Blog- Fling- Blog- Fling- Blog

These past two years of COVID-19 have really gotten us out of the swing of things. This summer it is time to get back to what we love. We garden bloggers have been gathering together for years, going on what we call Garden Bloggers Fling. It started as a Spring Fling, but the calendar allowed for spring into summer trips, depending on the location of that year's Fling. You can read about my Fling experiences by clicking on the labels at the bottom of the post. 

This year's Fling will be in Madison Wisconsin. We will gather as gardener bloggers and leave as friends. The Fling will be June 23- 26, 2022. Our hosts Beth and Anneliese have a great line-up of gardens to visit. They have worked hard, first for the 2020 Fling, cancelled because of COVID, then moved to 2021-again COVID had other plans, and now 2022!! Registration is now open. The Garden Bloggers Fling link is here. 

If you are a garden blogger or Instagrammer, you are one of us! Come and join the ranks of Flingers. The details are here, on our Garden Blogger Fling page. While there you can explore some of the previous Flings, see what fun we have and all the great folks you will call friends. 

The sponsors are great supporters of our Fling. They help with costs of putting on the Fling and also share some of their products. You never know, you might come home with a new tool, a great plant, or a wonderful garden themed gift. (the rose pictured below was a donation from David Austin roses that I won!) 

Questions about the Fling? Ask me in the comments. You can also go to my Queen of Seaford Facebook page and ask there. On the fence about going? We have fun, the gardens are ALWAYS amazing, and the friendships are wonderful. Are you a garden blogger or have an Instagram page that focuses on gardening? We would love to meet you! Come and join the fun. 

©Copyright 2022 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

I Left My Heart......

Well, you know the rest of the song.... in San Fran-cis-co...... What a trip.  For those who don't know, the Garden Bloggers get together every year for a Spring Fling.  Last year was the first time I was able to go.  It was close by in Asheville, making it very convenient.  This year it was in San Francisco.  My first time in California and boy did I feel like I was in a NEW place!
My trip started quite early, up at 2:30 AM and off to the airport by 3 AM.  Traveling from SC I went through Charlotte, NC, changing planes and meeting up with fellow blogger and traveling companion, Daricia.  We got into SF mid-morning CA time.  Lucky for us we were able to check into our rooms early.  After dropping off our gear, we took to exploring the city and finding a spot for lunch.

View from my hotel window

 I felt a little like a country bumpkin, in awe with all the sights.  I was on the 25th floor and the views were incredible.

View to the right from my window- Bay Bridge in sight!

 The architecture in the city was wonderful -- look at this great detail work, remember it is at the top end of the building.

Lunch was at a Tea House in Yerba Buena Gardens.  What a glorious spot to sit outside and enjoy the day.

 The planting material was bold.  Here by the water feature was a large grouping of Cyperus papyrus.  

Walking around after lunch we found some green spaces, little nooks where one could sit, relax, and enjoy nature.  Daricia and I were drawn to the purple blooms.  So many of the plants we were seeing were new and unfamiliar to us.

A courtyard nestled between some tall skyscrapers.

 See what  I mean?  Isn't this an unusual bloom?  Gorgeous, love the color, but I don't know what it is.  Soon the jet lag was bringing out the silliness.  THIS is a California plant.

This a rare California Bird.  

 

We walked all the way down to the water to the Bay Bridge.  What a beautiful sight.

This is certainly a city on a hill.  We must have walked about 3 miles, along the waterfront, then heading back up to the hotel.  The Customs House and Port Authority buildings were stately.   There was a market along the street by the piers, bustling with activity.

There were so many interesting things to take in, plants, buildings, carvings, people, and landmark sights.

urns/ pillars flanking a doorway, just amazing

Color 

 We met Julie at her hotel and wandered around Chinatown.   There were a couple shops with bronze sculptures...this one caught my eye.  Wouldn't this go well with my mermaid?

Julie was in a different hotel the first night and it was right at the edge of Chinatown, half a block from the Dragon Gate.  We took advantage of the location and explored Chinatown.

Dragon Gate, entrance to Chinatown

Lanterns and colorful decorations really added to the scenery.

I really like the top of this church.   I am not sure which church it is, somewhere in Chinatown vicinity.

