Do You Fling?

Spring is really moving along. Before you know it it will be time for this year's Garden Fling. I look forward to this every year. We Garden Flingers, my tribe, gather together to tour a new city each year. Fling members of that city host us, sharing incredible gardens- private and public- of their city. Have you been to a Fling? No? If you share garden information or photos on social media, be it Facebook, Blogging, Instagram, YouTube, or even BlueSky, you should look into coming to the Fling. There are still some spots available for our Memphis Fling this year. It will be June 5 - 9, with an extra day on the 10th. All the information you need about a Fling can be found on that website. 

Here is my final post from last year's Fling. Remember I shared our visit to Heronswood? Our next stop after Heronswood was Dan Hinkley's home, Windcliff, and his neighbors, the Brindleys. 

The buses had to off load us into smaller buses to get up to their properties. While waiting for our turn on the smaller bus, we looked out over the Puget Sound, what a gorgeous view!

Cute General Store at the landing

Lots of kayaks and even a seaplane

Native American influence

Once on the bus and up to the gardens, we could go to either garden as they were next door to each other. I chose to go to the Brindley's garden first. When they planned their garden they had the expertise of their neighbor Dan Hinkley to lend his knowledge. 

What an amazing garden! 

Persicaria 'Painter's Palette'

Another Persicaria, like shrubs!!

These Persicaria were in the front yard along the house garden. They are so large, they looked like shrubbery.
As I made my way around back, I was presented with an amazing view! Across the Sound, you could see Seattle. Knowing the Puget Sound, I can imagine a whale surfacing, giving a great show.  I love the art feature in the garden. The sculpture moved in the breeze and brought whimsy and color into the already colorful garden.

Lobelia tupa, planted in large clumps

A view up to the house

Agapanthus getting ready to open

Large planting of Eryngium- the pollinators love it!

The path leading you towards the water

View from the deck 

A garden to embrace

Pretty little fern 

Lomatia myricoides

 

This plant pictured above was so fragrant. 

Then I walked through their side garden gate that links the two properties. The front gravel area was full of interesting containers. 

We also were entertained by Dan's dog, a rather mischievous pup. Apparently one shoe disappeared as he ran through the acreage of the front yard. Not sure if the shoe was ever found. 

Windcliff was in the middle of a bit of a redo. We gardeners know nothing is forever. What's the adage? Man plans and God laughs...the same can be said of gardeners and Mother Nature. Even a work in progress has something to offer. I like the artwork in the garden. If I remember correctly, they used solarization heat to clear the area of vegetation.

Not all the garden was being redone, there was still a lot to take in. Walk with me through Windcliff, Dan Hinckley's garden paradise on the Puget Sound. 

A water feature in front of the Sound

Isn't this blue color amazing? Salvia patens

Pitcher plants, Sarracenia ssp.

I could have shared a hundred more photos of these amazing gardens. This is what makes our garden Flings so wonderful, gardens to die for! Gardeners, that are friends as soon as you meet. Don't be on the fence about coming to a Fling...Come! Join us! 

©Copyright 2025 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet, The Queen of Seaford.

Photo-a-Day Week 14

Our week started off wet, we need rain and were glad to have it! So without much ado, here are the photos for the fourteenth week of the challenge.

Day 90- 

Taking the dog for a walk in the rain with an umbrella is not easy. The business of the walk usually involves bringing a baggie back to toss into the garbage, adding to the juggling of all items while trying to stay dry. I added the challenge of getting a rain photo. 

Wet

Day 91-

As I write this, I have a white dog nosing my arm, wanting to go outside. She has been known to bump my keyboard and hit enter while I am posting something on Facebook. She gets very insistent. This photo of Fiona jumping to catch the disc was taken from a short video. I really like being able to grab a single frame of action. She does like to play! 

Action!

Day 92-

If it isn't gardening, it is pets. Millie loves to snuggle into warm sheets. Every cat we have owned likes to 'help' put clean sheets on the bed. It must be a cat thing, as I have heard from other cat owners that their cats also assist in making the bed.

I love sheets fresh from the dryer.

Day 93-

This little guy was hopping around the flagstone patio one evening. I was able to get a photo of him and keep the dogs from investigating what it was. This toad was about the size of my thumbnail. I think it is a Fowlers Toad but am not certain.

Hop!

Day 94-

I have three Drift rose bushes near the front door. Before we took our trip to babysit our granddaughter, I sprayed a deer repellent on the roses and other deer candy in my yard. They came back about a week later and checked to see if it was still yucky tasting. Many of the flower buds were eaten except this one. Drift rose 'Popcorn' 

First rose

Day 95-

We have glass block in our bathroom and outside the window is a Calycanthus tree/shrub. Every year when it blooms the burgundy and green colors make interesting designs through the window. 

Calycanthus through the window

Day 96-

I keep my lemon tree in the garage in the winter. We have windows on the large garage doors and a side door as well, so it gets enough sunlight. When I brought other lemon trees into the house during the winter I always end up getting spider mites and they do not recover well. I pulled this one out of the garage about a week or so ago. It is full of blooms (and dog hair) and the fragrance is so lovely! You can smell these blooms all the way up the driveway.

Lemon

Week fourteen is done, will hit photo number 100 this coming week. Come back again as the challenge continues. 

©Copyright 2025 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet, The Queen of Seaford.