Is there ever a swap in Tulsa or towns closer to Tulsa? I'll try to make this one in fall though, but it would be nice to get to a swap that's closer to home.

OK! That sound great since I had to miss the Spring one. Thanks for thinking ahead.

Now---what will be some types of things to bring to that swap? In other words, what will transplant that late in the season?

The Spring Swap seems easy since things are just beginning to grow--but I'll need some suggestions for Fall Swap.

Hey Mariposa! If I can drive from southern Oklahoma, then you can drive from Tulsa!!! (Just teasing you...I don't even know how far it is from Tulsa to OKC, but it is 130 miles from our house to OKC. And it was a long drive....but worth it.) :)

Seriously, if there's enough of you in the Tulsa area who don't want to make the drive to OKC, there's nothing to stop you from organizing a swap in Tulsa, is there? And you never know, if y'all organize a swap in Tulsa, some gardening maniacs (who shall remain nameless) might drive there from distant parts of the state. (I've never ever been to Tulsa.....).

I'd organize a swap for southern Oklahoma, but I don't think anyone else on the Oklahoma forum lives remotely close to the Marietta/Thackerville area!

Mrsfrodo: Thanks for scheduling the pavillion. You are our Star Planner & Organizer!

Robolink: If you're talking about plants that can be divided, autumn is the perfect time to dig and divide spring-blooming perennials, including daylilies. I'm sure others will have some suggestions for what we can plan on swapping. Also, people who've harvested seeds from open-pollinated flowers, open-pollinated tomatoes & peppers, etc., etc., can bring them to the swap. And, if my tomatoes and peppers survive the summer weather and are blooming, I betcha I'll bring some vine-ripened fruit!

See You in September!

Dawn

Dawn I can't believe you've never been to Tulsa. It's much prettier than the capital (ducks quickly so the OKC folks don't hit me with a bulb or shrub)lol. You're missing the best place in Oklahoma...that's all I have to say.

Well we will just have to drive to OKC in September. In any case, I want to take my daughter to the science museum so we might make a weekend of it.

Mariposa,

I would like to visit Tulsa someday, and I have heard that it is a lovely city. But there is no way I'm going to get into the middle of a battle between those of you in OKC & those of you in Tulsa over who has the prettiest city! I don't want to get hit by flying shrubs, bulbs, trowels or whatever. lol

Personally, I think you should all visit the "major" city near me, which is Ardmore. If it was good enough for the Democratic senators from Texas a couple of years ago when they fled the state, it should be good enough for you. (hee-hee-hee)

See you this fall,

Dawn

Thanks so much, mrs frodo, for being our STAR organizer!

As for the prettiest city, I'd have to say that both OKC and Tulsa have a lot to offer! And though I haven't been to Ardmore in several years, I think it's a really neat city. What's the name of that great barbeque place there?

sara

OKC has Bricktown going for it. That's a lot more than Tulsa has to offer.

Although as a recent transplant, I must say Tulsa is nicer. We have things here called hills and trees. Stuff you don't see much of in the OKC.

Sara,

I don't know! I am not much of a bar-b-que eater. My uncle raves about Ponder's. Is that the place you're thinking about?

Also, I live a couple of miles from McGehee's Catfish Restaurant, and we hardly ever go there. Friends of ours from the D-FW area will drive up just to eat at McGeehee's and to go to the Winstar Casino, and we hardly ever go to either one

I did love seeing all the development in the Bricktown area. We visited it in April 2004 as we were in town so DH could run in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. The Bricktown area is lovely, and I think it will become a huge attraction in years to come.

So, does Tulsa have anything like Bricktown?

Dawn

What is Bricktown? Don't tell me they went and made OKC pretty after all,lol

Ardmore...hmmm...don't think we've ever passed that way Dawn. After you talked about the 100 tomato plants I did mention to my hubby that we should stop by for some!

Bricktown is an older area of downtown Oklahoma City. I recall when they only had Spaghetti Warehouse there, and now there are tons of restaurants, the canal (with boats to tour in), the Ford Center (lots of events take place there), and they always have some kind of festivities taking place there. The Myriad Gardens aren't too far, where you can see the Crystal Bridge and greenhouse. They have some gorgeous plants there.

I work downtown so I guess we see the stuff so much. There's also the Memorial, which is lovely, and poignant. I work with Paul Murrah, who is the son of Judge Alfred Murrah, for whom they named the federal building that was bombed. He still volunteers there all the time, and is semi-retired now.

The only thing I hate about it is those gosh-awful painted buffalos they've planted everywhere downtown. I think they are nothing short of tacky. The Museum is downtown also. They had a Chihuli exhibit not too long ago, and my ex is his assistant glass blower, and he works with him at his studio in Seattle, but also travels to Ireland, New Zealand, and all over Europe to build his enormous creations.

