I don't think you'll have to have the trailer. Most people bring about as many plants as you could fit onto a card table. Some bring a few more, some less. Few will have more than what could fit on 2 card tables.

Although potted plants are most common, I have also seen lots of seeds, bulbs, and cuttings as well as a few bare root plants. Sizes vary from small cuttings and houseplants to pretty big houseplants to small trees.

Two recommendations.... 1) Don't sweat it. Bring about what you expect to take home because everyone else is going to be trying to take home less than they bring and everyone will end up with extra. 2) Just bring what you have extra of or what you think others would be most interested in. You will be surprised at the varied interests. Sometimes people go crazy over plants that I think are nothing special while passing up what I try to snatch up as soon as they are out of the way. LOL.

Bring both Tahoe and trailer. Fill the Tahoe with your plants and you will need the trailer for help hauling all the loot you will get back home :). Brandon, you need to attend the Mid TN Plant Swap.

Rebecca

I'd have to have a second job to afford that much gas.

Barry, for heaven's sake don't dissuade Sondra from bringing all the stuff she can haul! The more plants, the better! :-)

Sondra shoot me an email at jtoothmanindadj@comcast.net and I'll send you all the info you can stand and answer every question you can think of!
Barry, Bec and Doc covered it pretty well though.
Don't sweat it, just come and have fun!!!

Also check out our links at:
http://www.midtnplantswap.com/
http://www.knoxplantswap.com/
http://www.easttnplantswap.com/

LOL at everyone. I have 6 horses and usually keep them out of the barn. I told my husband I had to keep them in because I have all these idea's and need more manure!!! So, FOR WARNED to everyone.....anything potted I bring WILL be potted in manure. That is all I plant my plants and flower beds in....LOL

I will see what I have to bring and depends if hubby comes. If he does, and if there is room to camp, I will have his dually and a 31 ft camper( older but lots of room) !! LOL

I checked out the links and the KNOX/EAST TN go to the same link??? I signed up for mailing list anyways. Thanks!!

Main ? is how to I prepare the plants NOW? Like I have this HUGE pot that has Hosta's in it. Do I seperate/pot now? I HAD plans for them but I would like different kinds. hehe Same with cuttings (rose's all time favorite), how to keep seeds ( picked this year) fresh (do they freeze outside) and some look like they have mold on them???? They are in a kids sand bucket....lol

I guess I need to start making a list of what I have. Hard to do, as I DON'T know the names of several (have CRS). I just buy or get what catches my eye. LOL (very ignorant but willing to learn )

I am hoping to bring some plants in the GH if it get's done. We had a frost this morning so hope they are still ok.

Thank you,
Sondra

Sondra, actually the East Tn Plant swap doesnt' have a website yet, not sure if we're even planning to. It's changing it's name also, so if you're interested in a swap up near the Mountains of East TN let me know. I'd say we'll probably have some of the same folks you'll see at the other swaps, plus a very interesting mix of folks that aren't on the forum . If you're interested, send me an email. Three great swaps to attend, you can't beat that :o)

Cheryl

Cheryl,

Thanks for the invite you sent me...just excited about the whole concept of it all....LOL

Sondra

The middle TN plant swap is located on the banks of the beautiful Buffalo River. There is camping available, for tents and 1 or 2 campers. Please contact me before coming with your campers as there is limited space for them.

Sondra we would love to have you joins us at our spring swap, just be prepared to get hooked...the swaps are very addicting. You will not only be pleased with the plants you take home, but you will meet the nicest people on God's green earth at them. You will go home with a bundle of new friends.

SEE YOU AT THE RIVER, the Sat. before Memorial weekend.

Jan

I don't know about the rest of us, but I pot up plants year round. If I divide something, get 6 divisions, and replant three, the other three go in containers -- never the compost! I've already started getting ready for the Spring Swap.

I both agree and disagree with Brandon. Yes, bring whatever you have extra of, but just because you might think someone else will be interested in a plant doesn't make it necessarily so. I've brought prized seedlings that I thought others would snap up only to have to either bring them home or give them away at the end of the day. I chose to give them away. Hey, I didn't have room for them in my garden anyway - that's why I brought them. If you have something unusual the others might not recognize, then take a few extra minutes and print a photo that either you have taken or you've found on someone else's website.

Don't worry about others not wanting common plants you would expect any gardener to already have. There are always one or more newbies who have a blank slate and need the basics. Sometimes those people bring some of the most interesting things to trade for plants. Sometimes they don't have anything to trade and just came to meet and greet, but you'll have so much fun and will have so many great plants to take home yourself, you'll find yourself being generous, passing along your extras to help start someone else's garden, and making a new friend in the process.

Idn't that what I said?

Sorry, Brandon, yep, that's what you said. I remembered someone saying to bring what they thought others would be interested in, looked back up to see who had said it, and didn't read to the end again. Like you said, you'll be surprised what people will practically line up to trade for and what sits and sits. Every swap is a learning experience, and I learned in the spring not to expect people to want something they've never heard of. If it's a great plant, but not common, you have to promote it. That's why this past swap I printed photos and descriptions of those so I could leave my table long enough to visit other swappers' tables.

It definitely is kind of like having a sales job, isn't it? One of these days I'm going to get smart and get one of those carts to pull my wares along with me from table to table! That way I can always be with my stuff to "sell" it, and still get to others' tables! Either that, or I'm bringing a bell and sign that says "ring bell for service"!

-Regina

Sondra, and any others new to swaps:

The photo and description idea that Virginia mentioned is a great idea you might consider. I too have done this for a few plants I thought some might not be familiar with. I have even made multiple copies when I had more of one of something to hand out to each person that got one of the plants. That seemed to go over well.

Another idea that Ione came up with is to seperate your plants into two groups. One group had a sign that said something like "These plants are for swap only. Please contact me to make arrangements." The other group had a sign that said something like "Free to a good home." I thought that was a pretty good idea. (Sorry Ione for not remembering your exact words, but I hope I got close.)

Sondra-
Thanks from another newbie for asking that question. Unfortunately, I currently belong to the "I'll take anything I can get" category of gardener, but hopefully I'll be able to make the spring swap and at least start moving into the "I have more than I can possibly make use of myself" category, so these tips are useful. It is funny how intimidating it can be to be a beginner and try and make it to the swap when you don't have a lot to share, but hopefully I will at least be able to get some seeds started in the springtime (only around 5-6 months away, now!). Until spring!
Mary

Mary, believe it or not, you will be what the rest of us look for at the swaps. We have too many plants and try to find people that will give them a good home. Almost everyone at the swap's main goal is to leave with less than they brought.

Barry -- close enough! :-)