It's a good time for gardeners seeking new plants. Not only will a terrific plant swap and sale be held Saturday at Savannah Rapids Pavilion but two nursery wholesalers will open their doors to the public.

The plant swap is a great way to pick up plants cheap and mingle with fellow garden lovers. It's from 9 a.m. to noon in the pavilion parking lot, 3300 Evans to Locks Road. You can bring plants and gardening items to trade or sell. Bring a table for setup.

The exchange is organized by the Cherokee Rose (as in our state flower) Garden Club, with the cooperation of the Richmond and Columbia County extension offices and area master gardeners.

McCorkle Nurseries in Dearing is reopening to the public for two days, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 25 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 26. See mccorklenurseries.com for directions.

Also, Layman Wholesale Nurseries in Trenton, S.C., will be open to the public until Oct. 10. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. See laymanwholesalenurseries.com for directions.

The woman with elbows flying will be me. Flower budget, indeed.

Seed of a thought

I have another way to try to limit my purchases: I'm determined to grow some things from seed. I picked up a copy of The New Seed-Starters Handbook , by Nancy Burel, last winter. I'm hopeful, but not confident.

This time, I have a stack of plastic containers that had held fresh fruit. They are already ventilated and have attached lids.

I have cauliflower, radish and carrot seeds, and I found transplants of cabbage.

I found seeds of Swiss chard, which could look good in pots, too, with pansies. I have spinach and two kinds of lettuce, but I think I could use a couple more. I'm also on the lookout for kale and collard seeds.

I'm planting two types of basil to bring in for the winter, and two types of parsley.

For the flower bed and pots, I saved the seeds from last year's pansies because they were so pretty. I also let ornamental cabbages go to seed last spring, so I'm anxious to see if they will grow. I think they're rather expensive for annuals, but that's because I'm cheap, er, frugal.

Memorial gardens

We asked last week for locations of memorial gardens in the area. Diana Morris sent in these:

- There is a memorial garden for infants on the right side of University Hospital. Bricks with their names and dates can be purchased and laid in the walkway.

- At Evans Elementary School on Gibbs Road, to the front left of the school are three small memorial gardens to children who died while pupils at the school.

One of them is for Morgan Beverly (my granddaughter). Each year, on her birthday in May, a balloon release and prayer service are held for her by family and friends.

I am not sure if it is finished yet, but there will be a memorial fountain on the back of the school dedicated to Bonnie Harrison, who died two years ago. She taught first grade at Evans for 20-plus years.

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.

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