Native Plant Swaps

Dear Fellow Native Plant Enthusiasts,

I would like to share an opportunity with you to attend a Native Plant Swap & Sale. These events are growing in popularity as the demand for native plants grow. This is how they work in general. You bring extra natives you have in your yard, such as volunteer seedlings or even plants you propagated yourself. A few of the plants will be offered as a price for admission. The rest will be credits for swapping. A great way to get hard-to-find plants cheap. Often there is a sale in conjunction either by pre-order or on site or both. So what isn't available for swap may possibly be available for sale. Additionally there are folks on site who do talks or workshops or otherwise available to offer advice about natives.

Currently I know of two such events coming up and I will be participating. The first will be held Saturday, May 4th, at the UU Center in Pomona. This is actually the 5th year for the UUCSJS Plant swap & Sale, and it grows bigger each year. There was a pre-order sale for shrubs and there will be plants for sale and swap. Admission is two plants. I will have plants for sale there and taking questions on native plants. Jesse Connor, a native plant expert will also be advising on plants and wildlife choices. Some plants that have been available for swap in the past include Wild Black Cherry, American Holly, Eastern Red Cedar, Little Bluestem, Ferns, Lyre Leaf Salvia and May Apples.

I will have the following species available for sale: Cardinal Flower, Slender Blue Flag, Sneezeweed, Seashore Mallow, Prickly Pear, Seaside Goldenrod, Butterflyweed, Baptisia, Showy Aster, Liatris, Echinacea, Brown Eyed Susan, Wild Stonecrop, Blue Eyed Grass, Blue Wood Aster, Indian Grass. Trumpet Creeper, Virginia Creeper, Swamp Milkweed, Common Milkweed and Whorled Milkweed.
Here is a link for more info: http://uucsjs.org/social_action.html#plant_swap

Jake's Branch County Park

On May 19th from 12-4, there will be another Swap & Sale entitlies "Yard, Garden and Native Plant Fair" at Jake's Branch County Park in Ocean County. I beleive this is their 3rd year doing this. I will be doing a workshop on natives that day. I will also be selling plants along with other plant vendors as well as Wild Birds Unlimited.

There will be a nature walk lead by a naturalist and other activities. Bring plants or seeds to swap. The event is FREE.
Here is a link for more info: http://www.co.ocean.nj.us//WebContentFiles//dcd56acb-7d4c-49b6-90de-1fc84a65c405.pdf


I know once you come out and check out a Swap & Sale, you'll want to come back next year. Hope to see you there.......

Raven