The library will host this year’s plant swap Saturday, June 14 at the East Regional Library at 10:30 a.m.
Residents interested in participating in the swap should bring their labeled plants, seeds, bulbs and cuttings to the library’s table at the German Coast Farmer’s market located in the East Regional Library’s parking lot before 10 a.m. The library table will start accepting plants when the market opens at 8 a.m.
Members of the River Region Master Gardeners will collect and sort the plants. Patrons can shop at the market until it’s time for the swap or wait inside the library once it opens at 9 am. Attendees can also join the LSU AgCenter Horticulture Specialist as well as the Master Gardeners in the large meeting room of the library to wait for the swap to start. Once all the plants have been received at 10 a.m., the Master Gardeners will finish sorting them and get a final count. At 10:30 a.m., the swap will begin.
“In past years, we have had participants bring more than one plant, so our system is to get the total number of people participating and divide the total number of plants evenly between them, so you may bring only one plant but leave with three,” said Maria Bilello, the programming and outreach librarian for the St. Charles Parish library system.
This is the third year of the plant swap.
“Our partners at LSU AgCenter first approached us with the idea to host a plant and seed swap event,” Bilello said. “The extension office of LSU AgCenter in St. Charles Parish is a great resource for the community, so we were happy to help share their expertise and resources in the library setting.”
Bilello said the first year of the plant swap saw great attendance, and there was interest in making it an annual event. In 2023 there were over 50 attendees, and in 2024 about 40 people participated.
“There is no limit to how many people can come, so we encourage everyone to join us,” Bilello said.
Lauren Campo Pitz, assistant director of the library, said the library is always looking for ways to help members of the community connect with teach other over their shared interests.
“This plant swap fit right into that,” Pitz said. “We’ve had people reach out to us to ask if we were hosting another plant swap each of the years after that first one, so the community interest is there.”
At past events, patrons have swapped a variety of plants from succulents and house plants to herbs, flowers, and trees.
“Labeling your plants ahead of time helps the other participants know what they are taking home,” Pitz said.
Bilello said she hopes attendees find community with one another and pride in sharing something they’ve nurtured with a neighbor.
“Participants will also have the chance to chat with Master Gardeners and get tips and advice for caring for their own gardens and plants,” she said.
She said gardening seems to be an extremely popular hobby in St. Charles Parish, and the library hopes events like this will help members of the community share with one another the plant they’ve had success growing.
“All of our gardening events and activities with the LSU AgCenter have always been well received by the community,” she said. “All of our library branches have books about gardening, so there are lots of ways to learn more about this hobby whether you are a seasoned professional or new to it.”
