Gardeners to share goods at plant swaps

Tall and small flowers that complement one another in this springtime window box assortment.

Mother Nature would approve of plant exchanges.

In fact, given that many perennial flowers benefit from being divided, and others reproduce abundantly (grasses, raspberries, ground covers, cannas, to name a few), one might wonder if she’s the driving force behind the plant-exchange movement.

Coming up are three of these fun, free swaps, for which gardeners shovel up their largess and haul it to a central location where the goods are shared with appreciative others.

Plants should be healthy, free of weeds, in a bag or container, and labeled with plant name. Volunteers at each swap will organize them into categories such as sun-loving, shade tolerant, grasses, trees and bushes, bulbs, and ground covers. Note: by 11 a.m., pickins at these events are slim.

The first is Saturday in Bowling Green, organized by the Wood County Master Gardeners. People should drop off plants between 9 and 10 a.m. at the Home and Garden Building at the Wood County Fair Grounds, 13800 W. Poe Rd. at Haskins Road.

Attendees will receive two free plants and an additional ticket for each plant they bring. At 10 a.m., the giveaway area will open for 90 minutes. Informational booths will be available on a variety of topics.

Next up on May 4 will be the ninth annual Toledo Plant Exchange in a new location, the parking garage of the Main Library of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 325 N. Michigan St. Enter the garage from Adams Street. Plant drop-off will be from 9 to 10 a.m. and the exchange will be open from 10 to 11:30 a.m. This event will accept gently used landscaping items, tools, gardening books, pots, indoor house plants, and seedlings. There’s often a surprise factor: at previous exchanges, potted cacti, llama manure, trellises, hillocks of cannas, and decorative rocks have showed up.

Attendees will receive five free plants and additional tickets for each labeled plant they donate. This event is organized by a group of gardeners.

Information: toledoplantexchange@yahoo.com

New this year is a May 18 plant exchange that will be part of Oregon Fest, said Deb Brown, chairman of the fest. It will take place in a large tent near the intersection of Dustin Road and Harbor Drive. At plant drop-off from 9 to 10 a.m., participants will be given tickets, and the exchange will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Information: fest@bex.net.

Here are some additional garden-related events:

● Alternatives to impatiens, given the potential risk of those flowers contracting impatiens downy mildew, will be 7 p.m. May 2 with Tom Creque of Creque Greenhouse, 9700 Sylvania Ave. Sylvania. Information: 419-829-2941.

● Wildwood Environmental Academy’s annual plant sale (vegetables, herbs, natives), 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4, 1546 Dartford Rd., Maumee (off South Holland-Sylvania Road, just south of Airport Highway). Information: 419-868-9885.

● Toledo Botanical Garden’s Spring Plant Sale will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 10, 11, and 12 at the garden’s Bancroft Street entrance between Reynolds and Holland Sylvania roads. Information: 419-536-5566.

Contact Tahree Lane at: tlane@theblade.com or 419-724-6075.