I've already gotten this posted on the Southern Gardening forum but thought I'd put it here too (hope that's okay!).

Magnolia is near the Louisiana/Arkansas state line. We are about an hour & a half from either Shreveport, LA or Texarkana, Tx. The swap will be at the pavilion at Lake Columbia. Check-in will start around 9 a.m. & the swap will go until people start leaving.

Here's the details for the swap:

Bring plants, cuttings, bulbs, or seeds to trade for other plants or items, using tickets you'll get when you check in at the swap.

Cuttings - at least 2 if small or unrooted

Bulbs - at least 5 & put in something like a paper bag

Seeds - at least 10 pkts. to count (same or different)

Items can be from your yard or store bought but they should be labeled.

No plants? You can bring other garden-related items such as water hoses, tools, birdhouses, feeders, windchimes, books, potting soil, soil amendments, etc. You can also sign up to bring food, supplies, or door prizes.

When you arrive to the swap you will check in & get tickets for everything you bring, including food, supplies, & door prizes. You will then take your stuff (if swapping) & tickets & park somewhere, using your vehicle & any tables you've brought as your 'booth'. Once check-in is over & the swap starts, everyone will use their tickets to "buy" items from other people using their tickets. Hold on to any leftover tickets as we will use these for the door prize drawing. Toward the end, anyone with leftovers they don't want to take home can put in the "surplus" section & everyone can take a turn picking out something until everything's gone. At some point, we'll eat.

*****For people who want to bring food, supplies, or door prizes*****

FOOD: sandwiches, a bucket of chicken, whatever. We'll also want sides, desserts, drinks & ice. Remember to bring a serving utensil if your dish calls for one. If no one signs up to bring food, we'll just all fend for ourselves.

SUPPLIES: paper plates, paper or plastic cups, plastic spoons or forks, napkins or paper towels, name tags or self-adhesive labels

DOOR PRIZES: Anything - doesn't have to be garden-related. Handmade or store bought ($ stores, etc.).

VOLUNTEERS: To put flyers around your town, help with check-in, handing out door prizes.

*****Some suggestions & rules*****

*Again, no selling! No pets & no alcohol. Kids are okay to bring, you know to watch them.

*You may want to bring a friend to help you. Also, it's a good idea to bring bottled water for your booth, insect repellent, sun block, an umbrella just in case, newspaper to lay down in your trunk, empty box to put plants in.

*You can use your trunk or truck bed to put stuff on but you may want to bring a table & a chair

Please sign up if you even think you'll be coming so I'll have a count. I'll also need to know who (if anyone) will be bringing food, door prizes, & supplies.

LAKE COLUMBIA - there's a swimming area, boating area, & fishing areas in a different location than where the pavilion is located so if anyone wants to bring their kids there's that option for you. No lifeguard so have someone available to watch the kids. Must have a valid Arkansas fishing license to fish. There's RV hookups if anyone wants to stay a weekend (call 8702345253for information). I believe there may be campsites & hiking trails too but not for sure.

The pavilion is covered with a grill, 2 long picnic tables, & 3 benches. Bathrooms are within walking distance. The area around the pavilion is under a bunch of trees so it should be fairly shady for us.

DIRECTIONS: from the Magnolia square, go around the square & past Fred's. Go 3.3 miles & turn right at the Pure gas station. Go 2.2 miles & turn left on County Road 53 (this is a curvy road!). Go 3.1 miles. You'll pass the boat landing & see the lake. Turn right past that & you'll see the pavilion area right across.

Swap will start around 9:00 a.m. or as soon as everyone's checked in. While you're waiting for the checking in to wrap up, you can walk around & arrange swaps if you'd like. Or wait until the swap starts.

If you are interested in coming, post here or on the Southern Forum. I'm not really interested in what anyone brings unless it's to sign up for the food, supplies, or door prizes so I can get an approximate head count. I'm putting flyers up in feed stores & nurseries around the local towns within driving distance, & I'm also announcing in nearby newspapers so I hope to have a nice turn out.