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Fling…Growing A Garden Community

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Fling is another word for a gathering of like-minded people. The Garden Bloggers Fling is always quite the gathering. At Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens it took a bit but we did finally gather.

According to Lexico.com, the word fling, as a noun, means a short period of enjoyment or wild behavior. To this garden blogger, the Garden Blogger’s Fling is an annual short period of enjoyment. Held in the early part of the year, seeing diverse gardens is a welcome post-winter event. The opportunity to spend time with fellow garden bloggers is a garden camp with a twist. No wild behavior is involved. We do enjoy gathering in gardens anywhere.

Tammy was the DC Team Leader for the 2017 Garden Bloggers Fling

I heard about the Garden Bloggers Fling on my journey to become a full-fledged Garden Writer. I would visit the blog and dream of the places they wrote about. Actually, I thought that it would remain a dream of something that I wished I could be a part of. Tammy Winter-Schmidt spoke to me about being part of the DC Team and the rest is history. We chatted, met in person, texted, and had conference calls with the rest of the chosen DC Fling Crew. Attending the Fling was suddenly my reality.

The DC Garden Bloggers Flingers stuffed swag bags for our attendees.

We were nervous as it was not just a DC event. We encompassed DC, Maryland, and Virginia!! Tammy and Peggy Riccio took road trips to map out the route. The memories of this great adventure will always bring a smile to my face. Timing a Garden Bloggers Fling in the DMV, in late June…what could go wrong?

FLINGTASTIC PEOPLE

What better place than the Fling to meet a local Shero! Peggy Bier was a welcome site to see!

I never thought I could smile nonstop for 3.5 days. Hanging out with members of the Garden Bloggers Fling was amazing!

Dee Nash whose blog Red Dirt Ramblings I follow was a delight to meet in real life! In some ways I felt like a groupie!!

We were all over the DMV. There were many friendships cultivated along the way.

Hanging with Katie T. at the Smithsonian Gardens…who helped me commandeer one of the tour buses.

A memorable fling moment was a doozy! We realized the bus had no water. June…in DC…a bus of gardener aficionados (some seasoned) and no water. Acting fast, phone calls made, and we more or less hijacked a 50 passenger bus to correct this mishap. Serious #girlpower happened that day! My fellow Fling attendees never knew…whew!

We visited private gardens…

Jeff Minnick allowed us to experience his oasis…
Dee Nash and Ira Wallace watching out for each other in the DC heat on our National Mall.
We strolled quietly and absorbed the peaceful landscapes…taking notes along the way.

FLINGTASTIC PLACES

We visited public gardens. What is a Garden Bloggers Fling without mixing it all up?

We toured and prayed that the weather would hold up so we could enjoy this wonderful weekend. The Franciscan Monastery was a great place for some welcome shade…and OH THOSE GARDENS!
We even remembered to use our inside voices outside as we gasped at the beauty surrounding us.

Did I mention the private gardens? They were ALL quite Garden Bloggers Fling worthy and fabulous!

The Fling attendees paused to rest.
We captured photos that were quite breathtaking..
There were opportunities for surprise swag throughout the weekend.
Did you know Garden Bloggers Fling attendees can shop with intention, take a photo together, and STILL make it back to the bus on time! Thank You Merrifield Gardens for welcoming us!!
Even our Canadian attendees like Janet Davis had a blast. The Garden Bloggers Fling welcomes our friends from all over the world.
I still get excited as I reflect on that weekend. I was nervous waiting for Victoria Summerley to sign the books I won at the raffle! Touching the books help me remember how I made my mind up to plan a trip to England. (I did!)
I can only imagine this garden in its three years of maturity. If I ever see it again, I can say I saw it when it was young. It was quite inspirational!
The inspiration was endless…

FLINGTASTIC OPPORTUNITIES

There were even gardens where we simply paused and continued to soak up the beauty!
We were treated to terrific presentations from our sponsors like Mark Highland, Owner, Organic Mechanics. I helped Mark handout the samples of this wonderful product. You NEED to know about the benefits of Organic Mechanic for your garden!
We had the best time bonding and creating memories in gardens throughout the DMV. The Garden Bloggers Fling creates the opportunity to network and grow!

The Fling is open to garden bloggers who have had an active blog for 6 months. Attendees are writers, authors, speakers, garden bloggers, and more. Genuine seeds of kindness from this community of gardeners are planted at every Garden Bloggers Fling. It is hard to miss even one Fling!

This year, as our country is unintentionally pausing, the Fling was postponed. We look forward to June 2021. Look out Madison, Wisconsin…here we come!. I hear there is something magical in Wisconsin. A few things I anticipate are gardens, ice cream, cheese curds, and cultivating more friendships. Madison, Wisconsin has never crossed my mind as a garden destination. If it is like past Flings, my bags are packed! I am prepared.

I must say thank you to the Garden Bloggers Fling for welcoming me. Interested in the Garden Bloggers Fling? Click here to find out more. The sponsors truly deserve a huge hand. They share their products and more, to make this recurring event a huge success!!

Maybe it takes awhile for us to get in one picture…but there is always next year!

Sitting with wands of Lavender Phenomenal (Thank you Peacetree Farm, LLC) and smiling. I love finding the words to share about the Garden Bloggers Fling!

Teri, Cottage In The Court

OUR 2017 SPONSORS – THANK YOU!!

www.abnativeplants.com, www.plantsmap.com, www.SchreinersGardens.com, www.everlastlabel.com, www.dramm.com, www.sustane.com, www.encoreazalea.com, www.southernlivingplants.com, www.grimmsgardens.com, www.corona.com, www.bluestoneperennials.com, www.PlantMeGreen.com, www.oakesdaylillies.com, www.johnandbobs.com, www.prairiemoon.com, www.whiteflowerfarm.com, www.saundersbrothers.com, www.reneesgarden.com, www.OrganicMechanicSoil.com, www.harrisseed.com, www.botanicalinterests.com, www.gosslerfarms.com, www.dancingoaks.com, www.peacetreefarm.com, www.bartletttree.com, www.americanmeadows.com, www.highcountrygardens.com, www.MountainCrestGardens.com, www.LondonLandscapes.com, www.hollingsworthpeonies.com,www.colorblends.com, www.cobrahead.com, www.joycreek.com, www.DavidAustinRoses.com, www.SouthernExposure.com, www.putnamhillnursery.com, www.bethesdagardendesign.com, www.ahsgardening.org,www.kitazawaseed.com

**Special Thank you to Michele Shaw, Wendy Kremer, Jim at Garden Design, Lisa at HortusTv, Niche Gardens, Sunset Western Garden Collection.com, Main Garden, Blue-Viper, and Lazy S Farm.

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