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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Portland Area Garden Bloggers' Plant Exchange Spring 2015

Twice a year, spring and fall, Portland area bloggers have a plant exchange hosted by a different blogger each time.  I don't remember how long they've been doing this but about three years ago, my pal Alison (Bonny Lassie) and I were made honorary members.  It's always worth the trip to see all of these wonderful people whose blogs we read and admire.  Throw in free plants, food, wine, and the chance to see in person a fabulous garden and it's a slam dunk.

This year Patricia (Plant Lust) hosted the party.  I parked down the hill a bit from her lovely new home and Ann (Amateur Bot-Ann-Ist)  met me with a cart to help haul Alison and my plants. Thoughtful!   Alison couldn't attend this time but sent a lot of plants to the exchange.

Here's Rickii (Sprig To Twig) arriving.

Linda (Whatsit Garden)  in ultra cute shoes.  Notice the plants, just a fraction of what was there. 

 Out in back the party had already started (check out the mimosas) Amy (The World's Best Garden Blog) is cleverly hiding hers behind Beth (Goodnight Gleanings) In the middle, is Jenni (The Rainy Day Gardener) and behind her is Heather (Just a Girl With A Hammer) talking with someone whose name has slipped my mind.  Can you help me with her name?  With the fabulous blonde hair on the move is Laura along with her Pirate Charlie (Gravy Lessons)

I love this picture of these two beautiful women who look like they're not at all pleased by what they're hearing.  That's Heather on the left and our wonderful host, Patricia.

Another sight to behold were these HUGE peonies brought by Derek (Plantgasm) They came with his new home in Portland and he's no idea what variety they are.  Do you know?  They sure are gorgeous!

Here's Derek holding them so that you can see how large they are.
The farmer in the dell, the farmer in the dell, high ho the derry-o, the farmer in the dell.  These folks know to have a good time at a party! Left to right:  Amy, Paul, someone I don't recognize from the back (do you remember?) Heather, and Loree (Danger Garden)

 The plant shopping begins. 

Cardoons and lilies and peonies, oh my!

A lovely floral arrangement brought by Mindy (Rindy Mae)

Patricia has only been in this garden for a year but she's already done a great deal with it!
 Newly planted part of her front garden. 

Ensete maurelii leaf waking from a long winter's nap 

An all- grass back yard is transforming into a garden!

This sempervivum caught everyone's attention.  Although you can't tell in the picture, it was exceptionally lage and looked very happy.

Purty peonies!

Soft grey mullein starting to bloom. 

Patricia does the empty pot as focal point thing very well!  Isn't the contrast in foliage of the Rhodocoma capensis and Fatsia japonica delicious?

A very handsome gentleman enjoying the shade. 

I'm sure I missed photographing (Scott) and mentioning several people who participated in this fun event for which I'm truly sorry.  This event is always a blast!  Thank you Patricia for hosting in your beautiful garden!

Happy new week.  If you live in the U.S. I hope you're thinking of and are grateful for those who died in service to our country and for our many freedoms. (Like three day weekends)  No, like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and the freedom of speech and the press.  Extra points if you can name the documents from which those came without the help of the internet. 



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32 comments:

  1. ShirleyMay 25, 2015 at 6:33 AM

    Plant swaps are fun, I'm a huge fan too. Love the contrast of Patricia's garden with the neighbors.

    Easy Peasy: The Declaration of Independence and the first amendment or Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution. Easy Peasy

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 7:36 PM

      They are indeed! There is one in Olympia (only 30 mins. away) that I've never been to but I will make a point of going this time.

      Bless your heart! I've been watching far too many youtube videos of people on the street interviews with folks who don't know why we celebrate the Fourth of July, who the current president is, that Abraham Lincoln was an actual person and not a fictitious character, etc. Unfortunately, they're not just kids but also people our age and older. Fairly depressing stuff. You made my day.

      Delete
  2. Jean CampbellMay 25, 2015 at 6:45 AM

    You all were having entirely too much fun.

    I was invited to Marvin's Gardens this morning to pick veggies. He-Who-takes-messages told me and I said, "It's a Holiday. I can't pick beans today." That humor was lost on him.

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 7:38 PM

      You know how it is when gardeners get together - barrel of monkeys!

      Funny!

      Delete
  3. AlisonMay 25, 2015 at 7:35 AM

    So sorry I missed it this year, and thanks for bringing down my plants. If I'm not mistaken, you may have brought back a couple of things meant for me. Or maybe not. Anyway, it would be good to get together some weekend for an NPA tour or something, now that I'm recovered from my vacation.

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 7:41 PM

      I do have plants for you! I'm glad you're back and that you've recovered from your awful migraine. Sorry that your plans in CA were ruined by pain. Seems like there should be a cure by now! Yes, let's get together for NPA, maybe the Olympia Plant Swap? Whatever sounds good to you. We could even do local nurseries. Whatever we do, we'll have fun together!

