Ok guys, I stayed off a here long enough to get this published. Now,,, Gail, I'll try to get back to Monet's Giverny.

This is for yous to gripe, complain, correct, or whatever on my come strolls. Go on, I can take it! Terry, do the pics entice you to make our Oct meet? ;-)

You should have got Larry to put names to everybody on the pics then I could see who I am talking to. I looked for Carolyn, but I expect she would be in the pool testing her wellies for leaks. The little creche of plants looked mighty interesting, noted that many go off and leave the plants they have brought with them, bet they don't let their newbies out of sight though.

Now why should it entice me to your October gethering, what could be worse than going to a plant swap, knowing you can't bring anything home, sheer torture. Of course that would be more than offset by seeing your beautiful garden in the flesh and seeing all your friends (I nearly put seeing your garden and your friends in the flesh, but just stopped myself in time).

Perhaps the seedhead that went missing was part of the clean up operation, dead heading, you did say that everyone should help with the tidying up.

Yes, Terry, You are right about not letting the newbies out of your sight....Sometimes newly swapped plants...walk off somehow.....I still don't know how that happens?? You are certainly welcome in Texas anytime Terry.....but we don't speak ENGLISH.....We speak TEXAN.....It is close to your language....but not really.......
I didn't see Carolyn in the pool...but then again maybe the REAL PARTY started after I LEFT?????

Dave and I were tring to figure out a system to prevent the keepers from walking off. That's why the statement about 'no taking or trading without asking'. Sounds tacky to say it, but apparently, is needed! I posted those guidelines for other swap planners to be aware of, to save them from finding out the hard way, but gosh its does look snippy doesn't it? Could have been worse... I refrained from adding:
'It is most ungracious to remove things from your host's garden without invitation.'

Now Terry, you can imagine how I feel when touring UK gardens with nurseries - and private gardens with gift plants OFFERED. It is possible to bring some back in through customs with a lot of rigamaroll and red tape, but I don't know how it works from your end - bringing plants into UK from U.S. But, hey, come anytime. I would load you up with plenty of plants - no need to wait for a swap. And even then, you'd have a highly amusing holiday, regardless of plant importing possibilities. I have a family of UK rellies arriving Monday,,, the guest room will be vacant again soon ;-) We could have a real-life forum party in the back yard and I could park Carolyn on the roof with her shotgun, to guard my borders.

Or we can put my WIFE in charge of the guarding the swapped items.....She will give them a what's four........

She did it well last time!