Sightseeing around San Francisco needs to be a trip unto itself.
 Did I see Fisherman's Wharf? No.
Ghirardelli chocolate factory? No.
Ride a Cable Car? No.
Go to Alcatraz? No.
Go across the Golden Gate Bridge? YES!
The bridge was encased in fog, making it difficult to see it.  Seems as though every sighting of the Golden Gate Bridge there was fog.  Surprise.

Everyone on the bus was trying to capture the perfect picture of the bridge. 

My camera battery was low and blinking red as I tried my hand at getting the perfect photo --- one chance to get the shot!

While traveling across one of the bridges we could see Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Bay.  Traveling by bus, I was turned around as to where we were.   Like the California birds, California plants, we were IN California....let's leave it at that.  

Another day, another view of the Golden Gate Bridge.  The fog was really something to see, hanging on the bridge.

Riding to another garden, even the cement walls were fun to see.  

I felt like I was in total tourist mode, in awe of all around me.  This was just an introduction to being in San Francisco for the Garden Blogger's Spring Fling.  Stay tuned for the gardens we toured.  We arrived on Thursday and returned Sunday night on the red-eye.  It was an action packed garden filled weekend.

©Copyright 2013 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

Wrap-up and Nightlife

I can't believe  I still have Spring Fling pictures to share with you, my readers.  I will make this a  final post on this wonderful gardening experience.   

After we got back from the mountain gardens Daricia and I decided we wanted to go to the North Carolina Botanical Garden.  It was a beautiful evening and I am so glad we went.  Some told us that many of the spring blooming ephemerals had bloomed early due to the early spring weather.  We found a lot to enjoy nonetheless.  It was super walking through the garden with Daricia, she is very good with her native plant IDs.

Corydalis sempervirens

Ferns and Heuchera in rock crevices

Iris in the pond near entrance

Silene virginica, blooming in many areas

Polygonatum (possibly commutatun)

Goat's Beard, Aruncus dioicus

Perfoilate Bellwort, Uvularia perfoliata

The final day, Monday we walked to Nan Chase's garden, stopping en route at the White Gate Inn.  This garden, on a corner lot, in town, was just incredible.

Lots of mixed foliage with lots of color and texture interest

Loving these giant leaved hostas!

What a colorful birdbath, nestled in the shade with ferns and hostas and other goodies

Imagine my delight when I saw all these beautiful pitcher plants in this amazing pond element.  The sounds of falling water hides the traffic noise, you forget you are right on the street.

Complete with Koi

I think this is the perfect water feature!

Nan's garden was amazing.  Hers was truly an edible yard!  In addition to the gardens, her house was most interesting.  The siding was bark, tree bark.  She and her husband chose poplar bark shingles to finish their house.  Bark shingles last about 80 years and are a 'Green' product, salvaged from timber operations.   They have a high insulation value-- what a choice!!  

Peonies mixed in with lettuces.

Love artichokes 

Full view of the bark shingles. 

Sadly, it was time to walk back to the hotel, the weekend's festivities had come to an end.  On the way back, walking past the White Gate Inn we saw the totem pole we missed earlier.

Did I say the festivities were over?? Well, not completely.  Lisa Wagner opened her home for us to come by and visit.  She has posted pictures of her garden boxes many times, it was fun to see them in person.

A favorite Penstemon, viewed a few places on our tours.
 Penstemon pensham 'Amelia  Jayne'

Our trip wasn't all gardens, we explored Asheville and dined with new friends. 

The Carolinas meet Texas!

from left to right- Julie Growing Delights, me, Daricia A Charlotte Garden, Pam Digging, Diana Sharing Natures Garden and Vicki Playin Outside 

Listened to the Drum Circle

Amazing!

Enjoyed street musicians

Loved all the sculptures throughout the streets.  

And absolutely LOVED the artwork on the side of the building---

Homage to The Bloggess

Thanks for taking this trip with me.  It was such a great time; super gardens, great people, wonderful camaraderie, and photo - ops galore!!  I hope to do another Garden Bloggers Spring Fling... next year is San Francisco.


Many of you know our daughter's big day was this past weekend.  Now that I am home will be getting back to reading and commenting ---

 it was a perfect day!

Time to add 'Alexander the Great' daylily to
the family garden!

Beautiful decorations---

©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.