Glad you liked it, Melinda!

Yes, Emily I loved all of it Thank you again!

I don't remember seeing this.

Stain Remover

1. Mix 1 teaspoon Dawn, 3 to 4 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide, and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Put on any stain an rub in before washing!

Susan, Thank you so much for the super package! I love the homemade cleaning book and can't wait to look at the recipes! The card is adorable and the rosemary and white horehound seeds are perfect! Thank you! Amy

Oh my, where do I begin? My package from Heidi is amazing. If I counted right, there are 32 beautiful handmade cards. Each one is so wonderful. She also included large and small dinosaurs and large bugs. I love these. She said I could use them as markers or do something else. These are going to be hidden in a new garden that I am putting in using wildflower seeds my grandkids gave me for Mother's Day last year. Won't they have fun discovering these? I also got a pretty dish towel which is decorating my coffee bar right now. Of course, she remembered the cleaning part including trash bags and a scrubbing pad. I received some seed packages she made as well as the following seeds. Giant noble spinach, marigold and red plume gaillardia. I had the last one at my old house so excited to get these started for my new gardens.

Heidi, thanks for the awesome package. I will think of you with each note I write using your cards as well as the plants that grow. Margo

Amy, I am so happy you liked it. I hope you enjoy the recipes.

All the packages sound/look so nice!

Margo--so glad you liked it! You'll have to snap a picture an dpost it of your grandkids "hunting" dinosaurs in the flower garden! Jurassic Park here they come!

At the grocery store today there was a Better Homes and Gardens Herb magazine--how to grow, dry, freeze and do everything with herbs. We've had lots of discussions here about herbs.

Beth - beautiful birds - we don't get cardinals and I think they're so gorgeous.

Thanks Heidi. Wow Susan, lots of info.

EEK - almost missed it! April Week 3 is Organize your files week. Let's see ...

I had been trying to get my seed organized and the collection thinned - then got sidetracked by planting and pulling it all out - currently a mess.

I *had* caught up with organizing some desktop files, but got busy and that's out of control. I won't even say how many files are in my downloads waiting to be sorted to correct folders. Did clean off the "desktop" into documents folders (yea!).

I might have to extend that one to the month.

So - 2 POINTS to each "organizing files" task you do and share here - 2 for cleaning computer files (delete old emails, garbage files, put things in folders...), 2 for organizing seed files/garden log and 2 for organizing cleaning home-business-family paper files (total of 6 points possible). BY the 27TH (so I can total points for end of month winners). (Task is you did something towards the goal, ok if not 100%).

This WEEKEND - the Lyrid meteor shower will peak early on Earth Day (night of Saturday, April 21, into the early morning of Sunday, April 22 - SUNDAY is EARTH DAY). They have a map that shows which states should have good views and note best times to see.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/lyrid-meteor-shower/70004697

EARTH DAY https://www.earthday.org This year's focus is Ending Plastic Pollution. They even have a toolkit - all the way in to page 24 (every prior section had resources and links, they had a difficult time narrowing down what to highlight and just included everything :-) is the Personal Footprint http://www.earthday.org/wp-content/uploads/Plastic-Pollution-Primer-and-Action-Toolkit.pdf.

U.C. is pushing the planting of insectary plants for Earth Day. These plants attract natural enemies such as lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. Natural enemies provide biological pest control and can reduce the need for insecticides. They have a web, and one of their links is to the free Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Resources by region. http://xerces.org/pollinator-resource-center/ There's a click here by the map to get to your region - then check out more by expanding the talking points below the map. The Recommended Pollinator Plants will focus on native plants, but has pics of each with bloom time as staggering blooms to always have something blooming is important to aiding pollinators.

So - EARTH DAY POINTS. Well, weather is so up and down for everyone, so won't make points for planting. Easy (hmn this week does sound like homework) - 2 points for opening the Xerxes guide for your region and looking at it and 2 points for looking at page 24 of the Earth Day Toolkit (pick web version and you don't download the whole thing).

Remember - if you're planting something new this year and didn't share about that here yet - there's points for that!

..and, egads - had snow Tuesday (didn't stick) with freezing (high 20°s) Tuesday and Wednesday (that meant moving and covering everything that's growing) - now tomorrow could hit 80°. It has been so up and down it's crazy.

