I was planning bringing a couple starter pots of the following : native Columbine Lineria purplea great blue Lobelia red Lobelia cardinalflower Datura innoxia (white devil's trumpet) Foxgloves (creamy white) Annise Hyssop Salvia coccinea (lady in red) Salvia coccinea (coral nymph) Crocosmia Lucifer Liatris Cardinal Climber Spiderflower Canna 'Robert Kemp' Canna 'India Prince' All of my Perennials are first year seedlings or 2nd year plants. I will also bring Kniphofia uvaria for any other Kniphofia but these are all booming now.I could also bring Black & Blue Salvia for something very special. I have a small Viburnum lentago layered over the winter for something similar , looking for Spicebush,or native Viburnums or a good berrying native bush. I will bring the Viburnum if someone requests it. I am not 100% sure of the exact location in the park but from what I remember it's not a large park.I will email Ellen for her directions.Should we meet near the Canoe rental area? -stephen

The spring fling is in the morning, I'm excited. I know I'm new to the forum and to starting my own gardens but I'm still excited about the gathering and getting to meet so many new people. I haven't really introduced myself, so I'll give a small bio. My name is Rachel,I'm 23 years old and I live NE OK, near Tulsa. I'm originally from CA but my father was in the army when I was younger, and well...this is where we ended up. I've been with the same wonderful man for the last five years and we plan to get married. We bought a house, a fixer upper, this past fall and the front and back yards are in desperate need of plants, lol. I grew up with a wonderful mother, who loves plants and gardening, so Im really excited about fixing up my yards. Also, I work at a Lowes, in the outside lawn and garden, so I spend just about everyday taking care of plants and helping people select the right plants. I was going to bring a painting and a stuffed owl for door prizes, but my friend really wanted the painting so I'll try to find something else. Also, I found the seeds that I collected from my mothers garden, from this past fall. I'll bring them incase someone wants some. That way I'll have something to trade, and won't feel like such a mooch if someone gives me something. : ) I hope everyone sleeps good tonight and I can't wait to meet all of you. -Rachel

George just emailed me a massive list of seeds he is sending. I hope they get here on time! Cross your fingers. Now, I don't know how you all would like to deal with this. I can list the seeds here and we can have members speak up for what they would like to have. OR, we can split the packets into a few door prizes. It's up to you all! Seeds George is Sending to GW Spring Fling 2013 Empereur Alexandre Cuke, Baker Creek Delicious 51, Baker Creek ��" cantaloupe Collective Farm Woman, Cantaloupe ��" Baker Creek Old Timey Cornfield Pumpkin ��" 2009 seed Organic Multicolor Popcorn ��" probably Baker Creek Squash: Black Futsui ��" Baker Creek Crystal Apple Cucumber ��" Sustainable Seed Company Pipian from Tuxpan ��" c. argyrosperma grown for its seed. (Baker Creek) Angled Luffa ��" 2009 (one pkt) Evans Sweet Cantaloupe ��" green fleshed, developed in Oklahoma by Dr. John Wyche. Two packets. Black Jungle Butterbean ��" 2009 (1 pkt) http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/legumes/msg051013024705.html http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/legumes/msg0516190620005.html Kentucky Red Cowpea 2011 seed ��" 1 large pkt. Received at Gardenweb, Oklahoma forum spring fling in 2008, from Pauline Kincaid. Seed is brick red and flattened, much like a very small lima bean. Plants are vigorous, but not too inclined to climb. Pods are thick. White Cushaw 2012 seed ��" Rampant vines, very heat and drought resistant. Large, 20 lb. crook necked, fruit Moon & Stars Watermelon (white seeded) 2006 seed. ��" Should still grow. Extremely rare heirloom. Mesquakie Indian Corn ��" mix of 2007-2012 seed, Very colorful, hardy corn. Quite well adapted to our Oklahoma conditions. A dent corn, tending toward flint. Good for cornmeal. Woods Mountain Crazy Bean 2011 seed ��" Bush bean. Very well adapted to our hot conditions. Heirloom from the Fayetteville, AR area. Pods have strings, but are quite tender. High producer. There are NO commercial sources for this valuable seed. Georgia Long Cowpea 2007 seed ��" Yardlong. Heat resistant. Good for snaps. Needs poles as it has very long vines. I’ve had this seed germinate after over 10 years in an unrefrigerated jar. I received my seed in the 1980s from Virgil and Hazel Johnson of Liberty, MO; who in turn received their seed from Faxon Stinnet of Vian Oklahoma. Cooper’s Running Snap 2009 seed ��" pole bean. Heat resistant. Similar to Rattlesnake. Should be given 1’ space between plants. Heavy producer. Not a stringed bean. Similar to Kentucky Wonder in pod quality. Okra: Heavy Hitter 2012 seed (3 pkts) ��" New variety developed by Ron Cook of Moodys, OK. This is a branching okra, similar to Stewarts Zeebest, but with pods more like Clemson Spineless. Calico Willow leaf Pole Lima Jo

I'm not going to get into a staple vs tack discussion here because I expect it's beyond the scope of what most people even care about and it probably doesn't matter to most people as long as the result looks good. But I'm not ashamed to say I'm old school about upholstery and greatly admire beautifully done work, especially the way it's done in Europe. Where I live people are quite demanding and an unusual number of craftsmen still do it the old way. If that makes too many holes in the frame then the next owner can deal with that. If tacking is slower and more expensive, that's ok too. I'll look for bargains on other stuff. I've just furnished an entire new house with old furniture and nothing I bought is wiggly or much more than folks are paying for case goods from NC in some instances. Some pieces are very old and I made sure they were sturdy before I bought them. But depending on how they were made in the first place, and what their life was like, that can vary alot. So, I sit, open drawers, move around on sofas, test arms, turn things over etc. I really examine before I buy, ask a lot of questions, discount half the answers and walk away from problems. I have 5 chairs that are super charming but wiggly and worrisome and they're not fun and not comfortable. I try not to make the same mistakes twice. Danger signs: Wiggling Split wood Loose arms, legs, backs Loose drawers Badly done patches Sagging Wood that looks wormy Also, elaborate stories about the "history" of a piece or how rare it is. My oldest and best piece was just reupholstered but it needed no gluing or bracing at all. It it looks great and is extraordinarily comfortable. My sofa came out of an auction and I bought it cheaply. Unfortunately the old velvet had been stripped off and it was reupholstered in muslin. It wasn't nearly as old as the chair but needed extensive rebuilding inside -- it was clearly sagging underneath. The upholstery plus the fabric cost me more than I paid for it in the first place. So was it cheap or was it expensive? To me, the personality of the piece mades it worth an investment though I doubt I'd get my money out of it if I went to sell it. It's the focal point of my living room and it's a piece everyone comments on. I love that sofa. I would always tell someone to never go out of your comfort zone when you buy something old -- don't pay too much. I agree -- you will probably need to do something to it. Not everyone is willing to buy old things and some people give them away. Many want new and then they definitely get staples. I'm glad to hear someone thinks they're better.