Apr 08
2008
Meet the Bloggers!
Those Austin folks sure know how to show hospitality!
Pam (Digging), MSS (Zanthan Gardens), Diana (Sharing Nature’s Garden) and Bonnie (Kiss of Sun) hosted nearly 40 garden bloggers from 12 states at the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling. They spent months organizing tours of public and private gardens, soliciting prizes and gifts for welcome packages and communicating all the details about the event. They even offered their guest rooms and drove us all around Austin from garden to nursery to restaurant. I can’t imagine how many hours went into planning this event for a bunch of virtual strangers.
Laura (Greenfish Artist and Gardener), Diana (Sharing Nature’s Garden) and Kathy (Cold Climate Gardening)
Pam told me that when they first thought of the idea the big question was, “Do you think anyone would come?” Well, it seems to me that the question for next year’s organizing team should be “How will we deal with all the people who will come?” Because I can guarantee that come hell or high water I’ll be there. And after all the photos that I and the other garen bloggers will be showing you over the next few days, you’ll want to start a garden blog (if you don’t have one) so you can join us.
You know, I almost didn’t go? But when Kathy at Cold Climate Gardening mentioned in an email (yes, bloggers communicate off-blog too) that she was going, I couldn’t pass up the chance to meet her and so many of the other people I feel like I have come to know, just a bit.
Susan (Garden Rant), Suzanne (Verte), Vicki (Playin’ Outside) and Gail (Clay and Limestone)
Still, heading into this event I felt like I was going on a blind date–with 40 people. Would I have to talk about plants in their Latin names the whole time? What if someone asked me a gardening question and I couldn’t answer?
Well, I needn’t have worried. And, really, I did already “virtually” know some of the folks.
Among those folks that I “virtually” knew, I “actually” met Laura, from Greenfish Artist and Gardener. I had purchased three fabulous watercolors from Laura’s Etsy store and learned we share a love of tea.
Diana and Dee (Red Dirt Ramblings)
I also met Dee from Red Dirt Ramblings. I remember when Dee started her blog and have always admired her country home.
There was also Elizabeth and Susan (another Maryland gardener!) from Garden Rant, one of my favorite blogs because of its provocative posts.
And, of course, I met Kathy, who reminded me to go, and also Carol from May Dreams Gardens. I was grateful that Carol didn’t seem to think I am a raving lunatic for leaving a huffy post about the responsibility of owning a dog in response to her comparing getting a tree to getting a puppy. Or maybe she did think I’m a raving lunatic, but she’s just too nice to let it show. (Now that I think about it, she did mention it.)
So what are garden bloggers like? Well, as it turns out, all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all our gardens (and children) are above average.
Thanks again to all my new friends from Spring Fling!
April 8th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
While you were gone, your above-average child and I ran his physics book through the shredder and then did the happy dance.
April 8th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Sounds like a great time was had by all, Robin. And while you were all there, you obviously had a word with the weather, because we’ve enjoyed 3, count em, 3 fine, mild, springlike days in a row–and more to come. So whatever you did, thanks!
April 8th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Thanks for sharing your take on the event, Robin, and for the pictures, too. It’s a real treat for those of us who couldn’t be there in person!
April 8th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Well, that comment about your dogs is one of my favorite comments left on my blog. Sweet little doggies, did they do okay without you? Did anyone remember to feed them and let them out? Hey, with trees, they can usually go awhile without supervision. So maybe getting a new tree isn’t like getting a puppy, after all?
I enjoyed meeting you and talking with you. What fun we all had!
April 8th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Hey Robin, I felt like I knew you already. Yours was one of the first blogs I ever read. Thanks for putting up a picture where I don’t look like a total moron. I have the one of you waving from the lake. I might post it in my next installment. So much fun.~~Dee
April 8th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
What great people pics you took, Robin. And this from someone who hides behind Diana when her photo is taken.
I so enjoyed driving around with you on Sunday and watching you find the perfect gifts for your brother. Hee, hee! Like you, I’m planning to be at the next Spring Fling, this time as a guest. Chicago bloggers, are you listening?