I like Tulsa, too. And, altho I'm in OKC, I think Tulsa is a cleaner town (I'll wear a hair shirt tomorrow).

Susan

I lived in Tulsa nd surrounding area form 1981 until 1993, when my ex-husband moved me to OKC. I made OKC my home and am comfortable here but I will say, Tulsa is in appearance, a much lovelier city. You see flowers and trees every where. On street corners in front of stores etc...On appearances pleasing to the eye, Tulsa wins. I visit there often becasue my sisters are still there. On historic places of interest and cultural, I think OKC has more to offer. OKC would have it ALL if they'd clean it up.

Cheryl

Marisposa: Well, the best time to drop by is during tomato harvest season, which begins in earnest around the 3rd week in June and runs until November of most years. You're welcome to come any time!

Y'all, I think Bricktown has the potential to become a very popular attraction and will really give people just one more reason to visit OKC. I noticed in the newspaper during the NCAA baskball tournament that lots of visitors commented quite favorably on Bricktown and said they'd like to visit it again. Might have the potential to turn OKC into much more of a tourist-oriented city, like the River Walk has done for San Antonio.

Susan and Cheryl: Your comments on Tulsa make me want to visit it sometime! I'll have to put it high on my list of places to visit one of these days.

Dawn

OKC has the Myriad Center. Tulsa has prettier countryside. I ate at McGee's once. Was not impressed because the breading has no seasoning. I like the catfish halves at Golden Corral which has seasoned breading.
Next time you are up here, we will go to the great buffet at Fire Mountain. Went there Sunday and it was better than GC!

I grew up in OKC and now my daughters both live in Tulsa. I used to think Tulsa was cleaner, more sophisticated,etc., but I have come to really hate the traffic in Tulsa. Seems like they must not get as much money for roads or something. Having said that, I think Tulsa is greener, and I love the downtown architecture. The Boston Ave. church is a real Oklahoma treasure, IMO. Am also so proud of the improvements to downtown OKC.

Dawn, Have you been to the Noble Foundation conference center in Ardmore? We have a conference there every year. Very pretty.

OKprairie:

No, I haven't ever been to the Noble Foundation conference center in Ardmore. I know it is there somewhere, but don't know where. I do occasionally drive by the Noble Foundation land where they do some of their research. It is in the countryside west of Marietta...I think we drive past it when we are going to Falconhead. Or maybe it is when we are driving further west to Leon or Burneyville.
I do go to the Noble FOundation website a lot, as so much of their research is helpful to Okalahoma gardeners and landowners.

What kind of conference do you attend at the center?

Dawn

I develop curriculum for a program called Agriculture in the Classroom. I write lessons in the core subjects for students, grades K-8, which incorporate information about agriculture - so kids can understand where their food comes from. We do a retreat with teachers once a year to review curriculum. The Noble Foundation lets us use their facility as part of their contribution to the program. It's a beautiful facility, and just the right size for our little group.

Oh, great! Maybe I'll be able to make the fall swap. I'll certainly have tons of tomatoes and other veggie for tasting by then!

Hey, I have an idea! What about a tomato tasting at the fall swap. Everyone can bring their varieties and we can compare them all. What do you think?

WindsurfGirl

Tomato tasting? Now there's something I'd travel around the world for!

Tomato tasting--- hmmmmmm. Great maybe I can convince my husband we need to try even more varieties of heirloon tomatos.

A tomato-tasting event sounds wonderful! I'd be happy to bring and share anything ripe at that time.

One of these days I'd like to go to Tomatopalooza in Raleigh in July. This is my DH's greatest fear, as I would surely come home with 9 dozen reasons to further enlarge the veggie garden.

And, Mrsfrodo, of course y'all need to try even more varieties of heirloom tomatoes....so little time and space, so many different heirloom tomatoes!!!! You can NEVER have too many tomatoes. :)

I'm so glad you guys are planning a fall swap. I went to the fall swap in OKC a couple of years ago (in the library) and had so much fun. I'm sure my hubby and I can make it. I have so much more to trade than I did a couple of years ago!

As for the nicest city, I've lived in Tulsa all my life and love it, but I also love to spend the weekends occasionally in OKC. I feel very comfortable in OKC. Although my home choice would be somewhere between here and there, on 10 beautiful acres and gardens galore! Someday...!

Looking forward to the swap!
Suzanne

Be sure to post the information on the Oklahoma Gardening page. I volunteer to help if it is around the Oklahoma City area. I would also be willing to help any other way possible.

Hi, I am the one that brought the carrot cake decorated with flowers to the Spring Swap. I will definitely be at the Fall Swap and hopefully better prepared than the last swap. I would also like to volunteer to make another cake for the swap.

