I think when we started to do this we were thinking that the conditions might have been changed to gatherings of 10 people instead of the 5 but I see today the province has said they're keeping it at 5 which is I think our first hurdle that we have to think about.. I would absolutely love to be able to do this but I'm not sure how we will be able to get around this... thoughts?

ETA: I too have been nowhere since March 14th when I left work because of my health issues :(. I do feel that physical distancing outside would be fine my concern is the amount of people right now

Sounds like Ross wants to swap the plants and leave to keep safe? I don't blame you, Ross...or anyone for doing that. If that is the case then there is only 5 of us left. I don't know how Amanda has planned the swapping but I'm sure she has something figured out. We'll make a pile for Ross at the end of the driveway that Ross can scoop them up and take off when he wants to. How does that sound?

Lois and Merja; That"s right. My thinking was of the increased group size being allowed at this time and the fact that I myself will have 2 other people with me, but also the fact that my mother because of her age is in that compromised category as are my Grandsons. Like the Prime Minister has often said " we don't want to give up on what we have done so far then it will have all been for naught".

I would love to be able to spend time with you all as usual but am just not comfortable with the idea at this time. I like Merja's suggestion and if something like that could be worked out that would be great. I could arrive just a little later than you guys and that would give you time to get your plants ready and then I could drop mine off..or something like that.

Thanks for your consideration in this. I realize it will be a bit of a hassle but I will be grateful.

Ross, no problem, it completely makes sense to be extra careful with your scenario, and I don't think that will be a hassle at all. How about you come by between 11:30-12? We'll have your plants all sorted together to be picked up, and if you'd like to just drop your plants off in the driveway with labels, I can put them into the appropriate person's grouping for you. Each person should wear garden gloves when handling any pots to be placed into Ross (or anyone's) pile for an added layer of safety.

I'm ok if anyone or everyone wants to do swapping this way (drop off between 11 - 11:30, pick up between 11:30-12). I'm also comfortable being outside with others with social distancing, so if folks want to hang around to chat then that would also be an option.

If others want to stay, how do you all feel about the potluck / food scenario? I think it's a bit risky to do a potluck - but maybe anyone who wants to stay for the social aspect could just bring our own lunches and we can all still eat together ( / apart)?

AMANDA: Thanks for being so accommodating! I really cherish all you guys. I wish we could have the swap as normal but....this year has been anything but. The plan you have laid out sounds great! I will bring along all my offerings and hope to at least be able to see you guys and say hello. See you then. Ross

Merja - Would a division of 'Mango Tango' Kniphofia, a home grown eddoe from the grocery store = a plain green elephant ear plant (already over a foot tall with 8" leaf started in May.), or either of two red yarrows - I'll get the variety names directly, tempt you for my other trade requests?

Thanks, Heather

• Hello all!
  Late to the party; but here is my list; it will no doubt grow...
  
