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Sunday, June 23, 2019

Why Fling? Reflections from Denver



After having come home from the latest Garden Bloggers Fling I have been trying to sort out the best way to share this wonderful experience. Do I share garden by garden? Do I do an overview of the whole experience? Do I pick styles of gardens? Favorite blooms? Sometimes it is overwhelming to wrap your head around the Fling, it is so packed with gardens, it is hard to process all that you saw.

Some might ask what the heck is a Garden Bloggers Fling. Fair question. A Garden Bloggers Fling is a gathering of 80+ garden bloggers from all across the States, Canada, and a few from the UK. We are hosted by a fellow garden blogger team in their city and tour private and public gardens. The time of year is dependent on the location. Last year was Texas, we went early, in May. This year we went to Denver and it was mid-June.



What draws me to come back year after year? The bloggers! We gather into buses. The conversations fly... catching up with each other, making new friends, what gardens did you like best, and everything else under the sun!







Meals are another opportunity to chat.
Lunch at Denver Botanic Garden

Lunch at Boulder's Dushanbe Teahouse in the rose garden 
Dinner in town 

After of course, when we are dog tired but aren't ready for the night to end, we gather in the hotel-
Downstairs in the bar lobby area

Upstairs on the 27th floor restaurant with a view of the sunset and city
Sunset over Denver
Our farewells are full of hugs and promises to come to next year's Fling. Breakfast out before we go our separate ways is peppered with lots of laughs.
I cherish the bloggers I have gotten to know over the years. There are no strangers, only friends you don't know yet. Want to be a part of this group? Do you write a garden blog? Is it older than six months? Have you posted in the last year at least once? All guidelines are here. Come and commune with your people, your tribe, your kindred spirits.
More posts in the upcoming weeks from Denver's Fling. I leave you with one of the many gorgeous views of the mountains.



©Copyright 2019 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

16 comments:

  1. Perfect, Janet. This is exactly right. Happy to count you among my friends, and it never would have happened without the Fling.

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    1. Thank you Helen, I count you among my friends as well. So glad for the Flings.

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  2. You've said it beautifully. I Fling to see my friends. xoxxo

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  3. Lovely, Janet — you describe the Fling perfectly. It’s the pull of seeing long-time friends for us repeaters, but equally wonderful I think, for first-timers. What’s not to like about visiting gardens in the company of other gardeners! Magic...

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    1. Thanks Lisa, it is a pull to see long-time friends and make new ones.

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  4. Amen. I feel the pull more every year. "No strangers, only friends you don't know yet." That is the truth! It was awesome to re-connect with Flingers from the past, and incredible to chat with all the new attendees. Cheers!

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    1. Beth, I am so glad we have connected through the Flings. Looking forward to Madison!

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  5. Yes, that describes it perfectly! I might add also that it gives me perspective on what I am doing-kind of like a support group. And countless ideas, images, and thoughts on doing things in a different way. Good post!

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    1. Thanks Claire, a support group - one that validates all our plant needs and desires.

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  6. I miss you all so much!! I echo Beth's sentiments - it just gets better every year & I cherish the friendships that have developed. I'm so glad that I "took the plunge" 5 years ago, going to my first fling even though I didn't know a single person there. It's one of the best decisions I ever made. P.S. My daughter LOVED the pink rock (and I loved my little pot) - thanks for finding that store, Janet!

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    1. I am so glad she liked it, Margaret! I too cherish the friendships. Better and better every year is the truth!

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  7. "No strangers, only friends you don't know yet." I love that. So pleased I took the plunge and came to the Fling. I had a challenging conversation in Denver with someone asking why I came to the Fling - I wish I'd been able to put your post into words at the time. It sums up why perfectly. I'm glad we managed to have breakfast together on the last day - what laughs we had!

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    1. I am glad we had breakfast together too Michelle. Yes, lots of laughs. Connections keep me coming back year after year.

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  8. Hope to see you again in Madison, Janet. That bar on the 27th floor was pretty cool, wasn't it?

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    1. Yes Jason I am counting on going to Madison! Yes, the upstairs bar views were outstanding.

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