It is August ..

It is August ..#454596

By Panman -  Sat Aug 03, 2024 5:32 pm
Location:  Atlanta, GA USA Zone 8a/8b
Posts:  6971
Joined:  Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:41 pm

- Sat Aug 03, 2024 5:32 pm #454596

It is August, so you know what that means. That's right, it is time to talk about winter holidays!

We have two winter events coming up that you won't want to miss out on. The first is our Secret Santa gift exchange. In this event you will send a gift of around $20 to a person assigned to you and you will receive a gift from someone else. The full details will be available when we start but you can look at the links below to see our past gift exchanges.

The second event is our Holiday Extravaganza photo contest. What makes this special is that in addition to the prize from our sponsor, The Flytrap Store , we also ask forum members to donate a prize and shipping. The more contributors, the more prizes. Also, the last prize is rewarded on a random basis so everyone has a chance to win. Check out the links to our previous contests below.

That's it. Get into the holiday spirit and think about if you would like to participate in one or both of our events. If you have any questions, feel free to post them here or send me a PM.

Secret Santa 2023
Secret Santa 2022
Secret Santa 2021
Secret Santa 2020

Holiday Extravaganza 2023
Holiday Extravaganza 2022
Holiday Extravaganza 2021
Holiday Extravaganza 2020

ChefDean, andynorth, Jade and 1 others liked this

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Re: It is August ..#454660

By Jade -  Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:27 am
Location:  NE Ohio, 6a
Posts:  500
Joined:  Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:57 pm

- Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:27 am #454660

I saw some of the other posts, and it seems like it would be a lot of fun! Would be maybe 2nd or 3rd Secret Santa I ever got to play in.

But what if we have nothing that’s on the person’s wishlist? Like I could try and find something on eBay or something to send, but I don’t know if that’s gonna work? It seems like that might be a deterrent to newer folks.

Also since it’s gonna (probably, but not at all guaranteed anymore) furrreeezing, I don’t have a problem trying to get a couple of those heat packs somewhere, but is that encouraged or does everyone just know to check the weather and do it if necessary?

(And just for the record it was the 2nd link for Secret Santa I think (2022), or the other 2022 link just took me to a page that said I can’t edit in that forum. Anyhoo, at least if I can’t give anything interesting to the individual, I could certainly figure out how to ship something for the photo contest hopefully. These sound really fun! Thanks for arranging it all.

Keep your head up! Comin at ya from zone 6a

Re: It is August ..#454680

By ChefDean -  Mon Aug 05, 2024 9:33 am
Location:  Clarksville, TN
Posts:  10275
Joined:  Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:44 am

- Mon Aug 05, 2024 9:33 am #454680

Jade wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:27 amBut what if we have nothing that’s on the person’s wishlist?

Then send something you think they might like.

Jade wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:27 amLike I could try and find something on eBay or something to send, but I don’t know if that’s gonna work?

It's an option, but I wouldn't do ebay. Maybe a $20 gift card to the Fly Trap Store attached to these forums.

Jade wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:27 amIt seems like that might be a deterrent to newer folks.

It can be, but it shouldn't. Again, there are options.

Jade wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:27 amAlso since it’s gonna (probably, but not at all guaranteed anymore) furrreeezing, I don’t have a problem trying to get a couple of those heat packs somewhere, but is that encouraged or does everyone just know to check the weather and do it if necessary.

It could be, but there's a caveat in the instructions that say if you can't send it by the suggested deadline, then PM Panman. Depending on what is being mailed, freezing weather would be a good reason to not send it.

Jade liked this

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that I make bad decisions.

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Re: It is August ..#454686

By Jade -  Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:35 pm
Location:  NE Ohio, 6a
Posts:  500
Joined:  Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:57 pm

- Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:35 pm #454686

Thank you

I overthink everything lol. I guess it’s better than assuming it’s ok to do stuff. Or that’s what I’ll tell myself.

And I really really love surprising people and don’t get to do it nearly often enough so I’m excited. Ooh if you ever wanna do it twice a year there’s that Christmas in July thing. Just saying haha

Keep your head up! Comin at ya from zone 6a

Re: It is August ..#454687

By Panman -  Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:51 pm
Location:  Atlanta, GA USA Zone 8a/8b
Posts:  6971
Joined:  Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:41 pm

- Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:51 pm #454687

Jade wrote:But what if we have nothing that’s on the person’s wishlist?

