CAMDEN — Going on 31 years, Susan Shaw of Camden has welcomed neighbors and friends to her Mill Street yard for her annual spring perennial exchange. It's an opportunity to learn about plants you might have found growing around the house but can't identify, to add something new to your garden and to share some of the plants that have brought a little joy to your yard.

Traditionally held on Mother's Day, it's a casual affair, with everybody dressed for the weather and some still wearing their muck boots from last-minute garden digging to bring a few extra plants to give away.

Some years, there have been men in attendance with plants to exchange, and other years children have come along with a plant or two to trade, said Shaw. There used to be a more formal way of being invited and/or notified, but these days, it's more word-of-mouth.

"Most folks just know it is going to be happening, so they check in with me about the time," said Shaw. "Partly because over the years, so many phone numbers and emails have changed. So it isn't always easy to get in touch."

Shaw said she invites people and usually remembers to tell them to avoid bringing invasive plants, which she calls "the thugs of the botanicals!"

This year's exchange was held on May 8, when about a dozen gardeners of varying experience brought their plants in all manner of carrying modes, but nearly all with their roots still clumped in or clinging to vestiges of the soil they had just recently been growing in. Plants were carried in in cardboard boxes, paper and plastic bags, yogurt containers, red Solo cups and traditional plastic plant containers. Some laden plants were brought into the yard via wheelbarrow, while another pile of plants was pulled into the event in a child's plastic red sled.

Greeting the gathering in the Shaw's backyard was a small smoldering fire, emitting enough smoke to keep the bugs at bay, and a table spread with fruit salad, raw local honey and crackers for dipping and Shaw's homemade Finnish pannukkau, or oven pancake, both regular and gluten-free.

The exchange was scheduled to start at 11 a.m., and after everyone had made themselves a small plate and warmed up with some coffee, it was time to get down to business, go around and learn who each person was and what they had brought.

One by one, Laura Evans, Laura Mckay, Sherry Frazer, Brenda Squibb, Dottie Hokkanen, Kristin Kalajian, Lynette Walther, Carol Gale, Susan Dorr, Dora Leievow, Kathleen Cartwright and Shaw picked up their plants. Sometimes they knew the name, Latin and/or common, and sometimes they didn't and that's where the experienced gardeners stepped in. Most people knew what their plant looked like when it was in bloom, and when the blooming time was over, and others described where the plant liked to grow best and in what conditions.

Some people even said their plant was a descendant of a plant exchanged a decade earlier, or given to them by someone in the group as a gift that they wanted to now share, or finally felt was strong enough to be divided.

Once everyone had gone around for show-and-tell, it was time to begin the real fun — the exchange.
"Everyone take your first plant," said Shaw to the group. “And find a hiding place to store your collection.”

Among the perennials up for grabs on Sunday were an ornamental raspberry shrub, peony, daylillies, monkshood, double bloodroot, iris, hostas, rosa rugosa, tomatoes, chocolate mint, hydrangea, ajuga, actea, non-invasive ornamental grasses, dahlias, various colors of pulmonaria (lungwort), Lathyrus versus, hellebores, narcissus, a special cultivar of hops, edible grape vines, anemones and sisal plant bulbs.

Like kids hunting for Easter eggs, especially the ones you could see peeking out from their hiding places, many of the seasoned gardeners already knew what plant they wanted to try and get as their first choice.

Once that was done, it was time for plant pick number two, followed by three, four...all the way up to seven or so. By then, some people had dropped out of the formal exchange, saying "I'm done," probably not wanting to carry any more than they had already chosen. Others had dropped out sooner, only wanting or needing a few choice picks, while a few accepted Shaw's offer to "dig up" some more plants from her yard and help her thin out her beds.

There was a lot of talk about how to plant certain things, where to plant and what to do, if anything, come fall. And then the group began to break up, slowly making their way to their cars, some for multiple trips, to stow their treasures.

If you've ever been to a perennial exchange, you know how much fun it can be, especially when the participants bring so many green goodies to choose from. And also, when the group is so accommodating of those who don't have anything yet to exchange and contribute but maybe some honey for the food table. And if you've never been to one, or want to do one yourself, all you need is a spade, some plants that could use some thinning and dividing, and some friends with the same thing.

It's a great excuse for a Sunday morning brunch party and a great way to add more and new plants to your flower beds and landscaping.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6655.