Please come to the Operation Bloom’s 3^rd annual Plant & Seed Swap, on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Richards Park in Winooski (at Dion & Lafountain Streets) from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon.  The Plant & Seed Swap has become a fun annual event for Winooski neighbors to share plants they’ve either started from seeds or thinned from their gardens, with others who have their own garden or are just starting one.

 Don't worry if you don’t have anything to swap, just come pick up some plants to bring some color to your little corner.  Instead of a plant donation, you can bring along a canned good or non-perishable item for the Winooski food shelves (or if you prefer, you can make a voluntary donation to Operation Bloom.)

 Last year’s vegetable plant donations included tomatoes, peppers, chives, oregano, parsley, Jerusalem artichoke, broccoli and kale.   Some of the flowers/shrubs were lilacs, daylilies, Shasta daisies, princess daisies, asters, spirea, Siberian iris, yellow & purple irises, basket of gold alyssum, pansies/violets, columbine, blue flax, hostas and assorted ground covers.  It was a wonderful selection to choose from, and was fun to gather with other gardeners after the long cold winter. 

 Operation Bloom is a volunteer group of citizens who annually join forces to plant and maintain flower beds throughout Winooski including the median on Route 15 at Exit 15, City Hall, Hoods Crossing, Landry Park, Tigan Street and Winooski Falls Terrace Park.  Anyone interested in joining is welcome.  We need helpers to rake, weed, compost and plant the many OB gardens throughout the city.  Feel free to contact Sue O'Brien (suecarterob@yahoo.com) or Janet Kane Farrell (655-4463) with questions or to volunteer your help for the upcoming season.