I looked at the Xerxes guide for my region and those seed mixes and the companies that make them. I have never even heard of most of those companies so thanks for pointing them out.

Maggie, I looked at page 24 of the Earth Day Toolkit. I don’t use plastic cups but I am guilty of using plastic wrap. I use glass containers for my food but put plastic wrap on top to heat up my lunch in the microwave at work. The other day I saw someone put a damp paper towel over her food and put it in the microwave. It never occurred to me that might be an option. I don’t know though what happens to paper towels in microwaves since they aren’t really meant for that use.

One of the events they had for earth day (or at least they listed it under events for earth day) was a drip irrigation class at the water facility near me last week taught by master gardeners. I went and learned a lot. Well worth the time. Planning to put some of that into practice but haven’t started yet.

Oh, I just planted something new two days ago. Last fall, I had mail ordered the mushroom plant that Annie had spoken about last year and after my order went through, I got a notice that it would ship in March. Well March came and went and it finally arrived two days ago so I planted it. Looking forward to seeing how it grows.

Wow, Maggie that site has tons of info! Never heard of it! But page 24 is a lot of things never thought of. Even checked my Q-,tips but they have cardboard and not plastic sticks on them. I already re cycle all plastic containers. We have recycle bins at edge of town for any plastics, papers, glass, and cans. But never buy bottled water, I have water bottles use to take water from home. I also already use my own bags to put groceries in. If for certAin occasions need paper plates, I use the heavy paper ones, not made of plastic. I have jars with silverware in it for these occasions and they go in dishwasher. Can buy 4 pieces of silverware for $1 at dollar store.

But checking out the pollinators for my area, I already grow many of these. Growing fennel and swamp milkweed this year for butterflies. Along with nicotianas ( didn't see on list), just excited to grow these.

I don't do much on computer but gardenweb and few other things. So I delete as I go, move into folders as I go and clear cache every month. Don't do enough for it to get to cluttered. I have file for patterns of crafts want to do someday. Have file for things I grow and ones that are gone. Not much there.

My package from Emily! Loved it!

Melinda, I had the same thought about my Q-tips, but they are ok. I don’t buy bottled water either. Also ring my own bags for grocery shopping. California charges ten cents per disposable bag.

Well, true confessions here. I'm pretty good about most things and recycling is easy in California. But, being on a well - I do keep the dreaded plastic water bottles with at least two cases in the garage in case power goes out and I cycle those (to keep track of expy dates). And, I'm a fan of sparkling water instead of soda or such. The shopping bags is a non-issue as I won't pay for them and am in the habit of keeping lots of cloth ones in the car. Q-tips are fine, I got one box of plastic straws years ago (~8) that I still have - I do use them sparingly with my iced coffee in a cup with those tops that hold the straw. Just rinse them and re-use for that cup. But, having too many cats, I don't only use home-made cleaners and do use the big ol' Costco plastic containers for Dawn (also my soap spray for aphids, thrips and more), Laundry detergent, shampoo/conditioner, occasional real bleach and ammonia. Plus I NEED my milk jugs for winter sowing :-) . I feel kinda bad as I'd just gotten the 240 18oz Costco plastic cups to use as plant containers for things I grow for the Master Gardeners. But - paper would collapse (we keep pots at our demo garden growing between sales) and the cow pattie ones are too expensive. I've actually been thinking of getting a second pack. I don't get anything that comes in 6-pack rings - which seem to be the worst at killing wildlife, but just saw they've come up with a biodegradable alternative so that's promising.

Homemade soap spray (university approved, not Pinterest made up garbage) https://www.facebook.com/CalaverasCountyMasterGardeners/photos/rpp.481604485248940/1616311195111591/?type=3&theater 

Kinda fun while informative video - https://www.facebook.com/scifri/videos/1196630427135032/?hc_ref=ARSX0i4vOHrt_o0w1YcItBYfTf0unAWMvXCfQD5EXfpzS8vf-v5DlrgkX1DiAJMpIR4

Emily that mushroom plant sounds interesting - tell us once it's growing if you think it's as tasty as reported.

Melinda - unfortunately for me, I'm on the computer A LOT.

