Better Late Than Never - A Review of the Spring Plant Exchange

As I mentioned before, I attended the City of Calgary's Natural Areas Adopt-A-Park Program 2007 Plant exchange (on May 12). This exchange is much more casual and laid-back then what I have read about the Calgary Horticultural Society exchange. The folks attending were limited to City of Calgary employees, volunteers, and Healthy Yards participants. The selection was good, I went there with a dozen Tiny Tim tomatoes that I started from seed and came home with a whole tray of established perrenials. What a great deal!

It was held at the city of Calgary offices located at 111 17th st SE Calgary. Kind of out of the way, but worth the trek. I can say that since I left home late, blew a tire, changed it, ripped down the deerfoot and got to the exchange at about 10AM. I was happy with my finds, but I did get the distinct impression that everything was pretty picked over by the time I got there. So, my suggestion would be to get there on time (about 9:15) for the trading frenzy at 9:30.

Here's what I grabbed:

2 Tall Blue Campanula

6 yellow sedum - as far as I am concerned, you can never have enough of this stuff.

6 Shasta Daisies (I don't remember grabbing these, but that's what my notes say. I wonder where I put them?

1 Large Sedum (I need to id this one... a later post perhaps

6 red potato sets

1 Achillea millefolium Cerise Queen (Pink Yarrow)

1 Pairie Mallow

1 Other suspicious yarrow like plant.

a handful of hens and chickens

1 seed pack of native Alberta wild flowers

I know, there are those folks out there that would warn me about Yarrow and the Mallow, but my yard is pretty new, so I should be able to get away with it... right?

So far, all are thriving, I'll post photos when they are in full bloom. Keep your eyes peeled for an email note from Sue Horne, there is usually another exchange in September!