
https://www.greenhousemegastor...

For fans of Garden Answer on you tube, GMS has the "Tidy Tray" for less than $15 (current discount, including tax). I'm excited about being able to fit a 1020 sheet pot across the bottom of it for easier filling than I've been able to do in the past. https://www.greenhousemegastor...

I'm also getting more of the colored 1020 trays, which I think seem a bit sturdier than the also very sturdy black "mega heavy duty" trays. Last year I got assorted color trays for about $7 each; this year they are about $8 each (at current discount plus tax). https://www.greenhousemegastor...

If you want a few of the black trays, mesh "daisy" trays, or either 48 cell or deep 36 cell sheet pot inserts (the 6-pack type containers), I also have extras of those from previous orders for under $1 each (will check price if there's interest), far less than at local nurseries.

Pickup would be at the spring swap unless I see you before then.

Thanks for stickying the thread, Rick -- you are quick!

Too bad they no longer carry white 1020 trays.

FYI...
Blue & Magenta are lowest cost, followed by
Green and Yellow.
Orange is the most expensive.

Jill,

Please put me down for...

Color 1020 Mega Tray - Blue / no holes / 5 trays
Qty 2 ($89.30)

Garland 28 Cell Deep Root Success Kit - 15 in. L x 9.25 in. W x 8 in. H
Qty 2 ($29.26)


Thanks!

Rick, I could have sworn I saw white 1020 trays... Here they are, but they are more expensive than the colored one. : https://www.greenhousemegastor...

I hadn't noticed the prices varying between colors since I was just interested in blue. (Wish they had purple, but I think Jim prefers the blue!)

I think Rick's additions puts us up to 20% discount! Blue trays are now $7.58 each (including tax), so if you want just a couple, LMK... I could use 2 more...

Hello All! I cannot tell you how excited I am about the upcoming Plant Swap! Thank you, Jill, for doing this. It will be a real treat to meet NGA friends in person. I have May 18 circled on the calendar and am determined to make it there! March Madness is upon me and I'm planting seeds like crazy, so I should have plenty to share with others. Ah, the anticipation is half the joy....

OH, I know how that goes... let's see, I have room for 2 tomato plants of this variety... better plant 4 seeds... hmm, this seed is 6 years old, better plant 8.... and then all 8 germinate, and how can you just throw away those 6 extra seedlings??

LOL Y'all are so funny and will be missed. I will be vacationing with my folks then but would love to meet up for lunch a few times over the spring/summer for sure!!

@SallyG!! Thank you for the 'Speckled Roman' tomato seeds. I'll add them to my tomato starting list for this year. They're such beautiful looking tomatoes, and I have hopes that your strain (different supplier) won't turn out like hollow stuffers.

Life happened yesterday (all OK now) and when I went to place our Greenhouse Megastore order today I made the unhappy discovery that the "buy more save more" discounts had vanished. Undeterred, I called them and begged, and they gave us a 20% off discount (and free shipping).

Rick, I'm glad you mentioned those deep root pots, as that's something I'd been meaning to try. Hopefully it's OK with you that they are backordered until the end of April... they should arrive well before May 18. I got one "kit" with the tray and dome plus one set of just the reusable pots. I love the way they snap open!

Again, if anybody wants 36 cell deep inserts or 48 cell, let me know. These are the 6-pack type "sheet pots" -- the 36 cell ones are close in size to 2" pots. When the "sheet" of pots is still connected together, it fits just right into a 1020 flat. They are perforated so you can separate them into 6-packs, and if you need to separate them farther (like for sharing plants), a pair of scissors works just fine.

I found ONE of the white china markers I bought last year, and initial trials of it seem to show it working really well on black plastic (like the nursery pots and inserts). It doesn't write well if the plastic is wet, but neither do the silver metalllic sharpies I've used in the past. AND they don't get clogged with dirt the way the markers do (my nursery pots are seldom pristine).