  Well Behaved Perennials:
  Achillea yarrow Moonshine Yellow (1) Ross (out)
  dicentra Bleeding heart – pink
  dicentra Bleeding heart – white (1)
  geranium palest blue – really tall 24-30”
  pulmonaria Lungwort dark green big leafed purple
  tradescantia Spiderwort Navajo Princess - white
  Grasses:
  black flowered sedge 5”
  4’ feathery clumper,
  Bulbs:
  alliums - purple sensation
  grape hyacinths 8~10 to a pot
  tulips many no-ID tulips 5 per trade (more available) Merja, Ross
  winter aconites 3 to a pot Lois
  Shrubs:
  Burning bush seedlings
  Biennials
  lunaria penny plant (no trade needed) Carol
  Natives:
  Agastache – anise hyssop, licorice flower – dark blue (no trade needed) Carol
  aster Pale blue 3’ smooth native asters
  aster – 5’ royal purple (no trade needed) Carol
  Coreopsis lanceolata yellow coreopsis 2' (no trade needed) Carol
  echinacea plain pink coneflower (no trade needed) Carol
  helianthus helianthoides – perennial false sunflower up to 3' mostly 2'
  oxeye daisy (no trade needed) Carol
  polygonatum commutatum Solomon's Seal plain green (slower in shade, clumper)
  rudbeckia nitida 7’ black eyed Susan blooms for a long time in fall (no trade) Carol, Amanda
  rudbeckia black eyed susans 2' (no trade needed) Carol
  stylophorum yellow woodland poppy
  Sylphium cup plant 10' yellow (2)
  Perennial – fast spreaders
  centaurea dealbata Persian Cornflower hot pink per. bachelor’s buttons - Carol (out)
  Rudbeckia laciniata 6’ yellow daisies in summer (runner roots)
  hedera helix ivy – large green leafed, or variegated white/green small leafed ivy
  veronica umbrosa Georgia Blue blue groundcover - Carol
  Vegetables;
  Mustard greens:
  Toy Choy med/small white stem (4) - Ross
  Kohlrabi (4)
  garlic chive (no trade needed) - Carol, Amanda

Seedlings:

The number at the beginning of the line is how many trades I have (2 seedlings per trade as they are still tiny):

2 Bracteantha bractaeta - Strawflower 90-100 cm Apricot Mix– Merja, Lois (out)

3 Calendula officinalis Zeolights – Annual - Ross, Merja, Lois (OUT)

3 Cheiranthus cheiri aka Erysimum sp. - English mix wallflower Biennial

5 Cleome hassleriana - purple spider flower – Annual

5 Dianthus barbatus - Sweet William – Multi coloured on same flower head Biennial

5 Dianthus deltoides - ‘Arctic Fire’ maiden pinks - white red center Per.

3 Dianthus sterngbergii – Fringed pink – pale pink Per.

2 Impatiens balsamina - Almost all red balsam – Annual

3 Monarda citriodora – Lemon Bergamot - Per. - Merja

3 Petroselinum crispum – Parsley - Biennial

3 Schizanthus Poor man’s orchid 10” Angel Wings mix Annual

2 Tagetes patula - ‘Sparky Mixed’ Marigold 8-10” Annual

3 Tagetes patula – Marigold tall yellow Annual

2 Tagetes patula – Marigold 30-50 cm Tashkent – Red Annual - Lois

2 Tagetes patula – Marigold 12-24” Harlequin Annual

2 Vernonia missourica – Purple ironweed Per.

Annuals:

Black coleus (See picture above)

Lime green coleus (See picture above)

In Search of:
more blue eyed grass
currants red - Merja - Thank you!
datura
tithonia Mexican sunflower - Merja - Thank you!
salvia coccinea Texas sage - Merja ? If I find something to tempt you!!!
plectranthus - Ross - Thank you!
giant hyacinths
Perennial ageratum - seed or plant a bit invasive, but gorgeous!!
tulips – species aka wild dwarf tulips

Please let me know if I have missed anything in my updated list (couldn't edit big list anymore, so both lists are in one place now.

Heather - I have the centaurea dealbata instead of the garlic chives. :-) Though if you've already potted up the chives I can put them in the garden too!

Amanda - sadly I only had one division of the centaurea dealbata - and Carol asked first. If I find another I will pot it up for you. for now please choose something else from my list!!

The garlic chives are already potted! no trade needed!

Heather - I don't see that comment by Carol - but do see your reply to me about it before - are you sure you're not mixing us up? :-)

Heather, I had already marked down salvia coccinea Texas sage for you. I had the seedlings salvia coccinea Texas sage, Liatris Blazing Star and Tithonia Mexican Sunflower for seedlings Strawflower Apricot mix, Calendula Zeolights and Monarda citriodora Lemon bergamot agreed on. Other than that I haven't got any other confirmations so I'm not sure how many I still have to pick, lol. Let me know, please.

