Plant Swap Tomorrow

The Middle Tennessee Plant Swap is tomorrow. I'll write more about it later. Here is what I'm bringing:

4 Russian Sages
2 Red Twig Dogwoods
14 Japanese Dappled Willows (Salix integra)
12 Euonymous fortunei ('Emerald Gaiety')
4 Blue Spruce Sedums
8 Purple Leaf Plums
4 Nandinas (courtesy of the birds)
2 Chrysanthemums of an unknown color and variety.

I'll tell you about what I bring home on tomorrow evening or Sunday, this should be fun!

Middle Tennessee Plant Swap 2009

This Saturday is the Middle Tennessee Plant Swap at Henry Horton Park. This is a fantastic opportunity to talk to other gardeners and exchange those extra plants you don't need for some you do! If you haven't already gotten your plants ready you should do that ASAP to give them time to recover from any potential plant shock. Exchanges aren't limited just to plants.  If you have a craft and want to swap for plants you might be in luck as people will swap for all kinds of garden related items.

There is always a guest speaker and this year it is Curt and Tina Wideman who run the Morning Glory Orchard in Nolensville.

Before you go check out the Middle Tennessee Plant Swap Website to get all the details and complete your registration. You need to register so that the Volunteer administration has some idea how many folks are coming. You also need to bring a really tasty dish for me to eat everyone to share. So go outside right now, gather up your daylilies and extra tomato plants, and get yourself to Henry Horton Park on Saturday, I'll see you there!


On a personal note: If anyone out there happens to have any extra Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass) let me know!

A Great Way to Get New Plants

If you are like me and are always trying to find economical ways to improve your landscape and gardens then you should consider visiting a plant swap. Coming up next Saturday at Henry Horton State Park in Middle Tennessee is one such opportunity. The folks over at the GardenWeb: Tennessee community organized a plant swap that meets once a year in the spring. This year it's on May 17th. They have been swapping plants for several years now but this will be the first year at Henry Horton. If your garden plants have increased and you've made divisions or, like me, you enjoy the propagation path then bring some of your increases to trade for plants you don't have. You can even bring garden knick-knacks like bird-houses, garden-art, garden tools, craft items, or any other item another gardener might want to trade. I have never been before but I am looking forward to going and trading with other passionate (obsessive) gardeners.

There is also a guest speaker who will be talking about drought tolerant perennials and annuals. That is valuable information that many gardeners have on their minds these days.

There are a few things you should know before you go.

• You need to register! This way they will know how many people are coming.
• You need to bring plants. If you have extra daylilies, hostas, heucheras, vegetables, seedlings, seeds, or any other plant related item to trade bring them! If not they say to come anyway and there might be some leftovers.
• Bring tables and chairs for sitting in and displaying your trade materials.
  
• Bring food for a pot luck lunch, enough for you and your compatriots.
• Bring bugspray since it will be in the woods. Unless of course you and the mosquitoes get along well (They really like my wife).
• Bring a pen and paper to keep track of your trades and those you trade with.

You can look all these things up at the Middle Tennessee Plant Swap Website.

Here are some of the plants I'll be bringing: Japanese dappled willow, Russian sage, Salvia nemorosa, purple leaf plum, blue spruce sedum, and maybe a red twig dogwood.

2008 Tennessee Gardening Events

Here are just a few of the gardening events happening in Tennessee. If you have one that you know of and would like to submit for me to add to this list please send me an email.

Bloom N' Garden Expo
The Williamson County Ag Expo Center
April 11-12, 2008: 10 AM to 8 PM
April 13, 2008: 12 AM to 5 PM
Tickets: Adults $8, Children under 12 $3, 3-day pass $10
For a $1 Off Coupon Click here!

Ijams Nature Center Native Plant Sale (Knoxville)
April 19, 2008 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Middle Tennessee Hosta Society
May 10, 2008 - Annual Hosta Sale
Location: Maryland Farms YMCA, Brentwood. Time: 9 a.m - 2 p.m.

Middle Tennessee Plant Swap
May 17, 2008 at Henry Horton State Park
9:00 AM, Bring your extra plants for trading!

Blooms Days Garden Festival and Marketplace
June 28-29, 2008
University of Tennessee Gardens at the UT Agriculture Campus

Local Events: Mule Day

Columbia, TN which is just down the road from us is currently having it's annual Mule Day festival. It began on Tuesday and continues through this Sunday. It's basically a festival with arts and crafts, bluegrass music, clogging, and several mule related events. There's even a parade! I feel bad for the band members who have to March behind the mules (been there, done that). Columbia attracts over 200,000 people to Mule Day. If you're interested in more information stop over to the Mule Day website and see what it's about.

Middle Tennessee Garden Event Calendar 2009

Here's a list of this year's gardening events that you don't want to miss! Click on the links for more information


Nashville Lawn and Garden Show - March 5-8, 2009
Bloom 'n' Garden Expo - April 3-5, 2009
Perennial Plant Society Plant Sale - April 4, 2009
Middle Tennessee Hosta Society - Annual Hosta Sale - May 9, 2009
Middle Tennessee Spring Plant Swap - May 16, 2009
Middle Tennessee Fall Plant Swap - October 17, 2009
Nashville Natives Fall Plant Sale - October 16-17, 2009

There's a nice calendar of gardening events over at The Tennessee Federation of Garden Club, go check it out!

If you would like to add your garden related event to this list please email me at The Home Garden. and I'll add it to the list.