EARTH DAY!! Good National Geographic 3 minute video (there are lots of videos on plastic and the ocean - this is one of the shorter better ones, scanned a LOT of them for my post. Too many can leave you pretty sad! Unfortunately, a few of them want to show you dissected birds showing the amount of plastic they ingested - not this one). But if you want something to share with your friends for Earth Day, this is a good one.

https://www.facebook.com/CalaverasCountyMasterGardeners/posts/1620123614730349

More very short Article on Pacific Plastic Garbage Patch from Newsweek http://www.newsweek.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch-trash-island-pacific-ocean-857494

After watching them, I see plastic EVERYWHERE. I’ll be more conscious going forward. If you want to move from plastic seed envys - these are what I get. 500 lasts a LONG time (well, some of those end of year trades can chew up a hundred), comes out to a tad less than 3 cents each. Also need to be careful with all that tape used for homemade envys. I noticed with the boxes I used under mulch that it doesn’t EVER break down on the ones I didn’t get all the tape off of. The voles and gophers keep finding it and pushing it up to the surface!!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sparco-Brown-Kraft-Coin-Envelopes-Base-UPC-0003525501358-Size-1/21446724?athcpid=21446724&athpgid=easyreorder&athmtid=eroData&athznid=eroData&athena=true

Today was fabulous. Dug up.allium from an abandoned house and transplanted. Cleaned up park flower beds and back.yard. used muscles I didn't know I had but being in the dirt was awesome. Yesterday transplanted poppyplants!!! Talking snow this Friday (sad face). Heidi

We had slow cold rain all day yesterday. Cool and not able to do anything outside. But Saturday, I dug up plants and gave them to my sister with seeds for her flower bed in front of her house. I also planted out about 20 packs of seeds to where they needed to be! Hoping when warms back up they will pop up after all this slow rain on them!

not sure about today! Maybe need to clean out my closet!

hope all have a great Monday!

My post disappeared. I'll try again.

My package is going out tomorrow. I apologize for my tardiness. I have no good excuse other than time gets away from me. I'll post D.C. After I mail. Margo

No worries Margo - mine is also going out today. I picked the later mail-by date as I knew April is just a crazy busy month for me and I'd probably need the extra time.

Heidi - Great find on the alliums.I know what you mean about those muscles. With all the work I've been squeezing it, I'm resting with the hot pad each night.

Lucky sister you have Melinda. I hope I can get my beds to the place where I could direct seed more (fall for me, except hot summer annuals). Hoping to work in time for some planting today, we'll see how it goes.

I did get a better pic of my native small lupines.

The Actea Narcissus are still blooming and cheery.

I usually try to plant veggies around May 1st (weather dependent). The tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are ready to go into the beds and looking good.

!lovely plants! I always direct sow things like zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, sweet peas, marigikds, etc. Just Have tons of plants to plant and rained all night for 2 nights and its if the day! Very soggy and muddy!

hope everyone has great day!

Arbor Day is FRIDAY - I'm finding all kinds of fun things on their website as I work composing a post about it (MG Plant Sale Friday and we do sell some trees - perfect match). Some of their coloring pages are drop dead gorgeous! https://www.arborday.org/celebrate/coloring-pages/ 

(Second photo) These are chrysantha tulips--about the size of a quarter. About 5" tall. Purple on the outside, yellow on the inside. They make me smile every year. Heidi

Wow, those are some very healthy tomatoes Maggie!

Those yellow tulips are adorable Heidi!

Emily, your package was delivered to your old address. I called today an apparently the lady I talked to on Friday didn't intercept the package. I am going to try calling Nashville Post Office tomorrow. I was disconnected 3 times tonight after being on hold 30 or so minutes. If I don't get anywhere with them tomorrow I am sending out a new package. So sorry for my mistake! Take care, Amy

Thanks for checking Amy and don’t worry. I will be back Friday so I wouldn’t have gotten the package any earlier anyway. I also sent an e-mail to my former next door neighbor to see if she would feel comfortable asking the new owners about the package. I will let you know what she says.

Kristan, your package is finally on the way. I hope you enjoy it.

9405803699300627178083

margo

Emily, a new package is going out tomorrow. Tracking 9400109699937560983672. The other one may or may not be sent back so I am resending. Hope you enjoy! Amy

Amy, just heard back from my former neighbor. She said that she would be glad to ask for me but she is in Florida because her brother is ill and didn’t know when she will be back but would ask when them when she returned. I told her not to worry about it. Thanks for sending another package. Sorry you had to do that.

