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A country seed swap in a hundred year old barn

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Inspiration abounds!

I found a barn built in 1911, next to a beautiful house, in the middle of fields and stream, with a garden show and seed swap taking place inside, and a golden eagle in the trees outside watching over the proceedings. How wonderful is that?

Actually, it’s not all my doing. Michelle, a sweet friend on Facebook, posted about the event in one of my favourite groups, Hometalk Gardening, and then I knew I wanted to go. Also, my friend Thomas Hobbs, whose nursery Southlands I’m always at, was giving a talk which I didn’t want to miss.

We had a good mooch around and then headed to the relative quiet of the mezzanine between talks to have some lunch.

Just before Tom started his talk, Michelle came over and introduced herself to us. I was thrilled to meet my FB friend, and now can’t wait to see her again, soon. And, the best news ever, Tom announced that he’s writing his third book about his move from the city to 20 acres in the country, complete with pregnant squatters, two grow ops, Corona, an abandoned dog (who is theirs now), 17 broken down cars, and several feral lamas. Hurry and write it Tom. I can’t wait. πŸ˜€

We came away with a special witch hazel Corylopsis sinensis which Chloe fell in love with, some raw, local honey, two little cowslips, (love those little primroses from the forests of my childhood), and some local spuds to plant between my crazy garlic plants. We also, as it turned out, rescued three vine maple seedlings, which we’ll plant up in pots and eventually plant at the cabin by the pond.

The most glorious day. I really want to move to the country now.

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Comments: 18

  • Rosemarie

    February 21, 2015
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    Thank you for sharing – I had wanted to go to it and also hear Tom’s talk but was involved with a beach cleanup.

    The pics and your comments made me feel I was/had been there.

    It’s always great to add things to our gardens. Will you/your garden be on the tour this spring?

    r

  • February 21, 2015
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    Wonderful, what a beautiful day, and thank you for bringing us with you amiga mxx

  • February 22, 2015
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    ooooo……
    how i would have loved to go there!!
    wonderful place and all those seeds….
    thanks for sharing!

  • February 22, 2015
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    Goodness, what a wonderful barn! And seed swapping too! Lucky you to have access to places like that πŸ™‚
    Thanks for stopping by my blog – I’d be happy to send some japanese indigo seeds to you – and you can most certainly have more than five! Just let me know where to send them. Thanks, Mona

  • February 22, 2015
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    what a wonderful place to go and visit. I too can’t wait to read your friend Tom’s book, sounds as though it will be very entertaining!! However my most favourite part of your post was the photo of the cowslips, like you brought back lovely memories of picking them in the wild, along with bluebells. Very pleasant memories brought back to me on a Sunday morning, thank you.

    Gill in Canada

      • February 22, 2015
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        I do miss the bluebell forests, but home is here in Canada now……..thanks for the info on the books.

  • February 22, 2015
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    That barn has been so beautifully restored! And I love cowslips too — they grew wild around my childhood home and it was always a special treat to find them growing underfoot. So many wild flowers then — so few now.

  • February 22, 2015
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    It was Seedy Saturday here but I was not able to attend as I am helping a dear friend clear out her MIL’s estate.
    Your event sounds like a bit of magic and that barn is amazing!
    Thomas Hobbs’ books are favourites of mine and I am so pleased to hear he is writing a new book! How fortunate that you met up with a lovely gardening friend to spend the day with at the event. It is such fun making new acquaintences through a shared passion and gardeners are such keeners that sharing feels natural.
    Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

  • February 22, 2015
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    What a great venue! Love the pics .. I would have left with bagfulls ????

  • daryledelstein

    February 25, 2015
    reply

    looks/sounds like a really wonderful experience…

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