Meet TS and Come See the Rest of the Garden...

Sunday, July 24, 2016

SomeFling's up at the Casa....

If someone said to you, "I have a beautiful garden. Would you like to see it?" what would you say? If you were me, "Yeah baby!" would barely be out of your mouth before sprinting toward whatever patch of plants they tended. Now imagine you get to tour their garden with a bunch of other passionate garden bloggers and you have the Garden Bloggers Fling.


The 2016 Garden Bloggers Fling was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota in mid July. We trekked into neighboring Wisconsin to see this incredible garden full of mosaics.



Created by Wouterina De Raad, whimsical sculptures can be found through out this lush garden. The artist and garden had so much spirit and soul I didn't want to leave.


But the Fling isn't just about seeing cool gardens. It's about coming together with other gardeners and meeting the people behind the blogs. It's a three and a half day garden lovers gabfest.


These lake shore gardens with their rich sandy loam were packed with plants that struggle in my hot, humid summers. It was enlightening to see them all alive instead of begging for a quick death in my Virginia clay.


This riverbed recirculates the water so it's always flowing.



870 hostas are packed into this magnificent garden. The bloggers arrived in stunned silence


and then immediately began talking and taking pictures.


This dry riverbed is used to control the runoff from heavy rain.


We weren't the only garden visitors.




The incredible garden of Rhonda Hayes has gorgeous raised steel beds 
full of edibles and flowers.


But chatting with your garden blogger friends isn't the only reason to attend a Fling. You're able to explore amazing gardens in person instead of just virtually and you return home inspired and energized. How inspired? After attending three Flings, I'll be hosting the next one!  

45 comments:

  1. 870 hostas! Incredibly beautiful, but I sadly think what a feast my voles would have. The mosaics, however, are critter proof, and are a great way to introduce whimsy and color into a garden. Thanks for showing these gorgeous gardens. Though I can't visit with like-minded garden bloggers, which is the definitely the best way to do it, at least I got an inspirational, virtual taste!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The mosaic garden was amazing! The garden with the hostas didn't seem to have deer or vole problems but they were battling rabbits. Maybe you could have a mini-Fling for bloggers/gardeners in your area. :o)

      Delete
  2. OMG-I just have to come to the next one!!! I'll put it on the calender right NOW.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These garden flings sound like fun. 870 hostas in one garden look lush.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I look forward to next year's fling, Tammy! Knowing you (in the virtual sense), I'm guessing that your plans are already well underway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been planning it for ages so it should come together quite well. I can hardly wait to meet you!

      Delete
  5. Hi Tammy, how cool that you could go to the fling and even better that you will be hosting the next one :-)!
    The "Hosta Garden" looks amazing. I love these plants, but sadly Southern California is completely unsuited for them, so I always enjoy when I can see them in other people's gardens and even if it is just virtually.
    Warm regards,
    Christina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Minneapolis might have hostas but they were rather short on palm trees. :o)

      Delete
  6. Beautiful! Love to see water on the garden

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great wrap up Tammy. I look forward to the Flings so much. Each has its own flavor, all has some take-away that I can use in my garden. Next year will be great!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This artist takes mosaics to a magnificent level.

    ReplyDelete
  9. How wonderful that you will be the next host! I'm bummed to have missed this year's Fling, though - thanks so much for the recap. I'm in love with the white flowers in photo #2, from the awesome mosaic garden. Do you know what they are? They are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm pretty sure they are cohosh, also known as actea or cimicifuga. They're tough dry shade plants.

      Delete
  10. Is that the hosta garden that everyone crashed? I missed that! It looks spectacular. Good luck with next year's Fling, Tammy. Even the best-organized planner needs all the luck they can get!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is! I'll take all the luck I can get! :o)

      Delete
  11. Oh the mosaics...sigh. Sorry to have missed this year's fling but won't make the same mistake next year! Good luck with planning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You would have loved that garden. It was just amazing. Looking forward to seeing you next year. :o)

      Delete
  12. What an awesome follow up Tammy!! Just enough to wet ones appetite for the Garden Bloggers Fling 2017!!! Thanks for sharing Tammy!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm hoping my next post will get everyone drooling!

      Delete
  13. Fabulous recap, Tammy! The Fling is so much fun--especially when we get to reconnect with garden blogger friends. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh goodness, what stunning gardens, just look at those mosaics! Stunning. I really wish I could join in, how lovely it would be to get together with like minded people. Can't wait for your fling!xxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great post, Tammy - I love your writing! Excited to see your garden live and in-person next year :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I can't decide if I'm terrified or excited at the prospect of having everyone over. Maybe a little bit of both....

      Delete
  16. Great overview of the Minneapolis Fling. I loved those mosaic sculptures, the water features, and so much more. I'm sure the DC fling will be amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I loved those sculptures, too. :o) We had so much fun in Minneapolis. It was an excellent Fling!

      Delete
  17. You are so right - the fling is just as much about the people as the gardens. And oh god, that first paragraph made me laugh out loud...I can SO see you saying/doing that :) Can't wait until next year!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will be fun! I have big shoes to fill. The Minneapolis fling was awesome!

      Delete
  18. Loved your tour through the gardens, they are beautiful and it is so awesome that you are hosting the next one!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the tour and congrats on your hostessing for next year!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! We saw incredible gardens and had lots of fun. :o)

      Delete
  20. This fling was so interesting and gave many ideas, wasn't it Tammy? I'd like to go with you as well. The hostas are always beautiful but 870... wow.
    Have a nice week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish you could come! The hosta garden was stunning! Absolutely beautiful!

      Delete
  21. What a wonderful treat to get to see these wonderful gardens and meet fellow bloggers. I wish we had something like that in Europe. 870 hostas and no slug damage? How does that work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was in England in early July and you have slugs the size of small land mammals! They're huge! The gardener said he used a lot of slug bait and that his biggest problem was with rabbits.

      Delete
  22. Tammy girl ... that number of hosta does my head in .. I might fall off my chair in fact ! haha ..
    The gardens are gorgeous and I so love the colourful garden art.
    There is something about the dry stream/river beds that have me mesmerized (my tiny one is too pitiful but I insist on having one ? haha)
    I would so love to have a chance to be at your fling .. we could have a costume party to boot OK ? haha
    Wonderful pictures girl .. I caught that comment about the size of UK slugs and it a shiver ran down my spine UGH!!
    Thank goodness I never saw them in Holland ;-(
    Take care
    Joy : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was stunned when the gardener rattled off that number! Incredible! I do wish you could come nest year. It would be awesome!

      Delete
  23. Great overview of the fabulous 2016 Fling. Can't wait to see what you all have in store for us next year in the DC area!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello Tammy, what I like best when you show someone a garden is that pause of breath as their eyes try and absorb everything and they need a few seconds to take in the flowers, plants and overwhelming beauty, before starting to effuse and take pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  25. How fantastic this must have been! I absolutely love that dry river bed! Just saw your post about next year in DC...it sounds wonderful!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my blog! Feel free to comment on the posts or photos.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.