April 8th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
You people are scaring me! I’m going to need doggie downers & some serious hand-holding if Chicago takes on this thing. Tour buses? Way more than 40 people? I think I need to go lay down.
April 8th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
What lovely photos of beautiful ladies. So glad you had a nice time making friends. I wish I’d had more time to talk with you. I’ve admired your blog…and your dogs…for a while now. A Chicago Fling sounds like fun. I can’t wait to be pampered.
Cheers!
Dawn
April 9th, 2008 at 7:17 am
I think you managed to take the most attractive people photos of anyone at the Spring Fling. Everyone looks great in these shots. (At the next get-together, someone will have to beg you to be the official people photographer.)
I’m so glad to have gotten a chance to talk with you a little in Lucinda’s drunkard’s garden. I wish we had more time together. I recognized you instantly as a kindred spirit.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Goodness, all the women are strong in your photographs, but your sense of humor is the glue that holds everything together. It was great meeting you.
April 9th, 2008 at 9:40 am
The Sunday “extras” gave me a chance to get to know you, Robin - it was fun to see Lucinda’s and stroll SoCo while visiting with you professional writers.
What an appropriate use of the Garrison Keillor line ;-]
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
April 9th, 2008 at 10:00 am
I just found your blog and omg, how fun would that be, getting together with fellow garden bloggers?! I’m so envious. Especially that you met somewhere warm where there are actually plants growing! I will have to check out all the other blogs for more details.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Hello Robin, What a great post and you caught me in that ‘lifting my head up to escape the double chin pose’ and it’s still a fabulous photo! Loved meeting you and look forward to more time together blogging and when we all descend upon The Windy City.
Gail
April 9th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
You all look so cheerful and happy and like you’ve known one another forever. Liked that last bit, by the way. It was very clever of you! I’d bet more of these events crop up all over the world, and we start to see more folks attending and posting photos.
Brenda
April 9th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Hi.
It’s so nice to meet other garden bloggers
A hug to everyone from Marie in Norway
April 10th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Great post and photos of me that even I don’t object to! That’s because we were all so happy and having such a wonderful time and it showed. Loved riding and blabbing at you all day. I can’t wait to watch your garden unfold on your blog until we meet up again.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Robin: A delightful take on the Spring Fling and great pictures! Wish I had been to take some of that height heat off you. Next year…heels! Get ready! LOL
April 10th, 2008 at 11:48 am
It does look like fun was had by all! I’m loving seeing the pictures of everyone. It is so nice to put faces with the blogs.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Looks like you had fun! Thanks for sharing other garden blog sites.
April 10th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
These are great pictures Robin. I am so glad it went well. I would love to meet all of these people, you include of course.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
This was a good post to read Robin. I’m glad that you went and had a great time. Your photographs catch the spirit of each of the women. It has been fun reading all of the Spring Fling posts. I think I’ll have to start a fling fund for next year!
April 11th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Robin, that’s really great post and very good looking and happy people on the pictures.
I admire organisers of this tour - first when I red about the event, I thought I don’t understand something (you know, my limited English) - hmmm… I couldn’t imagine such brave and daring idea.
This is great that joined it.
Thanks for sharing and greetings from Ewa in Poland
April 11th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Hi Robin,
I was hoping you would post pictures and a story about your trip. Looks like it was loads of fun! I’m glad you got to go.
Any purple martins to greet you when you got back home??
April 11th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Robin,
Well I’m so darned jealous! I’m not a gardener but I know some of these wonderful ladies…
Glad you had a great time.
Mary
April 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am
What a great blog design you have. I’m having so much fun visiting all these bloggers from Spring Flings’ blogs.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Robin, you know that it was T’ai Chi that got rid of my triple chin …
Seriously, how fun was that? Here in Texas, we like to say stuff like “Yew were such a hoot!” and “Yew kin stay in mah guest room ennie tahm.” Hope you know both are true when you get them translated. Loved you and your post.