The Plant Fairy visited me this week! I found 3 bags full of plants which I planted in the rain yesterday. I believe most of them are daylilies. I think they are from a friend. Her mother came to visit and asked ME if I wanted flowers...but didn't ask her daughter! Of course the mother and I LOVE flowers and talk about it endlessly. The daughter would rather talk horses! Can't wait to see what happens! Heidi

Someone asked for the recipe for elderberry syrup a while ago.

I use the one from "WellnessMama". They are all very similar but hers says three ounces of dried elderberries and my Local supplier (the Honey Man) sells them in one ounce packets. Recipe also calls for raw honey and this is the perfect place to get it. Sooooo many choices. Right now I am using "Desert Blue clover".

I increase the fresh ginger a bit and reduce the clove and cinnamon a bit but I do like to experiment.

Just got word yesterday that my elderberry bushes will be shipped next week. Perfect timing for us. Elderberries will be a "new crop" at the "Old Folks Farm" and I hope there will be enough in a few years that the birds leave some for the humans.

Kristan sent me her tracking number (and I sent Susan hers), so all packages were mailed by our due ate and if not received yet - are in transit :-) .

Amy sends to Emily mailed, circling the globe, sent 2nd

Emily sends to Melinda received

Melinda sends to Beth received

Beth sends to Heidi received

Heidi sends to Margo received

Margo sends to Kristin sent

Kristin sends to Maggie sent

Maggie sends to Susan N. sent

Susan N. sends to Amy received

I'd promised one bonus point to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd person to mail their package. We had 3 mail on the 17th - so four folks get that one extra point.

Melinda

Heidi

Beth

Emily

SKY WATCH

The Full Pink Moon rises the evening of April 29, 2018. See what’s special about the Full Moon for April.

And, Heidi - those are lovely, the muscari is a nice contrast to the tulips.

Great discussions and pictures here!

I did part of my "spring cleaning" and just sent out a revised membership list. I hope everyone receives it and can access it. It seems April has gone by in a flash. I'll be posting for the May and June swaps as soon as April wraps up so please watch for them and the updated list.

Maggie, you are doing a fantastic job as hostess this month. Thanks so much for all the information. I definitely need to look up "pink moon".

Jeanne

I had trouble getting the new names to save when I sent out the revised list. Anyway, I'm going to send out the 2 newest members separately by email so they won't be missing from your list - if they didn't go through. Will get that together later today!

Jeanne

Gosh - synchronicity! This came into my Facebook feed today - Elderberries (recipes and ideas - worth a quick watch). https://www.facebook.com/FreshBitesDaily/videos/a.1612205035527791.1073741847.128980120516964/1618314148250213/?type=2&theater 

Saw video on this. Can take Coke and soak rusty garden tools in it to clean off rust. Vinegar also does same thing. And then keep them inserted in bucket of sand to keep clean. Also put Coke in spray bottle and kills bugs on plants- but think it would also draw flies! Not sure about that!

Melinda, you'd just left out that for the garden tools to not rust, it needs to be oiled sand. Ol' Martha recommends motor oil or mineral oil, some use WD40. A clay pot with the sand has the perfect look :-) . https://www.marthastewart.com/264239/gardening-tool-care  Here's Home Depot removing rust (neutralize afterwards with baking soda - I have this all handy as it' s on my to do list and bookmarked). I'll use regular vinegar as hear cleaning vinegar is acidic enough to cause blindness if you're not careful enough. Regular will just take more time. http://community.homedepot.com/howto/DiscussionDetail/How-to-Clean-Rusty-Garden-Tools-906500000000J7D 

Ah, this is the Youtube video I'd seen but it wasn't in my bookmarks. Not kidding about on my list - I like to order from Walmart and have 4 jugs of vinegar that were supposed to be delivered today but now show Saturday (cleaning planned for that vinegar and it helped reach the free delivery threshold). That's one of the first things that'll happen with it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L73KNiaPg80 

i received my fantastic package from Kristan today. Thank you Kristan!! She sent me a cheery floral dishtowel, a yummy Hawaiian Macadamia nut candy, four herbal teas, a GORGEOUS handmade card and some Hawaiian seed I can’t wait to try for Kobacha squash, hot peppers and a U. Hawaii developed tomato. Perfect choices for me.

