Susan Albert (Lifescapes) and Linda (Herself's Houston Garden)
After a rollicking good time at Matt's El Rancho for a pre-Fling diner on Friday, we spent Saturday morning at the (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center), lunch at Nuevo Leon's, a stop at Natural Gardener Nursery, then to an incredible garden experience at the home of James David.... I am not finished yet.... after a wee rest at the hotel we were off to Pam's for happy hour, conversation, drinks, appetizers (were there ever), and then County Line on the Lake for all you could eat barbecue and visiting.
Here is a taste of the day, I wish that all of you had been there with us. Being with this remarkable group was simply the best time I have had in a very long time. I wondered before arriving if I would feel awkward and guess what, I didn't. Maybe some shyness (!) but it was just so very comfortable. But that is to be expected from gardeners, isn't it!
Can you find the Texas Bluebonnet
Indian Paint Brush (Castilleja indivisa) among the Evening Primrose (Oenothere speciosa)
The sculptural form of the Live oak and giant birdcage are fabulous
A field of poppies totally captivated me at the garden center
David's garden was filled with tremendous architectural and sculptural plantingsand, thanks to Pam (Digging), Diana (Sharing Nature's Garden), Bonnie
(Kiss of Sun) and MSS (Zanthen Gardens) for all they did to make this the best weekend ever!
More posts on this most excellent day to come!
Hugs to all the Spring Flingers and all who where there in spirit.
Gail
Gail, so glad you had a great time. I am really enjoying reading about it from each perspective. Loved your captures! Look forward to more posts on the journey.
ReplyDeleteMeems@ Hoe&Shovel
Meems,
ReplyDeleteIt was terrific and plans are already afoot for the next get together!
Gail
I like those pictures! Especially the one that looks like a Japanese maple and yucca at Daves? So glad you had a good time and welcome back!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics Gail. I was at the Lady Bird Park years ago and it was great. Is that the same place?
ReplyDeleteI know the flowers were great at the Lady Bird Park.
Sounds like it was a fun trip! Those live oaks are very cool trees. I wish I had the space for one.
ReplyDeleteGail, it was so wonderful to meet you in person, I now feel like we are long lost old friends, old in the best sense of the word. You mentioning the shyness factor and feeling so comfortable, that is exactly the way I felt there. It was instant inner contact with one another and it felt great. Thanks for the use of those toe socks! And hubby for the financier.
ReplyDeleteFrances
Gail,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun-sounding trip! It will be fun to see more of what you enjoyed. Glad you were able to go! :-)
Tina,
ReplyDeleteYou would absolutely have loved the whole day...the gardens were fabulous but remain for the most part unrecorded by me, I was just in awe!
gail
jean,
ReplyDeleteyes, same place...so very different from our landscapes...bright, bright sun and vivid hot colored flowers.
Gail
Dave,
ReplyDeleteThey have incredible form don't they? One thing I saw in all the gardens beautifully pruned trees...it really makes the tree form pop...
Can we grow live oaks here? I will find a place for them in the garden,
Gail
frances,
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about you...instant old friends, as you say old in the best way! It is too remarkable that you went to high school with My sweet husband. BTW....your financier was a doll. I am heading over to check out your post, I know it shall be fab!
Gail
shady,
ReplyDeleteI was so hoping you would be there...maybe at the next get together.
Gail
I love these photos, Gail! Paintbrush and poppies were two plants that had me sighing this weekend, too.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good to see your warm smile and hear your voice at Spring Fling.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie,
ReplyDeleteHow kind you are, I met the nicest people and hope to get to know you and the other Flingers better.
Gail
It was all so much fun. I'm really glad to have met you, Gail, and just wish we'd had more time to talk. Those who carpooled together got the most visiting time, didn't they? Next time, a bus!
ReplyDeleteGail - I had so much fun with you and the other bloggers. And you didn't seem shy at all to me! Course I'm not the least bit shy anyway, so how would I know?!! I love that we took the very same picture of that maple next tot he yucca in David Pease' garden -- I thought it was so beautiful - it looked like a light through those trees. Hope to see you again.