Earthmother:

The cake was splendid!!! Looking forward to seeing you and another "work-of-art" like your flower cake in the fall!

Dawn

Fall Swap? Yippee, I want to go. WHere will it be? Do we have to bring stuff to swap to come?
Hey Dawn, what about Denims Resturant, is it still there? I remember there was a steak place that used real mesquite wood & it smelled wonderful! My folks used to own the Washington Park apts. there. They loved to visit Marietta; my mom would always bring us cookies from the cookie factory. Marietta is a nice town.
Homegrown tomatoes are awesome, can't wait; wish I knew a way to have them all winter. Can't get enough of them.
Never did find a canning rack to fit my pan so I could can some last year. Phooey. I tried freezing some of my Juliets but they weren't worth it. I guess Romas are best for that.
Tulsa is about 100 miles from OKC, & is prettier because of the flowers etc, but don't they get more rain then we do?

Herbzgirl:

Can't wait to meet you at the fall swap! It will be the same place as the spring swap--at the southern pavilion at Will Rogers Park--the one that sort of looks like a castle.
I'm sure directions will be posted again, but it was easy to find. And everyone is welcome to come whether they have anything to swap. Meeting people--the fun and the fellowship--is just as important as the swapping part of it.

Yes, Denims is still alive and well in Marietta and is busy all the time. The cookie factory is not doing quite as well. It has changed hands 3 or 4 times since we moved here six years ago. They don't have the "broken cookie store" any more due to so-called liability issues? What could that be? Would someone sue because the cookies were broken???? The major employer in town is now a Dollar Tree Distribution Center, with the casino in Thackerville probably having more employees overall, but it isn't actually located in Marietta.

I wish I knew a way to have fresh, home-grown tomatoes all winter too. I like to chop 'em up or puree them and freeze them. Then, in the winter I thaw 'em out and make tortilla soup. It isn't quite like having a slice of fresh tomato, but is still pretty good.

Having heard so much about Tulsa from everyone here on the OK Forum, I'm going to have to squeeze in a visit sometime--maybe in the fall when the weather is more pleasant that it is now.

See you at the swap!

Dawn

Been thinking about what I will have to bring to the Fall swap. I was wondering what everyone else plants for fall vegetable gardens and if september is an appropriate time to set out transplants. What works well in OK?

See everyone in September!

Earthmother, bring on the cake! Folks, if you haven't had HERS, you don't know what you're missing.

mrsfrodo, the suggestions in the Fall Gardening Guide fact sheet from the OSU Extension Service have worked well for me. (Link is to the PDF file.) Seeds need to be started well ahead of September; transplants vary a lot. I guess I favor the direct seeding method for fall, though. One thing I had really good luck with in past years was Chinese cabbage. I had lousy luck with fall peas, but did okay with root crops like carrots and turnips. One year I planted little pumpkins for my grandkids and they did fairly well. I guess it all depends on what you're interested in growing and our crazy unpredictable weather.

Is it ever going to rain here?

See y'all in the fall.

sara

Here is a link that might be useful: Fall Gardening Guide

Hi Y'all.

I usually put my fall tomato and pepper plants out in latest June or earliest July. Everything else goes in during early August. The best way to GUARANTEE an early frost is to plant a fall garden, so have a row cover handy. Our first year here, we had 8 or 10 fall tomato plants covered in fruit. With an early freeze forecast for the end of Sept., we hurriedly built a crude covering over them using 2 x 4 lumber and 4mm clear plastic. That covering saved the plants from the early hard freeze, and then we had tomatoes for another couple of months, until after Thanksgiving, I think!

A lot of cool season crops do better for me in the fall than in the spring, including brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, collards, spinach, carrots, chard, lettuce, etc. Lots less pest problems too. I also start ornamental peppers in late May to set out in the garden in July or August for fall color, and I grow pansies and ornamantal cabbages and kale for fall.

And is it ever going to rain? Sara, do you mean is it ever going to rain THIS YEAR or IN OUR LIFETIME? For this year, I doubt it, but I think it will rain sometime again in our lifetime. (I'd laugh, but we're so dry that it isn't even funny any more.)

See y'all later!

Dawn

Nice banter going on here. I checked the 24th, but there is already a bicycling event going on. Drat.

Lived in OKC for a while, and right now in Tulsa. Been to Ardmore and Marietta because of bicycling events, and both towns went all out for those.

Maybe, I will see about skipping a bike event for a swap?

Moni

Hello all,

I'm back. Been having a devil of a time to get on this board. Anyway, my yard is looking a lot better. Been doing some weeding every weekend.

Could I bring my weeds to share at the swap????LOL