That's be great by me! I know that more people would probably participate if it were in a more central location, though, and I'd go regardless. I'm all for the biggest group possible!

What's involved and needed to host the swap?

You just need a yard able to hold maybe 30-40 people, several hundred plants (small pots mostly), hopefully have some shade and a busy restroom! We usually have a pot luck also.

I've read the FAQ's and talked to my husband, and we'd be happy to host, if it can happen the first or third Saturday of May (we have a conflict the second Saturday). I host an outdoor parent-child play group in my yard so we have some infrastructure: 3-4 picnic tables, lots of outdoor seating, some shade. We are in northwest Arvada, near 80th and Quaker. I can give out my full address if/when we confirm that it's a go. Here are some photos from my yard on my Play Garden flyer:

Do we have to pay to PLAY??? ;-D

I could make it either of those Saturdays, but the first would work out much better for me.

Faith, the way we've always handled the "address" so far is to have anyone who wants to come PM/private message their email address to the host and then, roughly a week before the swap, the host emails their address, and directions if necessary, to each of the people who have provided an address for you. So far we've never had anyone post their actual address on the forum since ANYBODY could be reading it here, and then anybody at all could show up at your house at the swap--or at some other totally unexpected time! It's just been a "safety issue" for the hosts. Having said that, since you'll be the host, it's up to you how you want to do it--but when it comes to the Absolutely Anybody Can Read It internet, I recommend erring on the side of safety. Think about it! I checked and you do have PMing enabled, so it would be easy for people to contact you to send their addresses.

Skybird

That makes sense about the address, Skybird. Since I'm a newbie here I may need just a little hand-holding as I go through this process. Unless someone more experienced wants to host, which would be perfectly fine as well. I'm not committed. But to answer your question, everyone is free to play on the slides and in the sandbox, lol.

In the process, if you're ever unsure about something, come here and ask! We've been doing this long enough now that there should always be somebody here to point you in the right direction!

Like Cat said, all you really need is "a yard" and "a bathroom" and you're pretty much set! The fact that you already have tables outside is a big plus!

After the date is for sure set, you might want to start a new thread which will eliminate all the "planning day/date stuff" and start with a "shorter" thread for all the other messages about who's coming and such! Not really necessary, but just helps make the thread "more easy to use" if a lot of people happen to come to this one! [Just "Spring Swap 2017" would do fine for the subject! Or you could put the date and time there too if you wanted to.]

If it'll help, here's a couple more threads to show you what's worked in the past! But new ideas are always welcome! Once the date is set we usually have a thread for people to say what plants, or other stuff, they're bringing, and for the people that are willing to do dibs, that's where that's all arranged. Subject usually something like: Spring Swap 2016 - What are you bringing?

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2993424/swap-plants-what-are-you-bringing-and-ear-marks

And we've also had threads in the past where people could post what they planned to bring for the pot luck--so other people would know some of what would be there and use that to decide what to bring themselves,

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3861369/2016-spring-swap-food-and-misc

If you want more links just let me know! I have a lot of them saved!

I might need to crawl thru the "culvert!!!"

;-)

Skybird

Faith, thanks for volunteering to host. Your place looks incredible. Is there a weight limit on the slide? ;) I'm pretty close to you (64th and Ward), so I'm happy to help with anything that comes up that needs an extra hand.

Skybird, Thanks for the link to the FAQs on the swap. It sounds great! If it does end up being the first week in May, instead of the third, that's only about a month from now. You mentioned transplanting early... In your opinion, should I start repotting things to swap now? Do you have an inexpensive recommendation for potting mix, other than "not Hyponex or garden soil"?

Stace, yes, if you're doing things from in your yard I very definitely recommend potting them up as "soon as possible." Some of the things I'll probably be bringing have already been in pots for a month! Doing that allows you to be giving away plants that you know for sure are growing and will survive easily for their new parents, as opposed to sticking them in the pots a day or two before the swap, when you can never be sure if they'll make it.

