By the way, if anyone has empty 6-pack or 4-pack seedling containers, I used those to pot up my little tomato seedlings and could use more for next year.

Watching the weather and hoping they are going to be wrong. We should be going rain or shine though but yeah, keep your rain gear close...

Seedrat and Linnea - What I thought was Aconitum is growing flower buds that look suspeciously like ?anemone? I will take it to oerickson tomorrow for ID.😕😕 It is puzzling now where these plants came from because I only have Aconitum that has similar leaves nearby. These numerous seedlings that came out of nowhere is worrisome.

Yes, I would like a few baking trays. Thank you.

I am back from my trip and excited to see we are on page 5 now!

I had a cortisone injection today and was surprised to be told no lifting or heavy work with my injured leg for a while. So I may not do the rest of my digging til right before. Or use my hands on the shovel rather than my foot. I had dug maybe ¼ of what I had planned to bring thus far. If I have to, I will go short on contributions to the regular table. Most of what I had recorded as being available in my notes is the "same as usual", so maybe I don't need to dig dozens!

BTW, I found a nice Centaurea Montana today if anyone wants one.

FWIW: I too, like Pitimpinai, don’t use my carefully amended garden soil!

I have been using either bagged topsoil from Menards’, or their potting soil. The cheapest one of both is $ 1.67 for the topsoil and $ 2.50 or something for the potting soil. This is both very inexpensive, and quality. Both are VERY good, black, soft and rich, and free of weed seeds. I won’t buy dirt anywhere else. The smaller, more delicate looking things in small pots get the potting soil. The bigger ones get the top soil. In a big pot with the denser topsoil, I sometimes use a handful of leaves or pine needles to break it up and improve drainage.

Seedrat, I don't have any 4 or 6 packs now, but I will have a lot later after I buy my annuals. Are you ever up north in the summertime?

I also saved more large plastic pots than I need. I hesitate to bring to the swap unless someone needs them, because I don't want to create a clean up problem for anyone. I have both the "gallon" size (really 2.4 liters, I think), that common nursery size; and hanging baskets, some with, and some without hangers. Let me know if you want any. I have loads of the former.

I am looking myself for 2 large pots to plant my cherry tomatoes in. I don't have much sun except on my deck, so hope to try putting them in containers. I don't really know how that works with tomatoes: if their root system is too big for it and they won't produce.

Jasmine:

I just saw that you mentioned having "snow in summer". Is that the low, like 8” groundcover plant, with a green leaf with a sharp white edge, that has sprays of small white flowers a lot like baby’s breath? That spreads and spreads and grows where nothing else will? Aegopodium something? Variegated Bishop’s Weed? (It has so many names!) My friend who can’t drive far enough to come has shade under trees and can’t get grass or anything else to grow as a low-maintenance groundcover. It was a god send at my old city house beween the houses. But I don't have it where I live now. If that’s it, I would like to have as much as you can spare. I told my friend that I would be on the look out for it. He is on disability and can't afford to keep trying plants that won't survive. And I know that one is tough.

Hi Linnea:

I do come north sometimes in the summer, to visit CBG, or if I do't get white calamint at the swap, I will probably drive up to Lurvey's to get it (I saw it there last year and was too cheap to buy it). Whereabouts do you live?

I feel like if you bring a few of the gallon containers they may even be used during the swap; often someone brings a big clump that we break up. I plan to bring a few 4" pots in case they're useful for that too. Or someone will want them for next year.

Cherry tomatoes can be grown in containers, but they do get as big as regular tomato plants (the one heirloom dwarf cherry I grew tasted nasty, but probably some hybrid ones taste nice. I can't save their seed and get the same plant the next year so I haven't tried them). They are thirsty plants so plan to water them every day. My mom grows her tomatoes and veggies in Earth Boxes now, which are not cheap but are very nicely made. She puts two plants in one earth box.

Snow in Summer is a different plant but you should have your friend try it too. It's very tough and looks nice all the time, except it spreads by flopping forward then rooting, and if you fold it bck so it doesn't spread it looks messy for awhile. I'm not sure how much shade it can handle but it's doing well in semi-shady parts of my yard. I'm bringing a small pot too, let me know if I should set it aside for you.
http://www.missouribotanicalga...

