GBF2018

Wow.  What a great Garden Bloggers Fling.  With long-time friends and new, we laughed, we shared, we took tens of thousands of photos, and we reveled in stunning gardens and event spaces.

A whopping 92 swag bags lived at my house for 4 months – taking up space equal to about 3 queen-size beds.   The Austin team, Diana Kirby, Pam Penick, Laura Wills, Jennifer Brown and Sheryl Williams, had 4 stuffing parties as swag arrived so we didn’t have as much to do at the end.  (There might or might not have been some Prosecco involved.) We were blown away by the generosity of our wonderful  sponsors. This room was also home to dozens of big boxes full of fabulous raffle items. From beginning to end, it felt like we were on the magical mystery tour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few bloggers in town early, were treated to a delightful brunch at Laura Will’s house and garden. Then, after two years of planning and prep, the Austin team began welcoming bloggers at the hotel on Thursday afternoon.  Shown here – Laura Wills, Pam Penick, Diana Kirby and Sheryl Williams. Not pictured, Jennifer Brown who was clearly busy at work while we were hamming it up.

After the festivities and fajitas at the opening reception, bloggers headed up to the rooftop garden at the new Austin Public Library to enjoy a warm breeze and get a bird’s-eye view of Austin

 

 

 

Gardeners got to know one another and spend down time relaxing before three days of fun-filled garden tours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back at the hotel, the Austin team took advantage of tequila shot goodies we included in swag bags while holding the final planning meeting in Pam’s room.

 

The first Fling stop was at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  While bloggers photographed the wildflowers, the anxiously anticipated clouds gathered and burst forth with a real Texas gully washer.  Armed with the rain ponchos from their swag bags, some continued exploring while the majority of folks spent time drying off in the Center’s gift shop.

Then everyone arrived at my house.  Along with the pelting rain.  I opened up all blinds so they could see the garden from inside.  But most ventured outside in their ponchos, seeking some shelter on the back patio, and in the covered outdoor kitchen and cabana.  The brave ones continued on to see the garden, though the rain made taking quality photos difficult.

I’m collecting photos from bloggers, because of course I was busy and didn’t have any time to take photos here.  So, if you have a few good pics you’re willing to share in high res, I’d love to have them.

Sitting with friends on the bus is a great opportunity to catch up from previous flings and get to know newbie flingers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all took shelter with a box lunch under the revival tent at the Natural Gardener and listened to John Dromgoole, an Austin gardening icon and owner of the nursery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding the best shot.

This feet-in-the-pool shot is becoming a tradition.

A relaxing reception at Articulture provided the perfect setting for BBQ dinner, drinks and live music.  We enjoyed taste testing two tequila recipes of our dear friend and Austin icon, Lucinda Hutson.  Bloggers also shopped in the store and traded impressions of the gardens.  Bloggers traded contact information and started setting their sights on Denver in 2018.

Austin bloggers, minus Laura Wills, gathered for a final photo, as Laura posed with Austin blogger Jenny Stocker and her husband.

Now, on to Denver!