Merja; sorry, I'm just not keeping up!

From me - also Burgundy leaf red seeds Castor Bean & mystery no-ID tulips (5) per trade (many trades available)

Hoping for:

Iris Immortality

Red currant

Colocasia 'Black Coral' if they are not all already spoken for

Amanda - I will look back at comments; my apologies for confusion.

Amanda - I'm sorry, Carol / Gardeng8 asked for the C. dealbata hot pink Persian cornflower 3 days ago vs your request 2 days ago. I'll look again to see if I can find a piece for you.

Hello all; I would really appreciate a half dozen pots from hanging baskets; with or without the hangers, if you have any to spare - I like using them to pot up multiple plants for giving away.

Heather, can I have kniphofia 'Mango Tango' for the last pick, please. If that one is ok with you, I have marked down mystery tulips, burgundy leaf Castor bean and kniphofia 'Mango Tango' for Iris 'Immortality', Colocasia 'Black Coral' and red currant 'Red Lake'. Thank you for trading!

Carol, I see that Heather has asked square small pots butif you have any round small pots available I would love to have them...always in need of them, please.

Merja - potting up kniphofia 'Mango Tango'

Just making sure - I also have us swapping the following seedlings: my strawflower, calendula, and Monarda citriodora for your Mexican sunflower, Texas sage, and Liatris. Thank you for trading!!!

Heather: Oops - yes, I only searched by the species name, which is why I missed Carol's comment! How about the Streptocarpella 'Concord Blue' instead?

Merja: I have a lot of small round pots I can give you, too. If I forget to bring them out, remind me when you come over and I can get them out for you.

Hi Amanda; I wish the Streptocarpella 'Concord Blue' was mine to give you - but it is Merja's plant... How about one of two named varieties of red yarrow? (really I'll check tags this evening when the temperature goes down).

Heather: omg, my brain is clearly not functioning well! Yes, a red yarrow would be lovely! You can just surprise me with whichever you think I'd like.

Hi Amanda - Will do!!

Amanda, any small pots would be lovely, thank you!

I'm for everyone bringing their own lunch.

Well hoping to get everything wrapped up today or very early tomorrow morning so I'm going to post everyone's requests here and if you see a discrepancy please let me know. :)

Carol... knautia macedonica ..perennial alyssum and corydalis lutea

Ross.... Salvia caradonna and a baptisia seedling

Merja... Spanish bluebells ..geranium phaem Samobar and a baptisia Seedling

Heather... Spanish bluebells.. perennial alyssum.. balloon flower seedlings.. Jack-in-the-pulpit and blue eyed grass which I forgot to look for but will do that today so that one still up in the air

Amanda... knautia Macedonia and bluish Iris

If anyone sees anything else on my list let me know and I will have it potted up for you or a name put on it in case I already have it potted up :-)

My visit on Sunday will probably consist of a very short 'hi everybody" and then leaving :(. Wouldn't it be something if this was the year that we finally get together in the fall for a fall swap which we have talked about for years and years lol it would be so nice if things were back to normal by then!

Thanks everyone for the trades. I only wish it was under better circumstances. I, too, feel that it is best for me to do the quick hello and leave. I would definitely be up for a fall exchange with the hope that things will open up and resemble 'normal' social activity. Again, thank you all for your kindness, generosity and understanding at this time.

I suppose we will wait for a better year when we can do the proper gathering.

Ross, make sure you don't leave without the streptocarpus...I have to keep it in shade until you get there. I haven't kept it outside so I don't want it to get sunburned.

Merja: Thanks for the reminder of the Streptocarpus. I will not forget it. I am definetley hoping to see you all for a brief moment and say hello as I gather up my new garden additions and drop yours off.. I am planning on arriving around 11'30am. See you Sunday!

I understand that I am a little late in asking, but does anyone have any woodland poppy available? My friend Olivia is looking for some. No worries if not... I have Lucifer crocosmia bulbs & pale pink dahlia bulbs available (not yet planted).