For soil, what I use is Sunshine #1 Mix, now called Sungro #1 Mix, and it's available at Paulino's in 3.8 cubic foot "bales." I don't know if they carry Sunshine/Sungro in bags, but they definitely do carry an "equivalent" to it. The baled soils/mixes are "compressed," so you get a LOT more than it looks like, making it the very cheapest way possible to buy potting soil. It would take bags and bags and bags to equal the amount you get in a bale, so, while it seems expensive to get a bale, in the long run it's much cheaper. And you can store it outside or inside in the bale and it lasts forever--until you use it up! (I normally go thru about a bale a year, tho I have on occasion had a bale around for a couple years!) So that's what I'd recommend--I use it for EVERYTHING! If you don't want a bale and go to Paulino's, ask for their "closest equivalent" to Sunshine #1 that's in a bag. I think it might be their "store generic," but not sure anymore! [Sunshine #1 is a very basic mix and has a "starter charge" of fertilizer to help the plants get going. Don't let them talk you into a more expensive one--with stuff you really don't need at all!]

I, personally, do not recommend Miracle Gro! Way overpriced, and you can never know for sure what's in the bag--because they don't even print the actual "ingredients" on it! There are complaints all over the internet abut the stuff--tho there are some people who swear by it too!

Recently I was looking up a good potting mix for someone (who doesn't have access to Sunshine!) and I found Ferti-lome "Ultimate Potting Mix" which looks really good! It has the same basic stuff as in Sunshine, AND, they actually list the ingredients that are in the bag!!! I have NO idea how much it costs--or even if it's available in Denver--tho I suspect it is! If you want to go for a "nice drive" I can tell you where to get it in Durango!!! I doubt that it comes in bales, but does seem to come in several different size bags! I already had this looked up, so here's a link! [Don't let the 3 cu. ft. bag fool you! That's "loose fill" NOT "compressed!" WAY less than 3.8 cu. ft. COMPRESSED!]

http://www.fertilomesoils.com/ultimate-potting-mix/

If you have any other questions, just ask. If I don't get back right away to answer them it's because I'm sitting here staring mindlessly at the TV! I have the flu--despite having gotten the super-duper Senior Citizen flu shot months ago! Best laid plans.....

Skybird

P.S. And for that reason please excuse any typos!

That's great information, Skybird, thanks! I'll swing by there and pick up a bale this week. Do you know if I can leave the repotted stuff outside, since it's already acclimated to being outside, or should I bring them in? Inside has lots of warmth, outside has lots of sunshine, neither has both.

I'm getting the impression that all the regulars on this site are avid gardens. You guys seem to know the exact cultivar and variety of all your stuff. I'm happy if I can tell you what color it will bloom. I'm not sure how much interest my contributions will generate. I've got stuff like raspberries, rhubarb, lilacs, mint, sweet woodruff... pretty much anything that grows without effort, and I haven't managed to kill. Do any of you guys need basics like that, or are you mostly trading higher end plants?

If the things you're putting in pots have roots, definitely leave them outside--but in "light" sun for the first couple days, then more as long as it's not enough for them to be wilting much. In other words, give them a bit of time to acclimate to their new temporary homes!

If the things you're potting are very tall or have very much foliage I recommend cutting them down to about an inch! That will make it easier for the roots to start growing since they won't have so much "foliage" to support. The foliage will pretty quickly start to grow again as soon as the roots have settled in a bit!

If you'll be putting anything in pots with NO roots, come back and post what it is!

Of the things you mentioned I believe you'll have takers for all of them! When the "what are you bringing" thread gets started, post them and watch all the "reaction" you'll get! Then you can decide if you want to take dibs from specific people, and maybe bring a couple extras, or if you just want to bring x number of each and let them be up for grabs! Individual choice! There really is no ONE right way!

