Hi All: This is going to be a lengthy post. First let me thank everyone who came, and all the help offered, and sometimes not accepted. Gardengranpa who is not a gardener loves this event every spring and so do I. Here are some suggestions from my view for next year (and despite my Germanic roots, I do not like rules). Next year, could someone come forth (not the host) to align food, so we have for example enough meat for grilling? I went out and got it, and that's ok, but would it work for someone else in the future? Everyone was wonderful, and I don't want to trade this event for a complaint. But let me tell you how I see it: Whatever we don't have, I either have it or provide it - no problem. But after all is said a done, if plants or food left over, I give it to the home across the street who have all Medicaid elderly. We keep the plants for a week (sometimes some are promised and are picked up). After a week or so, I give all plants to the home (do I need anymore myself, I don't think so?) This time, a thoughtful soul picked all extra plants up for a project in DC, worthwhile - I am sure -- but without asking the hosts?) Let's be gentle with each other and favorite recipients of what he have extra -- if anyone has extra vegies or easy flowering plants, drop them off at our house for our neigbours, and if there are more - for the DC activity. What a wonderful thing to do. Love you all, Gardengranma and Gardengranpa.

Lashlee, you are probably wondering about Gardengrandma's post, which was about yesterday's annual spring plant swap, but somehow ended up on your thread. So you missed the perfect opportunity to ditch the azaleas (I hate them, too), but all is not lost. Select the exchanges link at the top of this forum and you can post that you have azaleas to trade and you'll probably get some takers.

Hi Laschlee,

The house I bought had no azaleas or evergreens and I like them well enough to want some around. I may be interested in coming to get some from you depending on how big they are and where you are located. I live in Gaithersburg. Please let me know.

Thanks,
Susan

You could try Freecycle. Plants seem to get taken pretty quickly. I've belonged several years and gotten rid of lots of stuff just reading the WANTED posts.

Here is a link that might be useful: freecycle

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the responses. oogy4plants, I'm in Rockville and would be happy to give you as many azaleas as you can stand. Do you have a color/size preference? I have lavender, magenta, bicolor pink, little tiny medium pink, white and coral red large bushes, plus what seems to be a spider azalea -- I've never seen one before, so I'm guessing. There are also smaller (1 1/2 foot) bushes that have not bloomed yet, so I don't know what they are planning to do. annebert, I will try the exchange forum -- I kind of hesitate to ask for plants, considering I have so many that I either don't want or have not yet identified, but what the heck. And lakedweller, I never even thought of Freecycle -- what a great idea! I've dumped large items on ecstatically grateful recipients there before, but I never thought of posting plants.

Thanks again; I'm extremely relieved that I won't necessarily have to shovelprune the darn things.

You don't _have_ to take anything in trade on the exchanges forum. That is the great thing about the MAG group. When we have our swaps, we do some prearranged trades,and the rest is a free-for-all. If you leave your car unlocked, plants mysteriously appear on your backseat. If you pick up a plant, you have to take it. If you ask questions, you have to take 2...

Won't be long till the fall swap. By then you will have identified other plants you want to get rid of, plus things you just have to have.

I sent you an email but in case that didn't work I'm interested in getting some azaleas. The smaller ones in lighter colors would be my preference. When would be a good time to dig them?

I emailed you also about the azaleas. I am interested in some of the larger white and coral ones and the spider azalea. Maybe some small ones, too.

Susan