Portland Area Garden Bloggers' Plant Exchange Part One - People and Plants

I've forgotten how long ago it was that Alison and I were invited to become honorary Portland area garden bloggers to attend their twice a year plant exchange.  It's been so much fun packing up extra plants and driving down to Portland to attend the exchange and have a chance to enjoy the fellowship of our blogging friends!   This fall, we invited the Portlanders here for their exchange which was originally going to be held in Alison's garden with dessert in my garden.  Because my  greenhouse project got started later than anticipated, I took dessert to Alison's garden as my garden was, and is still, filled with the evicted contents of our garage.

Here are Laura (Gravy Lessons) and our host, Alison (Bonney Lassie)  Laura brought me a cello to use in my garden, perhaps to mosaic, but after seeing how beautiful it is, I don't know if it'll make it out the door to the garden or workshop.  Instead, it may adorn the music room.  I tuned it today and played as much as I could remember from my strings methods class a billion years ago.  Such beautiful low tones!

I feel horrible that none of the pictures I took of Linda and Tom Reeder (Linda Letters) turned out.  It was so exciting to see them again!  Linda thrilled us with stories of their travels and Tom gave me lots of greenhouse pointers (He built his own and keeps geranium cuttings, among other treasures, through the winter there.)  Tom also maintains a large collection of bonsai.  The Reeders are a fascinating gardening couple!  It was a special treat to see them as they are so busy that we don't often have that opportunity.  

Nigel, Alison's other half chatting with Emily (All Things Emily.)

Anna (Flutter and Hum and The Creative Flux) photographing plants in Alison's Garden.

Loree (Danger Garden and Plant Lust) not only brought her own plants but also those of Rickii ne Ricki (Sprig to twig) who couldn't make it.

 Jane(MulchMaid) and Matthew (The Lents Farmer) enjoying the day.  It was getting warm but I was surprised, on the way home, to see a digital thermometer on a business say that it was 80 degrees outside!  What a lovely autumn day.

After feasting on delicious food that Alison had prepared for us, we moved back out to the front garden to start taking plants.  It's a gardener's dream to shop for plants that are all free!

 Jenni (Rainy Day Gardener) soaking in the last of the sun before the Pacific Northwest Rain Festival (mid October until July 5) begins. 

 Prayer circle?  No, just a group of plant nerds chatting while stealing glances at the plants that each of us brought.

That sweet little aloe in the upper right hand corner came home with me!  Thanks Rickii!  I also brought home a beautiful tender salvia from Lore, some sweet primroses from Anna, a pink crocosmia (Far Reaches origin) from Jane, and a cello from Laura. Yes, an actual cello - Interesting story for another post!  Thank you all for sharing!  

There were lots of great plants that I didn't take pictures of as I was busy checking them out!   Thank you, Alison, for being such a gracious host and for sharing your beautiful garden and home with us and thank you Oregon (and a few Washington) garden bloggers for driving up to make this exchange such a fun event!  

Tomorrow, we'll tour Alison's garden!