A Quintessential Madison Summer Day at The Farmers' Market

When you visit Madison in the summertime, you MUST experience the Dane County Farmers' Market. While we've posted about the market previously, we wanted to make a special note about how we've set aside, in effect, three hours of our Saturday, June 25, schedule for you to roam and explore the market at your own pace. The market opens at 6:15 a.m., and we'll load buses about three hours later.

The Dane County Farmers' Market is a producers-only market, featuring only Wisconsin-grown and produced items. It's hard to put into words what you'll find there, but you're sure to find plenty of snacks, for the moment, and for later in the day...

In addition to luscious, hearty veggies, you'll also find some of these items and more: pastries, meats, cheeses, breads, popcorn, beverages...and the list goes on. Visit this link and scroll to the bottom for a more thorough list: Saturday on the Square. Visit our previous post to learn even more about the market.

Visit this link to register for the Madison Fling!

Register for the Madison Fling!

 

Registration is now open!

To register, fill out this APPLICATION, and we'll send you the link to the registration portal.

Madison Fling Itinerary

The 2022 Madison Garden Bloggers Fling aims to showcase diverse gardens and gardening styles found in the Madison area, and leave you with great memories and new inspirations. We’ve included tours of exceptional private gardens and some of the best public gardens in our area. Our preliminary itinerary, also shared on the 2022 Madison tab above, includes many, but not all, of the gardens that we will visit.

Madison Garden Bloggers Fling

June 23 - 26, 2022

Madison Fling Co-Coordinators

Anneliese Valdes – The CobraHead Blog
Beth Stetenfeld – PlantPostings.com

Any questions? Feel free to contact us: madisongbfling@gmail.com

Madison Fling Itinerary

Get ready to Fling in Madison, Wisconsin! The Madison area is a meeting place: It’s roughly where the Eastern hardwood forests meet the prairies; where the edge of the glaciers morphed the land and melted, leaving a series of five lakes; and where garden bloggers will meet in 2022 for the Garden Bloggers Fling!

While the soil in the area varies somewhat, Dane County soil is among the most productive in North America. Many gardeners here are blessed with excellent silt loam soil as a base for their plantings. While Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, the state also ranks first in the nation for snap peas for processing, cranberries, ginseng, dry whey for humans, milk goats, and corn for silage, among other crops.

So, it’s an excellent place to grow things! And an excellent place to gather and visit gardens together!

Plan to join us for three full days of garden touring, plus an opening event Thursday, June 23, afternoon/evening. Please check here for eligibility guidelines. More details on the hotel, registration, gardens, special events, sponsors, and more, will be posted here in the weeks ahead. All announcements will be posted on this blog and on the official Fling Facebook page.

Just to tease you with a preliminary itinerary (times and places may change):

The horticultural gardens at the UW-Madison Arboretum

Friday, June 24, we’ll start out visiting private gardens and then we’ll enjoy lunch, a short presentation, and tours at the UW-Madison Arboretum, home to distinct garden collections, including horticultural gardens, prairie and woodland restorations, a native plant garden, and more. In the afternoon, we’ll visit more private gardens, and then head to Epic Systems for a tour of the company’s very unique outdoor gardens, led by Jeff Epping, one of the Epic gardens lead landscape designers.

The Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Saturday, June 25, enjoy a leisurely walk around the Wisconsin State Capitol building at the Dane County Farmers Market, America’s largest producers-only farmers’ market. Then we’ll load the buses for a delicious brunch before visiting the award-winning Olbrich Botanical Gardens, voted one of the top 10 most inspiring gardens in North America by Horticulture Magazine. We’ll round out the day with more private garden tours. (Our event banquet and auction likely will occur on Saturday. Stay tuned for updates.)

Sunday, June 26, begins with private garden tours and a trip to Kopke's Greenhouse, a hardy plant nursery, featuring a large selection of perennials, annuals, and garden supplies and ideas. Next, we’ll take a quick drive to Janesville, Wisconsin, to visit Rotary Botanical Gardens, a 20-acre botanical showcase. Private gardens and our final destination—Allen Centennial Garden, in the heart of Madison—will conclude the 2022 Fling. You’ll want to stick around until the very end, because we have a special surprise planned at Allen Centennial.

When Does Registration Open?

Now!

When Should I Arrive?

We recommend arriving on Wednesday, June 22, or, at the latest, by mid-afternoon on Thursday, June 23, so you can attend the Fling welcome event, pick up your name tag and swag bag, and settle in. The Fling ends on Sunday, June 26, with a special surprise that you won't want to miss! We'll have you back to the hotel by early evening. We recommend departing no earlier than Monday, June 27. (To be safe, hold off on making any noncancellable reservations until after you're registered.)

Of course we hope many of you will come early or stay later to see more of Madison's attractions. Stay tuned: We’ll highlight many of them in the weeks ahead!

Hotel

When you arrive in Madison—a vibrant cultural hub of art, music, food, and more—you’ll be staying at the Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club, located at 1 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI, 53703. This is where we'll board our buses every morning and drop off at the end of the day. (A special word of thanks to the Concourse for their willingness to adjust and rearrange plans with us during the past two years of uncertainty!)