Carol - no problem - I am overrun with woodland poppy; I would love some Lucifer crocosmia bulbs! I will pot it up directly to put with the other trades!

Carol, I have Woodland poppy for her. I would love the pale pink dahlia in exchange, if ok please.

MERJA: Ack! So I went out to dig up the rhodie just now - which is at the back of the yard and I just hadn't looked at it recently - and I'm pretty sure it's dead! SO, if there's anything else on my list that would interest you, please let me know. If not, I totally understand if you just want to cancel the trade. I am so sorry!

Amanda, no worries about the rhododendron...that happens. We can just cancel the trade. :)

Carol, I see Heather answered you first about the woodland poppy. Feel free to trade with her. I would still be interested in the dahlia if there is anything on my list that interests you or Olivia. Or anything else on one of your wish lists that I might have. Otherwise no worries. :)

Heather: Thank you for the woodland poppy. I will bring the crocosmia bulbs.

Merja: Thank you for the woodland poppy. I will bring the pale pink dahlia bulbs. Olivia will be thrilled with them!

See everyone tomorrow morning!

Heather and Carol I am so sorry but I am going to have to cancel The Perennial alyssum I have dug and it seems that the only place there's a root is the main plant it was such a good size that I thought I could get pieces but nothing has roots on it except the main spot.. I am so sorry! :(

And Heather I found one small patch of blue eyed grass and I don't want to dig up the only patch I have...last year I had it all over the place this year one Little spot... I find it is like that some years you just don't even see it at all it's very elusive!

Everybody.... If there's anything else just let me know :-)

No worries Lois. See you tomorrow.

Have not been on here this year. Missing you all. As I have told Lois I don't really need anything more in my garden. I really need to rearrange some things, I couldn't comment on here till now. Not sure what was going on.

Contemplated in the last few days of just coming to the swap and bringing some freebies. A couple days ago I started to feel like the flu was coming on. I think for all I better stay home and keep us all safe just to be sure. Will miss you all. Really love swapping plants. My garden is lovely all because of everyone of you. Hope to see you all soon again.

-Beth

It's all good Lois! I hear you on seeing lots of blue eyed grass some years and hardly any other years... See you tomorrow!

Beth - sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. Look forward to seeing you again soon, perhaps as Lois has said - this will be the year for a fall swap?

Beth, I have been thinking about you since I haven't seen you commenting here. I hope you'll get better soon. Hope to see you in our next swap.

Same with, Christine, hope to see you in our next swap!

Well Guys!! Thank you all for another successful albeit "different" plant swap. I have been busy planting up my treasures and am glad to say I have them all in.....yes Heather and Merja, including the tulip bulbs. I must say that I didn't swap as much this year so my planting was limited but I was able to dig a few "overly abundant" plants out and plant in their former places.

It was great to see you all again but rather difficult to carry out a lot of conversation. I sure hope we will get this past us soon and move on to a more normal time.

I thank you once again for the treasures from each of your gardens. Like Lois had mentioned this afternoon 'you can't put a price on those plants". I look forward to growing them on and remembering you as I tend them. Take care everyone and God bless you all.

Amen Ross. My thoughts exactly. I cannot say it any better than that. Thank you everyone for all the little pieces of your garden and of yourselves. I truly have never met such wonderful people as you. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon a little garden exchange in London all those years ago. Though we don't see each other often, I always look forward to our gatherings and think about you as each of your plants emerge. Please take care and be safe. I am looking forward to seeing you all again next year already 🤗.

I wish I had the energy you have, Ross. I have to confess I didn't get even one plant planted today. :) You people can write so eloquently so I just say simply that 'thank you for all the plants and I appreciate you all'. See you next year and stay safe!