I can't remember if I told you I came across a small variegated bishop's weed for you. (I grabbed some soil posted on craig's list and in it came some shasta daisy and a chunk of that!) It's looking very perky and is ready to spread in your friend's yard.
Another plant he might like for shade is galium odoratum, sweet woodruff, which many complain is invasive so I don't bring it to the swap. It was a true perennial for me; sleeping, creeping and now leaping in dry shade. I will dig up a little tomorrow in case you want it.
Remind your friend that trouble-free plants still need some babying until they are established He may find it easier to use some water crystals while planting, rather than get out and water more often. (I just received an order that included xeric plants, and the amount of water crystals they recommend for the xeric plants is actually more than I usually use on regular plants of that size!)

Thanks for the mention of the dirt you get from Menard's. I like shopping there in general but had not tried those products.

Thursday is the day I load up the car in Indiana, so I will take down my list of plants tomorrow.

Please check that the plants you requested are listed here, last year I forgot to note a request and put the plants on the regular table :(

rolrod
milkweed seedlings
red monarda
lav monarda
rudbeckia triloba
rudbeckia fulgida

pitimpinai
basil seedlings
garlic starts
snowdrops
rudbeckia hirta

Oerickson
basil seedlings
garlic starts
tansy
achillea love parade
**comfrey
**feverfew

Jasmine
Snowdrops
wood aster
sedum ruby
sedge ice dance
forsythia
shastas

Linnea:
purple iris
purple siberian iris
cherry toms my choice
Geranium Bill Wallis
cherry tomato
ruby mantle sedum
achillea love parade
***perennial ageratum
***sweet woodruff (maybe)


Corrie/HappyGardener
Choc mint
lemon balm
tarragon
red monarda
perennial foxg
milkweed

Thanks, seedrat! I live in Buffalo Grove, which is about 20 minutes west of CGB. Let me know if you feel like company next time you go there! I’d be happy to save the 4 and 6 packs for you, as long as you want them. I have no use for them myself, so they normally go right into the recycling bin.

The snow in summer you mention in the link (cerastium tomentosum) is a plant I grow myself. For me it will never grow in anything but full sun. It’s interesting that you are able to grow it in semi-shade. I think it is less likely to do well in his yard, which is quite shady. But the sweet woodruff seems like a good option. He could try that and the bishop’s weed, see which works. I would appreciate both of them, thank you!

If you have enough to spare, I’d like some perennial ageratum and a wood’s aster. The aster I bought a couple of years ago didn’t make it through the winter. And the perennial ageratum, blooming in late summer to fall, just sounds cool.

Oerickson, if it is not too late, I would like heuchera seedlings if you have enough not already committed.

Pitimpinai, if it is not too late, I would like some perennial forget-me not. My mother loved this plant, I never got any from her garden when the house was sold. I could not find it. But the garden had gone to rack and ruin, it was gigantic: and at the end, no one could maintain it. I am not sure if hers was perennial or the annual, but she always had it. Seeing plants that she and her mother loved always makes me feel connected.

Anyone have any Verbena Bonarensis ?

OK re perennial forget me not, Linnea. I'll tag one for you.
I finally got around to labelling the plants 2 days ago.

Seedrat, you can give the toms that you set aside for me to other people. I got a couple from oerickson yesterday. My vegetable garden is filled now. Thanks to oerickson, who else?

I am looking for any bedding annuals for my new neighbor. If you have any left over, I will take any.

Let it rain! Let it rain! My new rain barrels arrived this morning. And I set them all up. Whoohoo! If you are interested, check the Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation website whether your community is listed. You can get up to 4 rain barrels for free.

Seedrat, you have listed wood's aster twice instead of Shasta daisy for me. I have 4 and 3 cell packs for you. Not many but around 20-25. I will bring them for you.

Lineea, I can bring bishop's weed it is growing out of control for me and snow in summer though seedrat is already bringing them. Sorry for the late reply.