      Delete
  4. Rainy Day GardenerMay 25, 2015 at 8:41 AM

    Great recap of our fun event! I love all of your 'caught in the moment' photos :)

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 7:51 PM

      Thanks Jenni! It's always good to see you and the rest of the Portland area gang. I thought of you recently when we were at Rare Plant Research in your neck of the woods.

      Delete
  5. MindyMay 25, 2015 at 8:58 AM

    So happy to see some photos of the day! And especially pleased that you got a photo of those AMAZING peonies!

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 7:52 PM

      It was a great time as always and those peonies were stunning! It was a delight to meet you!

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  6. http://whatsitgarden.blogspot.comMay 25, 2015 at 9:31 AM

    Another great swap day ! So nice to see everyone .

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  7. danger gardenMay 25, 2015 at 11:37 AM

    Heather is chatting with Julie (https://portlandtreetour.wordpress.com/) and next to Amy (in the shot that I'm in) is Ryan (aka "Paul"), who used to blog but has been a bad boy as of late. We still like him. And the lady seen from the back is Gillian (http://mytinyplot.com/). Fun recap, what a great day.

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 7:54 PM

      Thanks Loree! I'm horrible at confusing people's names! Please forgive me Ryan, Julie, and Gillian! Thanks also for letting Alison and me participate in this cool event.

      Delete
  8. Kris PetersonMay 25, 2015 at 12:15 PM

    You all know how to have a plant party!

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 7:55 PM

      We sure do and when you move up, you can be part of the fun!

      Delete
  9. AnonymousMay 25, 2015 at 12:45 PM

    I remember reading somewhere that Jefferson first wrote it as "Life, Liberty and Property," before switching out "property" for "pursuit of happiness" in the final version. I may be totally wrong, having imagined this or conflated author and details. It does however prove I haven't used the internet to look this up :) Let's also not forget that our original Constitution only gave the vote to white men who owned property. We've made some progress since then!

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 8:13 PM

      You're right, we have come a long way since then but it's important to know where we've been to illuminate where we're going.

      "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

      Thomas Jefferson (I had to look that one up)

      Delete
  10. rickiiMay 25, 2015 at 1:46 PM

    You did justice to yet another fun get-together. But you left out what went home with you.

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 8:14 PM

      I always get so excited by the plants that I forget to take pictures of them. Thank you so much for the milkweed!

      Delete
  11. Mark and GazMay 25, 2015 at 2:10 PM

    Oh my, it looks so fun and wish we had something similar to that here!

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 8:20 PM

      It's great fun and a nice way to give away plants and cuttings that seem to proliferate in our gardens. Perhaps you could start an event like this where you are!

      Delete
  12. AnonymousMay 25, 2015 at 2:44 PM

    It looks like such a great day - plant swaps are a great idea - I wish we had one here!

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 8:29 PM

      Plant exchanges are fun and the day was wonderful. Perhaps you could organize such an event.

      Delete
  13. cirmarakiMay 25, 2015 at 6:52 PM

    I think the lovely peony might be Paeonia suffruticosa "Jin Ge"

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 25, 2015 at 8:30 PM

      Thank you so much, cimaraki, it certainly looks like it is 'Jin Ge'

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 25, 2015 at 9:11 PM

      I've had the pleasure of lurking at your site a long time without commenting, and I appreciate your entries so much. I only have deck gardens now, but still love it and remember the many joys and troubles myself.

      I think the peony is tree peony Kinkaku, which I've been trying to buy at the right time.

      SSue

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    3. outlawgardenerMay 26, 2015 at 7:06 AM

      I'm so glad you enjoy my posts! Thank you for commenting and thanks for the information about the peony Turns out that Kinkaku and Jin Ge are both names for the same plant tree peony. Now I want to find one too! http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/80844/#b

      Delete
  14. Evan BeanMay 25, 2015 at 9:10 PM

    Sad I missed the spring swap. But I'm in the Facebook group now so I won't miss the fall one! I have so much space to fill, and gardeners are always good company! So what did you take home?

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 26, 2015 at 7:09 AM

      Glad that you'll be able to be at the fall swap as it's a great time! I brought home northern oat grass, a cardoon, milkweed, and a couple of native succulents.

      Delete
  15. the blonde gardenerMay 26, 2015 at 5:47 AM

    What a great idea. You've given me an idea for our local gardening group.

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    1. outlawgardenerMay 26, 2015 at 7:12 AM

      It's lots of fun and a great way to spend time with other gardeners. At this swap folks also bring finger food to munch on while we chat and look at plants. I hope you have fun organizing a swap with your gardening group!

      Delete
  16. DeniseMay 27, 2015 at 8:34 PM

    Peter, Peter, what did you bring? What did you swap? Come on, dish!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.

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