I still have some baby ones he had started. Have no idea what they are or what to do with them, but I'll have them at the swap. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

I will be there! Susan

There doesn't seem to be much interest in the swap, judging by the number of posts here. The swap is an opportunity for all gardeners to meet and exchange plants and gardening tips. It is too good of a thing to allow to die. Please make every effort to attend.

Please post here if you intend to come and indicate what covered dish you will bring. A link to your trade list would be nice as well. Alice, have any of the MGs expressed an interest in the swap?

I will bring a marinated slaw and will post my trade list soon.

I hope to see all my old friends there and meet new ones. Susan

A number of the Master Gardeners are interested and I'm trying to spread the word to other MG groups and local gardeners and garden clubs. I'm also posting it on my Facebook page. If you have email addresses for any of the other old regulars, it might help to contact them that way. I'm afraid the old Gardenweb is losing some of it's following. I for one spend more time on FB and doing other things and just forget to check here.

I think I'll grill a bunch of chicken to bring.

I posted this on Facebook. If you can, please copy and paste into an email or on FB and spread the word. If you know of garden clubs or Master Gardeners in your area, please share with them.

____________

Calling all gardeners. Please join us for a
FALL PLANT SWAP
10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 15, 2016 -- RAIN OR SHINE
Hosted by the Etowah County Master Gardeners Association

What is a plant swap? It is an inexpensive way for gardeners from all over North and Central Alabama to exchange plants and garden-related items. It is also a fun way for a wide range of gardeners to meet and learn from each other.

What do I bring? Anything garden related that you think other gardeners might enjoy. NOTE: No money changes hands.

Examples:
>Plants (potted and clearly labeled!)
>Garden ornaments or decorative rocks
>Seeds
>Bulbs
>Gardening books or magazines
>Cuttings suitable for rooting
>Home-grown fruits or vegetables
>Tools
>Nice pots
>Potting soil, soil amendments
>Just yourself, if you’re interested in coming to the Spring swap and want to meet people and see what goes on.

How does it work?
The swap is very relaxed. The gates open by 9:30 and gardeners begin arriving with their garden items. There is ample room to park on the Master Gardener property near the greenhouses. Most folks put their things on the ground around the back of their vehicles and then begin looking around to see what other swappers have brought. If you see something you want, you can talk to the person who brought it, show them what you brought, and then make a trade. Be sure to put the things you receive in your vehicle or in a place where people will know these items are not for trading.

***BRING A DISH for a covered-dish lunch and visit in the MG building.

***LOCATION: 3200 West Meighan Boulevard, Gadsden, Alabama - (Behind the Etowah County Board of Education Office)

Please share this information with anyone who might like to join us.

I'm still here, but ZERO rain in the past 28
days has been devastating to my yard and to the plants I had hoped to bring to
the swap. In all, we've had 13.1" of rain in the past 6
months; you can't hand-water enough to overcome that kind of deficit.

I was in walking boots for 8 weeks for
hairline fractures in the metatarsal region of both feet during this time.
Also caring for a beloved companion (cat) who had 1/2 of both ears
removed due to skin cancer. (Did I mention that I'm probably feeling
sorry for myself?!)

I still plan on attending. Alice/Susan -
let me know what y'all think I need to bring, food-wise, to complement your
grilled chicken and marinated slaw. Maybe baked beans?

I'll put together a trade list soon. In the meantime, anyone interested in dried snake gourds? They make nice conversation pieces and I have many of them ;-D

It's that thing at my elbow. They grew into a patch of variegated ginger and this one was "camouflaged" until recently.

Baked beans sound good! Looks like this awful drought is going to go on for a while. We may just have to have lunch and commiserate with each other over our dead/dying plants. :-( At least it should be cooler.

I am planning on being there. Maybe not with any plants….0.1 inch of rain in about a 5 week period of hot summer weather makes me unsure what is dead and what will come back. Maybe I'll have to rethink gardening again.

I feel your pain! I have a few things potted up that may make it till the 15th but we may have to mostly visit and plan for Spring!

Sunita,

I hope you'll see this and I hope you have more aster 'Frikartii' to trade. Mine are just starting to bloom and they are every bit as beautiful as I recall them being. Plus they are one of the most drought-tolerant plants in the yard right now.

Looking forward to seeing you and the rest soon!

Nelson

I'll pass the message on to Sunita. I hope one of you will bring one to the swap!

It was great seeing all of you again. Here are a few of the pictures we took at the swap:

Susan

Loved seeing everyone. We didn't have a big group this time, but everyone had a good time - and lots of good food and fellowship. We were all ready for a break from politics and dry weather! Wishing everyone a good rain, soon! We'll start planning for the Spring swap as soon as the date is set for the MG plant sale in April. Thanks to Susan's daughter Rebecca for the pictures. She did a good job.

"We were all ready for a break from politics and dry weather!" You can say that again! And speaking of breaks, for the first time in 49 days it rained...2/5" early this morning.

Thanks to the MG's for being such gracious hosts, and to everyone who participated. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with you all. The plants & food was a bonus!

Nelson

Hope you'll all come back for the Spring 2017 swap! The Etowah County Master Gardeners are hosting it again on Saturday, May 13. See details in the new thread at http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4578346/spring-swap-may-13-gadsden?n=2.