Bring a plant, take a plant

Swap meet invigorates gardens

By Jill Broecher, Journal correspondent | Sunday, June 15, 2008

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DEADWOOD - It was the first plant swap Dixie Pengra had arranged, and she met her personal goal: She left without any of the plants she brought.

Local gardeners and plant enthusiasts gathered at Gordon Memorial Park on Saturday for the Tri-City Community Plant Swap, sponsored by Neighborhood Housing Service of the Black Hills. The event provided locals with a chance to expand their gardens and meet fellow gardeners.

Community members were encouraged to bring excess annuals, perennials, house plants, seeds and garden tools to trade. No monetary exchanges were allowed.

"Everyone who gardens likes to have new stuff," Pengra said. "Amongst my friends, we've always traded and shared. So it makes sense to trade and share plants as a community."

Pengra had heard about other plant swaps in the area and read that it was becoming a more popular event. She hopes this event will grow and continue every year.

"I don't expect a giant turnout this year, since it's the first one. It's customary for these types of events to start out slow and get bigger with time," she said.

About 25 people brought more than 50 plants to trade. Pengra brought a dozen of her own plants to the event and left with a half-dozen new ones.

Plants weren't the only thing exchanged during the day. People swapped information about gardening, growing tips, their own plant favorites and odd plants they had seen through the years. In the gardening world, advice and stories of successful and failed planting techniques are useful to the beginning and experienced fellow gardener alike. Lead Beautification also donated a box of four-inch plastic pots.

As passers-by stopped to browse the plant selection, the exchange began to grow. Pengra brought notecards for people to leave their names, numbers and plants they have to exchange, and several garden enthusiasts discussed swaps later in the week.

Pengra said that, all in all, the plant swap was a "good chance for fellowship in the community," and she is open to suggestions on future swaps.

Those interested can contact Pengra or Michelle Eddy at 578-1401 or at www.nhsblackhills.org.