I have not labeled mine yet but will get heuchera and pulmonaria for Linnea, if there any extra silene I always want some, I just need to find a spot where it would live happy.
Jasmine, primrose and euphorbia
Pitimpinai, would love some tiger lily seeds/ seedlings, I think I can still get to that ephimedium, will check tomorrow.
Seedrat, if not too late, comfrey and feverfew would be lovely addition to my garden. Last year feverfew moved itself in different spot. It still alive but just one and I am worried am going to loose it.
I was thinking it is panicum but it likely to be something else. It is tall clump grass you see. It had to go as I was putting cherry bush there.


.

I think I have noted all the changes to the list up above, I had those requests dug already, Oerickson and Linnea, so I just need to mark them (and dig galium). Thanks for spotting that, Jasmine. And I'd love those cell packs, thanks! It's hilarious that feverfew might die out in your garden, Oerickson--I have SO many seedlings.

This is what I think people are bringing for me, thank you to all!!!!:

tall snowdrops )
monk's hood (??) } pitimpinai
spearmint )
solomon variegated )

ligularia from seed Oerickson


trout lily, white )
tomato seeds }HappyG


phlox mix )
variegated lunaria } Linnea
alpina columbine )

christmas cactus cuttings Jasmine
empty cell packs


Thanks again!

Thanks, pitimpinai for perennial forget-me-not and previous items.

Thanks, Jasmine for the bishop’s weed! I know it does run like crazy which is why I have never had it at this house. I have no areas where it can be contained. But, the right plant, in the right place…..I think it will work great at my friend’s house, he just needs the ground covered.

Thanks, oerickson for heuchera and pulmonaria. I have a great big silene I can give you! I have been waiting for this expected heavy rain to dig it out without damage. It is just in the wrong place, too tall for where it placed itself and in with a Centaurea Montana. I spotted some seedlings I can give you too, if I can coax them out from in between, to increase the odds that you can get one to work for you. I brought a lot to last year’s swap so I thought for sure everyone who wanted it would have enough by now. But it took several tries before I could get some things to live for me, so I know what that is like.

Seedrat, I will add alpine columbine. I love this plant! So reliable and such a rich purple color. I have not dug them yet.

Anyone want a shovelful of mixed scilla / minor bulbs or daffodils? I didn’t mark my bulbs this year so the scilla may be mixed with other small bulbs like crocus. The daffodils could be any color or size (but not solid yellow: I don’t have that). I have more white than anything else.

I will bring ~ 10-15 gallon empty nursery pots. If someone wants them specifically, let me know.

Linnea if you're bringing bulbs, I'll take some! I will always find a spot for more bulbs :)

By the way, at the Morton Arboretum I thought of you when I saw a purple geranium (two things you seem to like a lot). It's one I haven't seen before and I took a picture. (click to see the whole flower)

Oh, that's cool! I like those veins in the flower. What a great name, too: who wouldn't like a "Magnificent geranium" ? Where did you see this? I'll be there soon with a friend. I like geraniums because the leaves are so interesting when not in bloom. And many have a lovely scent to the leaves.

I'll bring the bulbs. Anyone else, let me know.

Linnea and Seedrat, sorry about monk's hood - I posted a couple days ago to tell you that what I thought was monk's hood turned out it is Anemone canadensis. Sorry.

Nothing like signing in late! Been too busy with re-construction at home with water damage form January! Long story. Then, Oerickson had me busy with a Tomato Plant spread sheet! hahaha. It was fun - so new this year a list of what's what!

Seedrat - did that clay soil work for you last year? If you still have some garlic left, keep me in mind.
I believe I have some 4 pack cells for you.

LinneaL- Any bulbs are welcome, love surprises!

Rol Rod - I can dig up some Red Monads for you as will.

Hosta Alba, Stella D'Oro daylillies are available.

Thanks - it will be good to see everyone again! It's been a VERY long winter at my house!

Lineea, I would love some 10-15 gallon pots and bulbs. Thanks a lot.

seedrat, I found one tray which has cells. Hope you would like it.