If the Garden Bloggers’ Fling in Austin, Texas was a movie, it would win an Oscar for best picture.
The “production company” of local Austin bloggers put together a script that included events and gardens that kept us entertained and delighted from Thursday evening all the way until Sunday evening.
Under their direction, we drove around the city in comfortable, air-conditioned buses with two of the best bus drivers you could ask for checking out gardens of all shapes and sizes.
Like any great movie, there was drama, provided not by people but by Mother Nature who decided to make Friday a rain day.
Rain day? Such an understatement. This was Texas, so it was a Big Rain Day with deluges of rain that would soak a fish and drown a toad. But then the sun came out and the gardens glistened.
There was a great cast of characters, too. 92 similarly garden-obsessed bloggers, all with cameras and smiles. Most of the lines in our fling movie were ad-libbed and included lots of “Wow”, “What is this plant?”, and “I want this in my garden.”
We were all sad to see our fling movie come to an end. We lingered at the end to give credit where credit was due, set to the sounds of a live band, before heading off to the buses where we received one last reminder to “shut the bins up”, lest some purchase or plant fall out of the overhead bins as we headed up South Congress St. toward our hotel.
Fortunately, a new movie, another fling, is just around the corner, coming in June 2019, where a new production company is writing a script featuring gardens and events in Denver, Colorado.
Can I buy my ticket now? I don’t want to miss another fling!
Oh, I so want to make this event! Reading your post-thoughts, makes me want to attend even more! Thank you for sharing, Carol!
I enjoyed talking with you at Lucindas' Carol.Your BloomDay brings so many gardeners together. I hope the Garden Fairys didn't reek too nuch havoc while you were away.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the "movie," Carol! It was great to see you in Austin again, a decade after the first Austin Fling. Thanks for coming.
It was fantastic to see you again, Carol, and I feel exactly the same way about the Fling. It was an award-winning performance by the Austin team.
Yes an Oscar should be awarded to the Austin Fling team of producers and gardeners. It was a wonderful event.
I am going on put this on my list for next year. Sounds amazing>>>
It was a very uplifting movie! It is my 5th sequel. See you in Denver!
I knew this movie would be the best of the best. Glad you enjoyed it.
Wasn't it just fab!? So glad you attended this year Carol, and I'm glad to read you're thinking about Denver.
So true, well said and I feel the same way. It was wonderful and we are sad (Jen Dennis and I) that we had to leave early on Sunday. *SIGH* what a great group of people to be around for four days. Just amazing and the Austin team – outstanding! Such hard work and it really showed.
Just WONDERFUL. The one thing I'm sad about is that I didn't get to talk to everyone as much as I would have liked. We should have all mixed which buses we took each day. I can't believe it's over for another year already!
I LOVED this Fling/movie. The “production company” outdid themselves in Austin, and I found myself constantly surprised and delighted by eack different garden. After five Flings, it was a pleasure to finally meet you, too, Carol!
So many bloggers I didn't get a chance to chat with, like you! Guess I'll have to go to Denver…
It was wonderful, wasn't it?? This was my 4th and the "production" never fails to delight and inspire.
It was lovely meeting you Carol and will be keeping an eye out for your Garden Bloggers Bloom Day…you know, now that we're BFF's and all 😉
I loved your enthusiasm during the raffle! The fling was such an enjoyable experience. As Tamara said, she and I were sad to leave a bit early on Sunday..but it was great fun while it lasted!
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Well said, Carol! Among the INNUMERABLE moments and beauties, I will remember Sheryl our bus captains's sense of humor and "Shut the bins up!"
I found out about the fling via twitter and really hoping to go next year in Colorado. I followed through social media and it looked like so much fun even with the rain!