Community Plant and Seed Swap
Pickering Creek Audubon Center, 11450 Audubon Lane, Easton, MD 21601
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a community plant and seed swap?
It is an informal event for anyone who wants to share their plants and seeds with others in the community.
They bring plants, seedlings, bulbs, cuttings, and seeds to share with other gardeners. In return, they pick
out items brought in by others, and take them home to plant in their own gardens.
Do I have to be an expert gardener or belong to a club to participate?
No, a community plant and seed swap is open to anyone who wishes to participate, from beginning
gardeners to master gardeners. We will have a Master Gardener present at the swap to answer any
questions people have.
Can you give me some suggestions on how I should prepare the plants before the swap and how to mark
my plants for identification?
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Bring anything that you think someone would want (EXCEPT invasive species – see list below for
what to avoid).
Dig up rooted plants the night before the plant swap. Put them immediately in moist soil in old
coffee cans, plastic pots, styrofoam cups or even plastic bags with moist soil over the roots.
Take cuttings the morning of the swap and immediately put them in water.
Make sure the cuttings have at least two nodes on them. Make a note of which end is the stem end
(end closest to the mother plant).
If you bring bulbs, corms, rhizomes, etc., make sure they are dried and cleaned of most garden soil.
If you can’t, no big deal. Just put them in paper bags so they are easier to handle.
Seeds should be packaged in labeled envelopes. It would be helpful if you can include other
information about the plant or flower on the envelope, such as sun-loving, shade plant, purple
blooms, blooms from March until frost, drought tolerant, etc. We have printable information labels
available for download http://pickeringcreek.audubon.org/programs/community-plant-seed-swap.
If you are making your own labels, helpful descriptives include:
o Common Name
o Scientific Name
o Bloom Color
o Bloom Time (Spring, Summer, Fall)
o Light Conditions (Full Sun, Part Shade, Full Shade)
o Water Needs (Needs a lot of water, needs some water, drought tolerant)
o Soil Preferences (Clay, sand, not picky, alkaline, acidic)
o Growth Habit (Annual, Biennial, Perennial)
o Plant Height/Width at Maturity
o Other Benefits (attracts pollinators, butterflies, or songbirds; fragrant)
o Plant Care Notes
What is the etiquette at the Plant and Seed Swap? How much can I take?
This is an informal event operating on the honor system. Try to choose about as many things as you
brought with you to the event. If we have an excess of items, everyone can take a few more things home.
Are you sure there is no cost?
Yes. No money is to exchange hands for plant material. This is an old-fashioned swap meet! If you would
like to make a donation to the Pickering Creek Audubon Center to offset hosting costs or to support their
educational programs, you are free to do so, but there is no admission charge and no cost for swapping
plants and seeds.
What do I do with my leftover plants at the end of the swap, if no one takes them?
We will have a designated area for orphaned plants that will be given a good home, or you can take them
back with you and give them to friends who weren’t able to make it to the Swap.
Do I need to bring a table?
No, we will have tables set up where you can set down the items you are contributing.
What if it rains?
This is a rain or shine event. We die-hard gardeners will not be deterred by rainfall. The swap will move
under cover in case of rain.
Can I pre-trade with a friend?
Please conduct any pre-arranged trades outside of the Swap, so that items are not mislaid or accidentally
claimed by someone else.
Should I bring a cart or wagon?
If you have one, feel free to bring it. The swap area is a short distance from the parking area, so if you are
transporting a large number of items, a cart or wagon might be handy.
Can I stay and enjoy the trails at Pickering Creek Audubon Center after the Swap?
By all means! PCAC is open to the public every day from dawn to dusk at no charge. Please take a walk and
enjoy the various gardens, habitats, and wildlife viewing areas.
What are the invasive species to avoid?
See our full list of species to avoid at http://pickeringcreek.audubon.org/programs/community-plant-seedswap.