ReplyDeletePam,
ReplyDeleteA bus is perfect! I didn't get to talk with everyone and I sure wanted to. You were a fantastic hostess, thank your family for sharing you, your home and your time with us!
Gail
nancy,
ReplyDeleteThere is talk about having the next Fling in Chicago...that puts it a bit closer to you!
There were many bloggers I had hoped would be there...you included.
gail
Diana,
ReplyDeleteI can extrovert with the best of you! But boy do I get worn out, I did sleep well Saturday night. It was a delicious time. Not surprised we snapped the same plant grouping, we have excellent taste;) and it was stunning. wouldn't it be fun to see how many bloggers also have that shot?
Hope to see you at the next Fling.
gail
I love that first photo of Susan & Linda snapping photos. I had the same problem you did - there was so much to see I forgot to take photos of some things. (I do have the same shot of the tree & birdcage sculpture.) I had such a great time meeting you & your husband. Thanks again for the ride to the airport - I found the XXX Habenero sauce for DH.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed meeting you, and talking with you, however briefly. It was a weekend densely packed with experience.
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like fun. Chicago would be much closer to me as well. I'm glad you had a good time. I had a busy weekend too, but not as fun as yours!
ReplyDeletemmd.
ReplyDeleteBy the time we got to David's garden I was on sensory over load...I mean that in a good way...but taking good shots, out of the question!
We both enjoyed our time with you and it was a pleasure to drive you to the airport. XXX is very hot!
Gail
bill,
ReplyDeleteI shall be over at prairie point often to catch up with you!
Gail
cinj,
ReplyDeleteIt was a good time and Chicago will be lots closer for you and other folks in other parts of the world. Won't that be fun?
What did you do this weekend?
Gail
Good morning Gail.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great picture of that gnarly live oak and bird cage.
ReplyDeleteIt was great to meet you last weekend!
herself,
ReplyDeleteit was one of my favorite views...what a great textural combo, steel and wood, smooth and rough... Sorry about the backside shot! I very much enjoyed meeting you...
gail
Tina,
ReplyDeleteAnd a good morning to you! What's on your agenda?
Gail
Thanks for making the effort to come down. I'm amazed that so many people came from out of town and out of state. The participation far exceeded the expectations of those of us planning. We were thrilled, thrilled to have you. I wish I had had more time to talk with you. The day was a buzz of conversations.
ReplyDeleteI love your photos, especially the first one of people crouched down taking flower shots.
It's true that many of us our introverts but no one seemed to feel shy...that's the great thing about knowing each other already through our blogs.
mss,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right we are mostly introverts and what a wonderful bridge garden blogging is to others.
I was thrilled to be able to participate and feel we only got to smile across the room at each other.
Next time, we can talk! Chicago?
Gail
Hi Gail,
ReplyDeleteI'm so very glad you were there--and also there for breakfast on Sunday morning so we could have some time to chat. You and your husband were rather funny talking about how bored he was with the whole garden blogging thing. It so much reminds me of, well, you know who!
I'll let you know how Geneva turns out. I hope the Swiss are nice to me since I'll be sightseeing alone.
Robin at Bumblebee
robin,
ReplyDeleteI stopped by your site and looked at some of your albums, Ben is adorable...next time I'll check out the garden album.
I was so very glad to have some time with you, too.
Gail
Gail, I'm so glad I had the chance to sit next to you at Friday night's dinner and get to know you a little. Love your pictures AND your posts ... that maple was one of my favorite things about James David's garden. (Oh, to be able to grow Japanese maples without having them fry in the heat and humidity!) I have friends in Nashville, so I hope to catch up with you next time I visit there!
ReplyDeletecindy, let me know it would be fun to see you again.
ReplyDeleteYes it was fun at dinner. You know you want to grow maples and I want to grow some of your Texas plants like agaves! Always greener in the next garden!
gail
What beautiful photos you have on your blog! Nashville is one of my favorite places on earth. I love your picture of the giant birdcage.
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure to meet you Gail. I'm glad you had such a good time in Austin.
~Dawn