It's the end of Febuary already!

I've run into a little snag for my March month...I'll be out of town until the 20th. I took a gig up in DC and leave next week until Palm Sunday. If at all possible, send packages after that date.

Appreciate it!

If anyone is interested, Laura just filled out her OBF questionnaire. It's a great resource to find out more about what Laura might or might not like. You can see it here. Search "lorabell." She's at, or near, the bottom.

Laura, good luck in DC! Have fun! I love/Hate DC . I live 15 minutes from there and avoid it at all cost. Well, until my kids want to take the new silver line metro from Reston to see the museums. Then I have to go with the flow :)

Yes, I definitely have a love/hate relationship myself. Lived there on the riverfront for 2 years, right across from the Reagan airport, absolutely stunning. Every morning Marine One would fly directly over my house shaking all my pictures out of place. Good times! Was able to see, do, and meet people that still have me in awe.

Then we have traffic, really bad areas right outside our gate that shootings were the norm, and no ability to garden!

This is my trial run to see if I want to start working up there again. So far the husband isn't liking the idea at all....!!

Oh my lol. I get very aggravated when my pictures are out of place. Even a hair so i can not even imagine your frustration! How cool was that to have Marine One flying over your home. .Other than the pictures lol .. Seems like you had a wonderful experience here.

I know the feeling of no space to garden. When we were at Ft. Belvoir we had about 5x5 patio, thats it! :( Although I do not have a yard here, I am able to rent the garden plots. Its a 10 minute walk up the road. Across from Lake Anne. I want to move out to Loudoun County for the remainder of my time in Va, but i do not see that happening. I could not imagine my life without the ability to have my own garden.

The traffic is very annoying.

The shootings are getting worse. We were working in South East 2 weeks ago. It was a beautiful day. As we were putting the tree limbs in the chipper, a man starts shooting at a car. No cops around... The cops didnt show up. It brought back memories of my life in Baltimore City. Everyday was like that. Not a good experience.

Your husband has the right idea LOL.

Address has been sent, please let me know if it hasn't been received...

On a side note... One more week of DC! I am seriously missing the plants, and chickens, the no traffic country life. What was I thinking!!!!

I have my box ready... it's going out tomorrow.. :) I'll post the DC when I receive it.

Deb

Laura -- Your packages went out today. I had to send two because I didn't want the heavy item to crush the plants.

Tracking numbers:

9505512500226082300098

9449009699937435661522

Also, I didn't include a note, which is typical Erica fashion. Lol. The only thing I need to mention, without spoiling any surprise, is that the one marked "Fuchsia...." is a rooted cutting from a 15+yo plant. It's so old that I don't have a proper ID on it. If you have any questions about anything in the box, you know how to get ahold of me.

Oh, and please open the packs as they come. The one with the plants should be arriving first, so I don't want them sitting, while you wait for the second package.

My package went out too... I sent "LIVE" stuff too... so hopefully it does really well in traveling! DC # 9505 5121 5032 6082 1789 83 it should arrive on Thurs.

Deb

Erica, the packages sound great.. :) GOTM.. :)

Received 2 packages today, from Erica and Deb. What fun was that!

Erica, I can't imagine what a second package could possibly be as the one I received is perfect. Oh my goodness. Purple sweet potato starts, your Fuchsia geranium and cuttings from 3 roses- Oregold Rose, Heinrich Wendland, and Summer Fashion. I love how you wrote the names on labels so all I needed to do was stick to my rooting cups....I will try to do that when sending swaps in the future. Plus Gladiola bulbs of 'My Love'. AND seeds! Awesome selection from Sacred Succulents....and all new varieties to me! Epithelantha greggii, Cipocereus bradei, Harrisia pomanensis, Hypocrites undatus and Stenocereus stellatus. I love starting from seeds and you have given me some great challenges! Thank you so much. Forgot to add that Erica included with the seeds a write up of each, which I'll also try to do in future swaps. Also included with the plants were floral masking tape, wooden clips, and that cute floral shovel. Many Thanks!

Let me try Erica's picture again!

Laura -- Glad it got there. Those rose leaves look a little sad. If they don't take for you, let me know. I can always send more in the future.

Now, Deb's picture.

Received an awesome package from Deb! Thank you so much. To start with, garden gloves! I go through soo many pairs each season that I greatly appreciate! Love the garden tools, these definitely will be well used! What a nice kitchen set with towel, pot holders and mitt. The color is perfect and they have a roaster as the design and the husband really like them! He really likes the chocolates as well!!! Deb also included 3 recipes...two are made with blueberries which sound awesome as I have 9 blueberry bushes and get gallons of those things each year so can't wait to try them in June.

Now on to the seeds and plants! 12 different seed varieties: Mignon Dwarf Dahlia, Hales Cantalope, sweet corn, Lady Baltimore Hibiscus, Lemon Queen sunflower, Hyacinth bean, Amaranth Giant Red, Purple Clematis, Bright Light Cosmos, Sugar Baby Watermelon, Button Bush, and Thai Red Roselle. What a great selection to add to my garden. Also received cuttings of Blue Columbine, Wild Violet, Old women cactus, and Mother of Thousands. Deb, thank you so much.

Erica,

The Rose cuttings are all enjoying my rooting cups and are looking just fine this morning. I've been talking to them - which they like, by the way - and expect a full recovery from the trip! Thanks! Ha!

Laura,

I will get your package out by next Tuesday April -29th. I will post when I do.

Faye!

Package #2 from Erica! I love it! I WILL have a proper rose garden! Thanks for sharing the cuttings (which are doing fine) and the book which will be well used. So dang thoughtful - my husband (who doesn't give much input on my gardening) said it was really cool.... That's a high compliment!