The Santa assignments aren't completely random. Everyone is required to provide their grow list and wish list. I do my best to align the gifter and giftee. Buying something to send is an option, but that's not really the idea behind it. Regardless, when the time comes, I help to guide the process.

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Re: It is August ..#454714

By Jade -  Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:13 pm
Location:  NE Ohio, 6a
Posts:  500
Joined:  Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:57 pm

- Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:13 pm #454714

Panman wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:51 pm
Jade wrote:But what if we have nothing that’s on the person’s wishlist?
The Santa assignments aren't completely random. Everyone is required to provide their grow list and wish list. I do my best to align the gifter and giftee. Buying something to send is an option, but that's not really the idea behind it. Regardless, when the time comes, I help to guide the process.

Oh that makes me feel even better. Thanks so much! I’m just waiting to make sure I’ll be able to get transportation to the post office in that time frame. I don’t drive, and I don’t want to assume and then mess up your Secret Santa while I’m waiting on a ride.

As soon as I get a hopeful green light, I’ll be in with Silver Bells on!

Panman liked this

Keep your head up! Comin at ya from zone 6a

Re: It is August ..#454715

By Panman -  Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:15 pm
Location:  Atlanta, GA USA Zone 8a/8b
Posts:  6971
Joined:  Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:41 pm

- Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:15 pm #454715

Jade wrote:I’m just waiting to make sure I’ll be able to get transportation to the post office in that time frame.

If you ship it via Priority Mail, you can actually schedule the post office to do a pick up.

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Re: It is August ..#454730

By Jade -  Tue Aug 06, 2024 1:19 am
Location:  NE Ohio, 6a
Posts:  500
Joined:  Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:57 pm

- Tue Aug 06, 2024 1:19 am #454730

Panman wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:15 pm
Jade wrote:I’m just waiting to make sure I’ll be able to get transportation to the post office in that time frame.
If you ship it via Priority Mail, you can actually schedule the post office to do a pick up.

Really?

I’m actually just gonna go ahead and admit (which is crazy at my age) that I’ve never shipped anything. I’ll try to ask like family and google before asking about shipping here haha. At least I have gotten a few different kinds of plants that I know how to pack those ones now.

Keep your head up! Comin at ya from zone 6a

Re: It is August ..#454762

By Panman -  Tue Aug 06, 2024 12:53 pm
Location:  Atlanta, GA USA Zone 8a/8b
Posts:  6971
Joined:  Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:41 pm

- Tue Aug 06, 2024 12:53 pm #454762

I recommend using pirateship.com for shipping. You can print your own labels and it is much cheaper than going to the post office or a UPS store. You can print the label on plain paper and tape it to the package.

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Re: It is August ..#454798

By Jade -  Tue Oct 08, 2024 6:04 pm
Location:  NE Ohio, 6a
Posts:  500
Joined:  Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:57 pm

- Tue Oct 08, 2024 6:04 pm #454798

I didn’t even know you could do your own labels other than for shipping stuff back and I didn’t have a printer in the other house or typically empty boxes, so I usually just chucked whatever at my sister or something to send back. I will definitely look into that. I may have more experience by then I hope.

I believe there’s a fall NASC auction on fb which is the only reason to use the app, but I was really hoping I would find something cool to put in the spring one that someone would want, and I couldn’t find anything. Now I feel like I might have a couple things for that.

Oh if approximately $20 is the amount people would supposed to be using for the gift, it’s okay to go over that right? Always of course understanding that your Santa won’t likely be spending that on you? I can’t imagine trying to just send one thing lol

Hedonista liked this

Keep your head up! Comin at ya from zone 6a

Re: It is August ..#456667

By Panman -  Tue Oct 08, 2024 6:07 pm
Location:  Atlanta, GA USA Zone 8a/8b
Posts:  6971
Joined:  Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:41 pm

- Tue Oct 08, 2024 6:07 pm #456667

Bouncing this post up for more attention. I will start signing people up for Secret Santa the beginning of next month.

Also, we still need volunteered prizes for the December Holiday Extravaganza. Right now we have a (shh, it's a surprise) and a Drosera binata dichotoma. I'm also considering adding a carnivorous plant coffee mug if anyone thinks that would be interesting.

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Re: It is August ..#456673

By andynorth -  Tue Oct 08, 2024 9:00 pm
Location:  Federal Way, WA
Posts:  2110
Joined:  Fri May 12, 2023 9:08 pm

- Tue Oct 08, 2024 9:00 pm #456673

I will revisit next month but I should have at least one thing to put up. Unfortunately the prize winner for mine from last year told me it died due to neglect.