Skybird

P.S. If you're interested, I just picked up a couple bales and the current price is $41.99! Sounds high, but like I said, it's compressed! It's heavy! They'll load it in the car for you but you'll need a way to get it out at home! If you keep it inside or out, cut it open "carefully," preserving the package as much as possible so you can fold the top down to keep it from getting too wet or drying out too much. You could put a piece of plastic over the top too (or LARGE trash bag), but if it's outside be sure you don't let rain/snow get in and totally saturate it! Being in a plastic package and compressed, it won't dry out easily, and it can be hard to work with if it's saturated!

Leslie and I can also host here in Westminster. Lots of space, large deck, yard and too many bathrooms (5). We are fairly open for May. Seems to me the better days for the swap would be closer to planting out warm season plants safely time which is May 20, 21, 27 or 28.

I can do any Saturday in May, looking forward to it! I do have a 12 hour shift on Sunday the 7th, the only day I couldn't attend.

Gjcore, that makes sense about having the swap when it's safe to plant our stuff when we get home. Skybird, you said you could make the 20th but it's not as convenient for you as the 6th would be. Do you want to put in your vote? You're the matriarch here, so I'll let your vote sway me for sure. What about others? Treebarb? Zach? Who else is a regular?

Stace, thanks for your offer for an extra hand; maybe you could come a little early and help me set up.

Gjcore, five bathrooms is pretty enticing...but I'm now pretty actively hoping that I can host because I've been fantasizing about all of these experienced gardeners giving me garden advice while they're in my yard. However, I could give that up for the greater good.

Concerning plants it's not always clear if plants that are brought to the swap are hardened off. It would be nice if they all were but if not then mention that when the announcements begin about one's plants.

So which place is more convenient for the majority?

I can't do May 20th, or June 2nd, but don't make that a deciding factor! The needs of the many outweigh the needs of a few when it comes to swaps. Those that can't make it can make arrangements with others to get their offerings to the swap and have attendees pick up dib plants. We nearly always find a way. Either location works for me.

Barb

I have no preference to the locations, or dates.

For the iris, can I dig them up right before the swap even if they're blooming? I've only divided in August. I'll be learning something new.

Any date works for me, though I agree with Greg that the 20th would probably be better for the plants. Giving people time to harden them off and further away from the frost date, most specifically for vegtable starts or any other tender plants that were started indoors. For divisions of hardy perennials its probably not as big of a concern, but the 20th would allow more time for folks to make those divisions and let them recover.

Like I said I'm not particular about the date though so whatever we come up with is good for me. Its pretty hit or miss whether I even make it to these things, but with as many extra seedlings I have this year I had better make it. I can only pawn so many of them off on the folks at work.

The 6th would definitely work better for me. The 20th is starting to get pretty close to when I'll be leaving on my spring trip--and I don't post specific dates when I "won't be home" online, so won't go into that! (And I don't have a clue why so many people DO love to tell burglars when they can easily burgle!) But I could make it on the 20th, just wouldn't be as "convenient." Having said that, along with everybody else, if it's more convenient for "most folks" to have it on the 20th--or some other date, that works for me too. I've been to "most" of the swaps, but not all of them!

About having it later just so it would be closer to "planting out time," I guess I'm thinking about that in "the other direction!" It seems to me it would be nice for the folks getting the seedlings to be willing to "take them of the hands" of the "growers," rather than expecting the people who are generous enough to grow extras to keep taking care of them for a couple extra weeks--right up until they can be planted outside. Certainly if folks are nice enough to help provide free plants for us, we can be willing to take care of them the last couple weeks! Just my take on the situation!

Greg, if I'm there, I HAVE made a note on my "notes before we start" to ask people to say if and to what extent any seedlings have already been hardened off and/or exposed to direct sun and wind outside, so that should solve that problem. Had never thought about that one before!

I had been assuming from the "beginning posts" on this thread that it was decided Faith was going to host this one. If that's gonna change I think it should be decided pretty quickly. Greg, perhaps you want to throw your hat into the ring and get dibs on the fall swap for this year?!?

