Jenniemae Hillyard, an organizer of the 11th annual Plant and Seed Exchange in Port Townsend, encourages gardeners to bring seeds, plant starts, bulbs and bare roots to the event Sunday. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News)

Jenniemae Hillyard, an organizer of the 11th annual Plant and Seed Exchange in Port Townsend, encourages gardeners to bring seeds, plant starts, bulbs and bare roots to the event Sunday. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News)

Gardeners to exchange plants, seeds, knowledge

Sunday event open to public at Shy Acre Farm

PORT TOWNSEND — Plants — the young, the even younger, the flowering and the fruiting — will be the stars of the show this weekend in an event free for all: the 11th annual Plant and Seed Exchange.

“It’s just waves of people coming in,” participant Marla Streator said of the exchange, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Shy Acre Farm; directional signs will be posted to the venue from 363 Discovery Road.

For information, email co-organizer Jennimae Hillyard at treehuggerjm@yahoo.com.

Hillyard and her husband Ashley Kehl, who started this gathering of gardeners, encourage people to bring their extra seeds, plant starts, bulbs, divisions, house plants, trees, bare roots — and whatever else needs a new garden to thrive in — as well as take home something new.

Those who plan to bring seeds are asked to package them individually, if possible, and everyone is welcome to bring a cash donation to offset the costs of the exchange, Hillyard noted.

The Plant and Seed Exchange is “super inspiring,” she said, adding a representative from the Washington State University-Jefferson County Extension Seed Library will join the event this year. For information about that project, see https://extension.wsu.edu/jefferson/master-gardener-seed-library.

Another attraction: Shy Acre Farm has a labyrinth for visitors to walk, Hillyard said.

“I really like the people,” added Kehl, “and the plants bring us together. The social part is a big part,” and since he and Hillyard never know what kinds of seeds and plants will show up at the exchange, the whole affair is a daylong adventure, he said.

Streator, for her part, has been saving seeds and packaging them, digging up plants and otherwise preparing for Sunday.

“Probably I have filled a couple hundred seed packets. I went kind of over the top,” she admitted.

Vegetables, herbs and flowers — columbine, red hot pokers, asters and beyond — are among the plants she plans to transport to Shy Acre.

“I get there in the morning … I really enjoy finding things” at the exchange, as well as seeing others make their own discoveries, Streator said.

Hillyard and Kehl are skilled plant identifiers, Streator said, and they bring plant books for people to look through.

“You may have tons of stuff at one point, think you’ll never get rid of it. Then comes another wave of people,” she said.

“It’s just such a wild thing.”

________

Jefferson County Senior Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz@peninsuladailynews.com.

Jenniemae Hillyard and Ashley Kehl work in their Irondale yard in preparation for the 11th annual Plant and Seed Exchange in Port Townsend this Sunday. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News)

Jenniemae Hillyard and Ashley Kehl work in their Irondale yard in preparation for the 11th annual Plant and Seed Exchange in Port Townsend this Sunday. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News)

More in Entertainment

Tickets still available for Festival of Trees events

Tickets are still available for Festival of Trees events… Continue reading

Plays, music and puzzles top weekend events

Stage productions, music performances and a crossword puzzle contest highlight this weekend’s… Continue reading

Port Angeles Community Players to host auditions

Auditions for the Port Angeles Community Players’ production of… Continue reading

“Obstruction Point” by Anne Pfeiffer of Port Angeles is part of “Small Expressions,” the wide-ranging show which will open Friday at Northwind Art’s Jeanette Best Gallery in Port Townsend.
‘Small Expressions’ opens Friday in Port Townsend

One of the most wide-ranging exhibitions in recent memory… Continue reading

Actors, from left, Justin Stapleton, Mario Arruda and Sean Stone rehearse “Artificial Emotions,” a short play written by John Painter and directed by Bill Stone, far right. It will be the first of eight plays in Olympic Theatre Arts’ New Works Showcase through Sunday. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Olympic Theatre Arts offers New Works Showcase

Olympic Theatre Arts will offer eight new mini shows this… Continue reading

Song swap set Friday at Studio Bob

The second Song Swap is set for 7 p.m.… Continue reading

Samite, pictured during his Field Arts & Events Hall performance last fall, is returning to Port Angeles for a matinee and evening performance this Saturday. (Field Arts & Events Hall)
Samite, ‘Resilience’ return to Port Angeles this weekend

One-man play includes soft voice, African instruments

Singer-songwriter Stephanie Anne Johnson.
Stephanie Anne Johnson to play at the Palindrome

Stephanie Anne Johnson will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.… Continue reading

Gingerbread kits available for library contest

Gingerbread kits are available for the 30th Uptown Gingerbread… Continue reading

“Sky Light” is among Jeanne Toal’s paintings at Northwind Art’s Jeanette Best Gallery.
‘Soulful’ artist’s show in its final days in Port Townsend

Artist Jeanne Toal’s work has sparked an unprecedented response,… Continue reading

Clallam Mosaic accepting registrations for cruises

Clallam Mosaic is accepting registrations for the Seafair Special People’s Holiday Cruise… Continue reading

Music, art on tap for Peninsula weekend events

Music and stage performances, art exhibitions and holiday bazaars highlight weekend events… Continue reading