So glad that you liked everything, Laura.

Hello Laura,

I am a day late and a dollar short. lol

Your package will be in tomorrows mail. Sorry for being late in sending it but I think you will like it. I hope.

The confirmation number is 9405 8036 9930 0219 9224 21

Faye!

Laura have you received my box yet? It should have been there last Saturday.. Please let me know.here is the tracking shows delivered.

9505511506826084084155

Tammy

Hope everything's ok.. with Laura. And hope the package was received Tammy. Lots of thoughtful gifts go in our boxes! We had a great group this time! I posted the new 6 month thread. It's half filled, so on 'hold' right now. We need 3 more to make GOTM go again for 6 more months. This really has been fun, thanks- Everyone!

omg I have been busy with school. I feel like theres never time for anything now :( Its ok, i keep telling myself the reward is greater than the sacrifice :) Anyway, Laura I mailed your box yesterday, will have the tracking when i run back out to the truck to the get the receipt. I was in DC the same time as you for training, maybe next time we can meet up with coffee or something?! :)

Faye,

I'm sure I'll love it!

Tammy,

I received your box- it was left by the front porch. Didn't know it was coming so didn't have anyone looking out for it. And I rarely use that entrance to the house . Sorry about that. I will post picture tomorrow .

Debbie, all is good. Busy time plus Easter/Spring break. Don't know if I'm coming or going most of the time.

Crystal,

Coffee or something sounds great! I'm still up in the air if I'll go again in October. Money - good. Everything else - major headache!

Erica,

Rose cuttings still doing ok.

Laura

I have it open again.. Only because I was going to restart it in April. But- if we don't get enough to participate (it's half full) then- MAY. I'll see in the AM... If ANYONE is interested in re-joining, starting with APRIL, post on the ORIGINAL swap. I'm trying to keep this going, because if I don't. It's going to fade away... such a good group, we can finally send LIVE things- so this should be a really "MUST DO" swap. But, it's up to all of you. During the cold months, we had to send- box stuffers. Now, we can actually make each box- to the person's interests (with plants) so it's another totally different swap. I know I love african violets (hint, hint) no one could send me them before, so see.. perfect box with a few AV's. AND supplies, or a garden bag, or ?? Houseplant cuttings, etc.. Nothing has to be duplicated- we can send pretty much anything as long as it's quality- kind of from the person's wish list (or we feel they will love it) or we want them to try to grow it.. The box is up to you. I know- all of you- will always make it special. We had a really great group. ON the new "APRIL" start for GOTM, I would love april. So- every month (5 months is open, Faye also joined) we also have someone new too, that has been watching the swap. SO- 3 so far. Need 3 more, that's all spots fill quickly (sometimes, LOL) let's see what happens by morning. And see if the swap fills... Or not.

Tammy, thank you so much for your wonderful package! I love Calla and will be out in the rain planting them later today! The hummer flag and feeder are super cute. I've never used a garden flag before- this is a good year to start. Ok, that painted worm is sweet! It went into my aloe Vera pot and looks great. The g-kids will get a kick out of it for sure!
Also included was a journal, and 2 list pads, and super cute bunny napkins. Nice seeds, an herb pack with 5 varieties- that will be used for our school garden and a 2nd grade project. Also seeds- yellow fatali pepper, cactus mix, blue lupine, cheese weed, moss rose ruby jewel, chia, purple Siberian Iris, and feed a bee pollinator mix. Plus some on the go lemonade for when I need a break! Appreciate it.

Crystal,

Thank you so much, what a useful package! Love the drinking cup to use outside - no bugs! Will try the thermo tea- very interesting. The sticky planner is needed, gloves-good! Several choices of Labels, markers, 3 types of tapes, ribbon, baggies, stickers, and very cool permanent pen... Perfect! A hummingbird journal and chalkboard calendar, again will be used! Love the Jade and seeds, - cotton? Am so interested in planting as well as the hairy balls milkweed. The toothache plant is alway a hit as well. And I 'love' the love Shambala. Thanks again for a great package!

Faye! What a great box. Yea! on the rain gauge which is something I don't have --and should being as I'm a gardener and all! Will be put up this afternoon...right after I plant the gladiolus vista...and I appreciate them being purple! The fertilizer spikes for my indoor plants... they thank you and have been needing their Spring care. Plant labels and garden tie tape and gloves...all perfect and will be used. I don't know how I'm so rough on gloves but I wear blue surgical gloves under my garden gloves and still beat up my nails and hands and wear out the fingers of the gloves..Maybe a little aggression against my weeds?

Love the gnome pot hanger. The Tennassee Volunteers pen and sticky note pad make me smile. Let's see my husband try saying it's his --like he does with every other pen I own!

Ive been wanting to try that misquito wrist band -cool. And an Easy Reach plant Pulley- how neat is that!

I love the white Spanish Bluebells and have already planted them in VIP area. Also love the seeds Harrisia pomanensis from Sacred Seeds and Lithops Optica Rubra.

This deserves its own pic! A decorated mason jar made into a lantern with a solar light on top! I do a lot of shows, and this is problably the coolest craft I've seen in years! So nice, and made by Faye! I'm thrilled. Thanks for the handmade Easter Card- beautiful, and additional cards to send. Just wow.

This ends the Sept-April 2016 GOTM swap. Thanks to everyone for sharing amazing / wonderful plants and seeds! Such thoughtful gifts as well. It has been a pleasure 'meeting' fellow gardeners through this swap and know we will continue our garden friendships for years to come!

laura

I am so glad you liked everything. I am also glad the solar light made it without breaking. I was worried I did not pack it good enough.

I am glad everything is good.

Faye!

Faye -- What a very cool solar light!

Laura -- Thanks for hosting! You did a great job!