I'd suggest at this point that the folks who haven't already expressed a preference for a date come and do that, and with that information a definite date can be picked and set.

Skybird

I'm available for any weekend date. My mom and is going to be in town for my daughter's high school graduation if it lands on the weekend of the 20th. Can we bring friends and/or family to the swap?

Hi all, newbie here!

Looking like I wouldn't be able to make the 6th, so I'll vote for the 20th. The 13th would also work really well for me if we're considering Greg's hosting offer.

Hi Oladon, I'm a newbie too... I've found the Rocky Mountain crew to be super friendly and helpful. Welcome!

Stace_s--yes, bring friends and family! The more the merrier!

Thanks, Liz!

Thanks, stace_s. I'm really looking forward to it!

So far, I have no weekend plans in May (except Mother's Day weekend), so any of the dates are good for me. I prefer something in Westminster or Arvada, but offers to host and majority rule and I'm amenable to that. Looking forward to it!

Westminster would also be easier for me, but I could probably make it down to Aurora if that's the consensus.

Ok, I propose that we do the swap on May 20th, at my house in Arvada (not Aurora; Arvada!).

I'll wait a couple of days to make sure there are no major objections, and then I'll start a new post with the swap date and general info, with an invitation for people to message me privately for my address when the time gets closer.

Pleae lee me know if anything should be different, since this is my first swap. I'm very excited

Arvada is much better than Aurora... and this way I get to crawl through the culvert too! ;)

Arvada works well for me. Thank you!!!

I've been busy in my gardens and haven't checked in for quite some time. This morning I realized that the there is likely to have chatter about arranging the next swap. I missed a swap a couple of years ago by not being more attentive to the date.

The 20th works for me and Arvada is great. It seems like we're getting a fair amount of GWers in the NW, much more so than I've ever noticed.

I'm hoping I can talk my daughter into coming with. She's dabbled with vegetables, so I'm hoping she's interested.

Thank you Faith for hosting - I hope I can make it! Greg - hope you'll take Skybird's suggestion to host in the Fall! ;)

Cool! Sounds like Arvada is the most convenient for the majority so I'm good with that. I'll make sure a few other members who I haven't seen on here since we started this string are aware. So is the date going to be the 20th?

Sounds great! The date and location work perfectly for me. Faith, I'm still game for helping you set up. We can work out the details on PM once it gets a little closer.

Am busy but just a quick note to say, I'll be there! When I have time I'll PM my address to you Faith. Thanks for volunteering. Looking forward to it.

Skybird

Sounds great to me and I'll TRY to be there. Thank you Faith!

OK, it sounds like a go. My battery is dying but I'll post a separate post tomorrow announcing the date and that I'll be hosting.

Arvada sounds good. The fall swap in Westminster also will be good unless a south location would be preferred.

I'm fine with driving north as long as it works better for the majority. Gives me a good excuse to hit up the nurseries there that I don't normally get to--scored some nice tree peonies last year! Thanks again Gardenchloe!

Liz, I will totally go with you again this year! I am sorry I had to rush somewhere last time.

Whoohoo! Trading plants and shopping for more in the same day, what could be better! Sounds great, gardenchloe, I'll enjoy your company!

Let me know if you have room for one more, Liz. :)

I'll start checking on what's popping up!

Absolutely there's room, Amester! The more the merrier!

Hooray! Thank you. Is there a swap list going? Did I miss it?

Haven't seen one yet, sure it'll be here soon!

Does the host usually get the swap list going,, or one of the more experienced folks?

If you mean the "what are you bringing" and dibs for the people who are doing dibs thread, anybody who has time--or inclination, can start it

Is there anybody up in the Longmont/Hygiene area coming to the swap (or who gets down to the Boulder/Broomfield area)? There's someone up there selling Lake Valley seeds from last year for 25c a package, and I'd really love to get some, but it's a bit of a long way!