Come this time of year I don't much worry about if anything is blooming or not.

I usually get more roses and coreopsis if I deadhead them. For me, the problem is the sprained ankle I'm still trying to get over. Just haven't been able to get out in the garden much in the past month! I wish I could get out there soon and catch up on the weeding.

I always sort of enjoy deadheading and watching a second flush of blooms come in.

My roses usually are the last things to stop blooming. Sometimes right into the beginning of October. Some of the Phlox are still stunning and the Echinacea are still looking good. Of course all the annuals that I grew from seed are the ones that keep the gardens looking very colorful. The Dahlias and Gladiolas are putting a show. All the trimming that I took care of with the Coreopsis is definitely paying off. The Lilac Jolee is starting on its second flush of blooms. Some things are going and others are coming.

Wow, Roses, you have a lilac still in bloom?

The Lilac Josee reblooms if you deadhead it as soon as the first blooms start withering.

Very cool, Roses. I've found it now--the Josee Reblooming Lilac.

Okay, well, we'll hold off on field trip plans for now then--sorry if I jumped the gun on that one! Hopefully other ideas will come up from forum members!

I'm sure at some point we'll want to plan a swap.

We might be able to pot up some stuff and dig some bulbs for a fall swap. We definitely should meet up at the Philly Flower Show in the Spring. Or maybe visit something in New York City?? We could have a seed swap at my house or at some restaurant midway that would allow us some room to maneuver. This could be at any time (before we winter sow would be great for me.....I start in December).

By the way. I have 3 empty bedrooms upstairs (with bathroom also), a partially finished basement (with bathroom also) and a small bathroom with no shower or tub on the main floor (besides my own bathroom). If we were to meet here, and your trip was a long one, you wouldn't have to make the round trip in the same day.

thanks so much Roses! Those are wonderful ideas! So does this mean you're volunteering to host our first fall swap??

My DD has been at me to make a trip up to Hoboken NJ to visit a bakery there she's learned about from a show on the cooking channel. Would be great to combine that with a fall swap!

I sent you a Tree Mail, Cat. It juse says: Can't give dates right now. Could we combine seed swap with plant swap. I'll know more about my babysitting schedule in mid September.

Great idea to combine seeds and plants! Yes my fall schedule is on hold till school starts too.
Thanks Roses!

Just as a note: my major motivation for having some kind of regional event is just to meet each other face to face. For me, that's one of the advantages of a regional gardening forum is that we *can* meet each other in person and not just virtually! But I know people's schedules are busy, plus there are swaps and roundups on other forums that people may participate in, so we need to think about what would make most sense, as I would not want people to feel torn/exhausted from too many swaps on too many different forums. So we need to think about and discuss what makes most sense. How can we get together and meet each other in person without creating an overly-busy schedule of multiple swaps/roundups across different forums?

As many of you know Ric and I are hosting a Fall Plant Swap at our home in Dover, Pa. The swap will be held on Sat Sept 13th. It should be a great time spent with other gardeners, friends, making new friends, plenty of plants for the taking, good food and even a stepping stone craft project for those that would like to make one. If you would be interested in getting all the info please send me a Tree Mail.

woohoo, thanks, Holly!

I'll be there with lots of plants to share.