What a lovely gathering we had today! Beautiful garden, fabulous weather and great friends! Thank you, Sue and David, for the wonderful event. You are fantastic hosts! ❤️❤️❤️

Well that was a fun day! David and Sue, thank you so much for hosting. You both are great hosts and I enjoyed seeing your beautiful home and gardens. Perfect weather too. Bonnie passes along her thanks too.

It was such fun to host our lovely gardening friends today...thank you to each of you who came. I learn so much from you and I'm always overwhelmed by your generosity in sharing your plants and gardening knowledge. Fortunate to have perfect weather.
Jill and Rick- you were greatly missed; hope you feel better soon, good wishes for Jill's surgery and look forward to seeing you and everyone at the next event. Happy Fall everyone!

Thank you for the wonderful afternoon after a stressful morning trying to cook the promised golden fried rice. Apparently the ugly old woman was hiding everything I needed-After noticing that it was 11:00 I decided to bring purchased dessert : my favorite All Natural Ice Cream from Harris Teeter, the Bordeaux and French Vanilla that I cannot purchase for myself, because I do not have the space for them in my freezer. Then off I went. I had to stop at Staples to get a GPS connecting my cell phone to the car screen. Fortunately it is not hard to connect and to get it working. My GPS took me through winding tree lined narrow roads to the Beltway from Georgetown, that I had never driven through. Several times I took the wrong directions. I then realized to ALWAYS check to the signals from my iWatch and follow the signal on the GPS where to turn. Anyway, I came very late, the ice creams were getting soft and put in the freezer. David and Susan immediately fed me with whatever was left and already put in the refrigerator---I was hungry---I missed some of the goodies, because they were gone, but I am very glad I decided to still come and join the swap---still had a Wonderfull time; in the beautifully maintained garden . The part of the house that I saw, the half bathroom is wonderful too---immaculate, and I like the decorations. Thank you so much----Susan mentioned, that I should have just come without any food----but I am glad that I had the ice cream for everyone to enjoy, including myself----.
Friday was a stressful day trying to purchase everything that I needed. It does not help that I do not have the room in my refrigerator, and still have mice in my house, so whatever is not in a sturdy plastic box gets nibbled on. I was too tired to cook the rice----it is true, friends: "Old age is not for Sissies" .

After this long winding explanations: again to David and Susan, thank you for being models hostesses for the Autumn Swap. To RickM: for organizing the Swap, and for the others for being there and make the afternoon so nice for me. To Jill: good luck for tomorrow---and get well soon, and do all the exercises needed. Missed you and Rick yesterday----

If I'd felt like this yesterday morning, I'd have made it to the swap! But I puttered around and got some things squared away, then made it out shopping with Joyanna last night. Sure missed seeing everybody! Thank you all for the goodies... Terri says she has a nice box for me!

I'll put labels on the potted mints and put them where I can hopefully find them at seed swap time.

Jill, glad you feel better, I sent four pots, they can get watered, fingers crossed, and stashed away. The bags of cuttings.. up to you.

Thanks, Sally! The cuttings are in water on the kitchen island. I even have bottom heat on them, just because it's available.

Heya! Just checking in, because Terri mentioned yesterday that she'd told everyone my surgery was Monday (today). Nope! It's tomorrow, late enough that Jim can take me over in the morning (early report time would have had me staying in Baltimore tonight). Total replacement of the left knee. Hoping to be done with the walker and back to driving (at least over to PT) in a couple of weeks. The dirt will be flying around here next spring!!

good luck, I'm sure it will go exactly as planned!

I got home a couple hours ago. Still gobsmacked that this is an outpatient procedure. Knee surgery went so much better than anticipated -- very little swelling or bruising (yet), pain tonight is pretty comparable to how the knee was doing before surgery.

Recovery room staff said I was a rock star! Walked my laps (with the walker, but not needing to put weight on it until the last 1/4 lap), even did the 5 steps up and down with my hands just above the rails (just in case) but not needing to use them for support.

First post-op PT on Friday. I really like my PT, think we'll work well together. The PT is typically the hardest part of this procedure, but Johns Hopkins takes pain management seriously, so I'll be OK.

Eye on the prize... I'm so excited about all the things I'll be able to do again! Kneeling apparently can wear out the artificial joint faster, so I'll have to find different ways to garden, but no worries. Also, have to scratch Boston Marathon off my bucket list. (Kidding, it was never on there.) But -- longer walks, hiking, beach walking, gardening, snorkeling... suddenly retirement looks a lot more adventuresome!

Jim has been gradually cutting down his hours, will be down to zero by March or April. He's probably staying on as a "consulting employee," which means 200 hours a year. We can work our adventure plans around that!

All good.

So glad that went SO well, JIll

Good news Jill!

Awesome to hear the procedure was a success and you are doing well Jill! Praying for your continued healing and fast recovery.

Amen---cannot express it any better than Sheela did--agree 100%!

Thanks!

Rick, I'm definitely interested in 1 or 2 Trumpet Amaryllis 'Santiago', whatever makes your numbers work out. Could also take 1 cybister 'Green Valley', if available.

Does anybody want any 'Striped Amadeus' (jumbo, $10) or 'Blossom Peacock' (regular size, $5) amaryllis? They should be shipping soon from ADR. I know Robin is down for 3 'Blossom Peacock'.

Here are the ones I'm looking at from van Engelen. These are not jumbo bulbs but a good size (32-36, depending on variety). Except 'Inferno', these are all varieties I've grown before & really loved. I could be talked into sharing a pack of any double amaryllis...

Evergreen (floriferous cybister with green/white blooms), $11.92 plus tax
Samba (red and white with uniquely rounded, substantial petals), $11.64 plus tax
Double Dream (rose pink), $12.38 plus tax.
Hercules (bright pink with tall/strong stems and big blooms) $10.73 plus tax
Inferno (Christmas flowering double red) $9.44 plus tax

Pretty sure I'm the only one that's never grown those...they sound beautiful though!!!

Chantell, you're coming up at some point to pick up daffy bulbs I think... grab some amaryllis while you're at it! They are easy and easy to keep growing year to year as well.