Perhaps more Details than you'd ever ask for but here they are!
I think this will be our 3rd Spring Swap. A friend of mine named Carrie co hosts with me.
Anyone interested in growing plants is welcome to attend.
There are a few tables and BBQ grill at the pavilion. Parking, rest rooms, and playground close by.
Pot Luck Snacks, so bring a little something snack-ish and what ever you want to drink.
I'll provide coffee service, small plates and napkins.
The red wagon will be there to help get plants from the parking lot to the Pavaillion. I'm hoping someone brings a pre teen to teen, or spouse to help others with unloading and loading.
If this is your very first plant swap or you are a new gardener, you don't have to bring any plants. But are encouraged to bring items you can trade with. (Candy, pots, potting soil,
soaps, lotions anything you are willing to trade for plants)
Please be sure to tell everyone that this is your first swap or that you are a newbie to gardening and you will see how nice everyone is and how they make you feel right at home.
The basics:
Bring plants divided from your garden beds, potted up and labeled.
Bring cuttings, labeled of course.
Plants are the stars, but get creative about what else you'd like to swap, such as garden art and sculpture, books, seed packets, extra tools, garden hats, cute pots. Bring your tips, too.
Each person will want to know what they are getting. By they time they get home many have forgotten what the name of the plant is, so please label each item.
Some people note any tips that might help the plant's new owner be successful enough to divide the plant again in a few years. Some traders/swappers print out care sheets for each plant to hand to the new owner. But if you have labeled properly, the new owner can find info about the plant easily on line.
A potted plant has roots. A cutting does not. A cutting stuck in a pot of dirt is not a potted plant. Please do not try to pass one off as such.
When swappers receive plants they always put them under or behind their table.
DO NOT take any plants under tables or on garden carts or wagons. These plants are off limits. Please DO NOT take anything without asking. (unless it is on the free table).
It is good etiquette to ASK if it is OK to take a certain plant.
Sometimes swappers have done "pre-trades" on the internet with other gardeners and they are saving those plants to give to them. Pre Trades should be well marked and set aside but in the chaos of getting to the swap and setting up, some things just don't get done. Always ask.
There will be a designated table for free plants for the taking. These will be extra plants that swappers will bring to give away and no trade is expected.
When marking your plants, you can use permanent ink on popsicle sticks, cut pieces of old blinds, plastic knives, forks or spoons and anything else you can be creative with! Printed labels are fine too.
Garden Swap FAQ:
Should I bring a garden cart or wagon?
Bring a garden cart or wagon to carry your plants back and forth to your vehicle. You will be glad you did!
Should I bring a table and chair?
YES!
What if it rains?
WE WILL BE THERE RAIN OR SHINE! We are die-hard gardeners and the swap will go down regardless!
What is a pre-trade? How do I pre-trade with other gardeners before the plant swap?
A pre-trade is a plant trade made with other gardeners online who are going to the scheduled plant swap. Gardeners are looking for certain plants to swap with other gardeners and agree ahead of time that they will bring those plants to the plant swap for each other.
Does the plant swap cost any money to attend?
ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY IS TO BE EXCHANGED FOR ANYTHING! We allow swapping or trading of plants or garden-related items only!
Door Prizes!! Yes, we like them.
If you want to participate bring a garden related item (not a plant) with a tag on it that says your own name.
We'll pull the tag off and use it to draw names for your choice of what is on the door prize table.
Get it?
It has to have a gift tag with your name on it.
So we can pull them off and use them to draw names. :)
(no one has to keep up with writing down all the names, who has time for that?)
Let the Swapping Begin!!
This swap started on another board and that's where all the pre trades have been in the past. I'm not sure if I should list the url for it or not.
I wanted anyone here that lives close by to know about it and come if they wanted to.
