How to hold a Plant Exchange

Want new perennials and don't want to pay anything? Hold your own plant exchange. I went to one at a neighbor's yesterday. 

Plant exchange participants pray someone doesn't pick the plant she/he wants.

This is how it works:

Send out an invite to prospective gardeners on your list who you know are eager in obtaining new perennials. Here's a sample invite: 

Wanda will hold a plant exchange on May 5. Socialize and scope out the plants from 9:00-9:30 a.m. - the exchange begins promptly at 9:30 a.m.

Bring 4 or 5 NON-INVASIVE perennial plants / shrubs / trees, native or exotic in a container. Please bring plants that you would be happy to receive! Plants must be potted in a 4 inch or larger container for portability. Label each with:

*Variety

*Sun or shade

*Native or not

* Color

*Bloom time

*Height

*Your Name

Refreshments provided.

People sign in, get a name tag, and then look around to see what plants they want to choose when their number comes up. Everyone picks a number out of the hat based on the number of people present. The hostess then calls out the numbers starting at 1; goes to the end--say number 15--then starts at 15 and goes backward to 1 again. After the plant is chosen, participant yells "done," so the process moves very quickly. I think it only took about 15 minutes--tops. (Note: If you bring only 3 plants, you can only choose 3 new plants). Meanwhile, a walk around the host and hostess garden is an extra treat!

The soaps on sticks are SUPPOSED to keep deer away!