If anybody might be interested in them, the price has actually gone DOWN (thanks to subscribe & save) to 75 cents each. If there's no interest, I'll hold off, but if anybody would like 1 (or more), I'll do what I've done with the Sharpie Extreme or silver markers in the past -- put them in a mason jar, take one ane put 75 cents into the jar, honor system.

Speaking of labeling, the best price I've been able to find for a while now on Sharpie Extreme markers (black, fine point) is about $1.50 per marker. I think Avery Clear Laser Labels might last longer, but it does remain legible for several years on containers or window blind markers, even in full sun. I have enough for myself but will grab a pack if there's interest. Note that "Extreme" markers are much more UV resistant than regular or "industrial" or "pro" sharpie markers.

I know this would have been better timed for the seed swap or even fall swap, but... Il need to place an order with a jewelry supply company this week, and they have various little zip-top bags, The 2x3 bags have gone from $1 for 100 to more like $2 (and were $3 around Christmas!) at WalMart. I used them for stones and finished jewelry, so I get 1000 at a time. Looks like I can offer 100 for $1 or 80 for $1 if they have the translucent white "block" across the front for writing on.

Anybody in need of these for seed saving this year? (Just be sure seeds are totally dry before storing in plastic.) I've got a box of the regular clear 2x3" ones in my cart now, but I'll use half of them myself.

I started a new thread for various group purchase and "add to my order" opportunities for things that could be picked up at the spring swap. I didn't want to keep butting into the swap discussion here or adding random items to the spring bulb purchase thread. I thought I'd lost my mind when I couldn't fine the new thread, then realized Rick "stickied" it to the top of the MAG forum.

If you want seed baggies, wide tulle fabric (for critter/insect protection), berries, and more... go here: The thread "Group Buys and Great Deals for the 2024 Spring Plant Swap" in Mid Atlantic Gardening forum

We need a different venue for the swap! I was afraid it might come to this but wanted to host if I could...

Meadow Farms finally called to reschedule our lawn renovation. Monday of last week, the yard was just too soggy. Of course they ignored the messages I left and came out anyway, but the guy took a look around and said, no, this won't work. You'd think after everybody got an inch or more of rain on Saturday they'd at least call to say, is it mucky? but nope. Anyway, it's now scheduled for the end of April.

With new grass growing in May and the downstairs likely torn up around the same time, I'm going to look for an alternative venue for the spring swap. If nobody offers to host, I'm thinking we'll do Ballenger Creek Park or the community building in my development, depending on availability. I can still bring paper/plastic goods, nametags, and a main course (depending on the weather, either a big pot of chili or some kind of chicken).

I just checked BC Park, and the picnic shelters are all booked up on weekends now. Friday May 17 is open, if that's a possibility?? We'd have the shelter until 8 pm.

Who would NOT be able to make it if we shifted to a Friday evening?

Ahhh Jill... Do you mean May 17?

Why, yes. Yes I did. I've edited my post - thanks.

Wish I could join you and meet you folks. Alas, I am quite active in the daylily club here (Free State Daylily Society) and things will be heating up with that club around then.

Perhaps some of you can make it to our bloom show in July. Just saying.

Please post details about that show, Jillz!

We get together for a fall plant swap / party and also do an annual seed swap at the beginning of February. The seed swap has been at Chef Lin Chinese Buffet in Frederick for many years, but I'm always hoping for somebody to come up with a new venue!

We get together other times, too. Sometimes that's as simple as one person posting they're heading to a nursery or a public garden, and then others join the fun.

Alas, David and I are headed to Singapore on May 14 to see our son and family so won't be at the spring swap. We'll miss seeing everyone!

Susan, that sounds like an awesome trip! We'll miss you, but we'll know you're having a wonderful time with your family.

sulurph said: Alas, David and I are headed to Singapore on May 14 to see our son and family so won't be at the spring swap. We'll miss seeing everyone!

Oh my goodness...have a wonderful time!! Sadly weekday/nights are difficult for me with work...