Ross I don't think any of us were surprised to hear that you had everything planted by the time you posted:-) I'd like to say I have everything in the ground but I don't ..but I do have a lot in the ground already so I'm pleased about that. I realized last night as I was on my way to bed that I had not posted my thank you. I've spent the time while I have been planting thinking of each and everyone of you... it was so good to see you all but very sad not to have our "normal" gathering... that will come I'm sure and I really look forward to it! I just want to say thank you so much to all of you ...once again you have all been very generous! Until we meet again stay safe! stay well! :)

Just saying I missed connecting with you all this year. such An unusual last twelve months, with a death in the family resulting in several trips to Ottawa last Fall, then the Covid-19 thing. Aren’t we fortunate to have gardens that help us enjoy some tranquility and get our fresh air and exercise mask-free. I wanted to share something with you which I started last summer that proves to be very successful, at least in my. small rose collection. The photograph shows all. Protecting my roses from beetles! I still keep the Container of soapy water handy, but with these baggies, they don’t even show up. Take care everybody,

Christine; Sorry that you could not attend this years swap. We missed seeing you.

Good to see that you have a workable solution to your rose bug problem, because that is a beautiful coloured rose.

You are right about having our gardens as a tranquil spot to relax in and enjoy...they truly are sanctuaries especially during this trying time. Keep on enjoying yours and we will hope to see you back trading and attending next years swap. Take care. Ross

Hello everyone, hope this note finds everyone doing well this summer despite our newly learned lifestyle. I am so pleased with my garden this year with the new additions. I know my bil is attending to & enjoying his garden also with less questions as time goes by. I am putting this out there just in case there is a chance that someone has either of these plants for Olivia's wish list next year? She is looking for masterwort (astrantia) and/or diascia (twinspur). I believe that she plans to join us (safety measures in place if necessary) next year. Please take good care and know that I am thinking of you all.

Hello all! Hope you are taking comfort in your gardens. My trades from this and other years enrich my garden!!

Lois - can I drop off, or you pick up plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’? I don’t want to risk it dying with my spotty record with houseplants... please message me!

take care, Heather

P.S. I have a large pot of foxtail fern to giveaway, any one able to pick it up? Pot is 9.5” high, 13” wide, fronds extend 28” from base of pot in all directions... dangerous to cats. Has gorgeous red berries of seeds in a line along stem of fronds later in year.

Just saying hello! I wonder how everyone is doing?” How does your garden grow?”

Hello Dottersccv!!

My garden grows a little too lushly - hard to keep up! LOL. I'm trying to switch to mostly native plants. As I learn more and more, I regret earlier decisions, both by me, and the previous gardener. I have 21 invasive plants to eradicate that are still sold in nurseries, but shouldn't be... Neighbours' fence line gifts of goutweed... a little bit throughout - periwinkle, bugleweed, lamiums, creeping jenny, lemon balm, lily of the valley etc. A few years work to get the worst of these out, and control the creeping bellflower too. On the plus side my trilliums are readying themselves to flower! My hepatica was glorious, and I just harvested 3 spears from the one very established asparagus plant! Hope you are doing well!

Hello all,

Who knows if we can or not this year, but I've started a plant swap thread:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6109199/annual-london-on-plant-swap-2021

I sure hope that we can!!!

Heather

Hi Christine and Heather and everyone!

I'm doing well. How are you, Christine? My garden was growing really nicely. Let's see how it is after this cold spell. I threw a sheet over my magnolia tree and covered the oriental poppy...fingers crossed. Other than that I have been busy potting up seedlings. Hope everyone is doing well.

Supposed to be retired lol. I have a few dahlia tubers potted up, a few pineapple sage, a few various seeds started. There is a story about the pineapple sage. Two of five cuttings made it from a Ottawa in a cold delivery. They are small but thriving. Lois has donated one plant back from which I have planted two cuttings. Outside, my spring heather is stunning. I have a few miniature daffs this year. And icing on the cake this morning, snow! I am actually getting my snow gear out. Stay safe everyone.