Just letting you know - the vinegar works - even without scrubbing. I put some pruners in a cup of vinegar (regular) and the rust bits were on the bottom of the cup after a bit - even before scrubbing! On a mission to find all my rusty tools now ;-) .

Susan N. please check to see if you have a Message from me - trying to verify your information before I resend the list for new members.

Thanks and have a good weekend!

Jeanne

I received Amy’s package. She sent a pretty denim flowers card, seeds for Mirabilis longiflora, cosmos Gloria, pansy black king, and watermelon ancient, a lavender mint handmade soap and orange essential oil. Thanks so much Amy! I am looking forward to trying those seeds.

These red tulips are along the bottom of the curb.

These double pink are by the sidewalk.

This was a success, if limited. I have a lot of regular creeping phlox and tried to transplant last year. Bought the bright pink one. Someday I'll have them blooming all along the top of my rounded rock wall as you enter the driveway. The rest of the year it stays green and keeps some of those weed seeds out! Heidi

Maggie, that's great about the vinegar...come to think of it my husband and I used vinegar to soak the nozzle to his power washer last year. It was clogged with rust and no water would pass through. After a 24 hour soak, the bottom of the glass jar was filled with a rusty gunky material. Much to our surprise, the nozzle then was totally unclogged and the power washer worked like new again.

Jeannie - sorry about the delay...I completed my information and responded to your message.

Heidi - I love love love your flowers. It will fill in nicely for you and keep the weeds out I'm sure.

Speaking of flowers, I found a solitary daffodil at the edge of our property yesterday and a hyacinth, or more like half a hyacinth Does anyone know the name of this daffodil?

Thanks, Susan. I'm hoping to retype the list at some point and get everything included. I hope everyone now at least has all the names and information that you need. If not, just check back with me. A beautiful day here today - unfortunately I just feel sort of out of energy. Some days are like that!

I love those double pink tulips, Heidi. Love seeing everyone's plant pictures.

Jeanne

I have really enjoyed this swap! So much good info here! Maggie you did a great job hosting this!

thank you so much for the wonderful book--Natural Beauty.

shows how to make and use pure and simple beauty productd!

love it!

have really enjoyed it!

Thank you so much for having me this month!!! I got some awesome goodies!!!

I really love it all . Missing is the colored pencils .... my daughter took it because she says she needs it more thank you Maggie !!!!

Maggie, Thank you for a very fun month! Amy

Another fantastic swap. I apologize for not being more active but I did have tons of fun. Thankyou!!!

Your welcome!!

Prizes - As you can see, Melinda got her prize for first place (it was looking obvious she was going to win). Thanks for all the pictures Melinda, they help keep the month interesting for everyone!

Runner-up prizes to Emily (2nd place Thank you for sharing so many photos too!) and to Beth who got the 6 points for keeping (mostly) to this month's swap (one set of towels, two packets of seeds, card - there was an extra of a chocolate bar - but she was closest to the simple swap guidelines).

Susan - your package shows out for delivery. Hope you're not disappointed as I keep to the simple swap and only send listed items (I do put it on my profile so folks know that about me!). Thanks for sharing about the vinegar. I have a pressure washer that's clogged - I'll try that! Looked at the split cupped and double narcissus at Van Engelen https://www.vanengelen.com/flower-bulbs-index/narcissi/split-cup.html and https://www.vanengelen.com/flower-bulbs-index/narcissi/double.html and didn't see yours. The American Daffodil Society has a DAFFSEEK link to photo database if you feel like trolling about there https://daffodilusa.org.

Heidi - beautiful tulips and that phlox is going to be gorgeous when it fills in!

TODAY is National Honesty Day (so honestly, I have too much stuff!!!) http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/April/honestyday.htm

Maggie, thanks for being a wonderful host for this month's swap. I found it very interesting as well as educational and fun. And many thanks for the lovely gift. I love the amazing herb encyclopedia and will definitely give it lots of use! And I will cherish the adorable fairies sweet pea card you sent as well.

Maggie, thanks for hosting this month, sounds like everyone had a great time!

Shirley!