Downtown Madison is known for easy walk-ability, bike paths for miles, delightful festivals, an awe-inspiring farmers’ market, dozens of live music venues, world-class restaurants, and art museums—all nestled on an isthmus between two sapphire lakes and steps from the Concourse Hotel.

The hotel is also located just a short walking distance from the pedestrian-only State Street, the State Capitol, and the waterfront summer hangout Memorial Union Terrace.

The entire isthmus is a busy, vibrant area full of opportunities to explore and enjoy!

Each room at the Concourse has complimentary wifi access, making it easy to check in on social media and connect with friends and family. An indoor pool and fitness center are also available if you’re so inclined.

You’ll find contemporary American dining at the CIRC restaurant, which crafts seasonal dishes featuring ingredients from local farmers and producers.

The Bar, located on the first floor near the lobby, offers an extensive wine list, an impressive craft beer selection, and artisan cocktails. In addition, a full-service Starbucks is adjacent to the lobby.

The Concourse offers gathering spaces throughout the lobby—perfect for relaxing and catching up with other Flingers.

State Street is just around the corner from the hotel, and you’ll want to explore this seven-block, bustling pedestrian thoroughfare for shopping, dining, or simply people-watching. We're also planning some time on Saturday morning to explore the Dane County Farmers' Market, conveniently located on the tree-lined grounds surrounding the Wisconsin State Capitol building, near the hotel.

We'll be blogging about all of this in much more detail as we get closer to the Fling. If you're planning on an extended stay, we'll also provide information about additional plant shopping, garden visiting, sightseeing, and entertainment opportunities in Madison and the surrounding area. Consider adding a day or two on the front or the end of the Fling dates.

Our reserved (limited number of rooms) room rate is $179/night for single and double; $189 for triple; and $199 for quad. At registration time, you'll have access to the special rates.

Getting to the Hotel

Driving: If you'll be driving to Madison, hotel parking is available for a special rate for our group of $10 USD daily; valet parking $20 USD daily. Max height 6'. Our official Fling hotel is the Madison Concourse Hotel.

Flying: If you'll be flying to Madison, The Concourse provides complimentary airport shuttle service between the airport and the hotel; simply call the hotel when you’re ready for pick-up. We do not recommend renting a car during the Fling tour days (June 24-26) because we'll be busing you everywhere. A rental car will be useful, however, if you'll be staying in the Madison area longer and exploring beyond the downtown area.

Other options for getting from the airport to the hotel:
    >Rideshare options include Carmel, Uber, and Lyft.
    >Taxis can be hailed outside baggage claim, on the lower level. Estimated fare is $25 USD one way.
    >More options can be found on the airport’s ground transportation page.

(Note: To ensure safety and comfort for all of our attendees, we will require proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as per CDC recommendations for all attendees of this event.)

Thank You, Dedicated Fling Sponsors!

We're re-posting a big "thank you" to the loyal sponsors who've stuck with us for two years during the pandemic. We appreciate you!

We realize the Fling couldn’t happen without the amazing support of our generous sponsors. Thanks to those who’ve agreed, so far, to sponsor the 2022 Madison Garden Bloggers Fling! We’ll continue to update the list and the sidebar as additional sponsors pledge their support.

Bloom Level:
- Proven Winners®
  ColorChoice®
- CobraHead
- J. Berry Nursery

- John & Bob’s Smart Soil
  Solutions
- Bailey Nurseries

- Elizabeth Licata/

GardenRant

- Monrovia

- The Great Grow Along

- Pickle-Wix Web Design

Bud Level:
- DRAMM

Stem Level:
- Botanical Interests
- Bluestone Perennials
- Midwest Groundcovers/
  Natural Garden Natives

- Sandia Seed Company

- Danziger

Root Level:
- Potted
- St. Lynn’s Press
- Teak Closeouts

- Crescent Garden

Seed Level:
- Paw Paw Everlast Label
  Company

In June, two busloads of garden bloggers will descend on Madison, Wisconsin, for three days of inspirational garden touring and networking. As influential garden communicators, Fling participants will blog, Tweet, Instagram, Pin, Facebook, and otherwise spread the word about the gardens on tour and related Fling sponsors to their readerships around the world. Many are leading the discussion of gardening not only online, but also in their communities.

Sponsorships help defray the costs associated with Fling activities, including (but not limited to) garden admissions, catered meals, facility rentals, liability insurance, and transportation. Our sponsors allow more garden bloggers to attend who might not otherwise afford to go.

In appreciation, all sponsor names, logos, and websites are linked to the official Garden Bloggers Fling blog (see sidebar) and acknowledged throughout the Fling event, as appropriate.

Join us as a sponsor of the 2022 Fling! The benefits include:

BLOOM LEVEL $1000+
• Sponsor directory listing - Facebook and website sponsor roll.
• Sponsor directory ad - full-page. Contributions of goods or promotional material for attendees’ swag bags and/or door prizes are accepted.
• Company on signage at one event.
• We profile your business on our website – including information about your business, services and products that you’d like to highlight for Fling attendees.

BUD LEVEL $750 - $999
• Sponsor directory listing - Facebook and website sponsor roll.
• Sponsor directory ad - half-page. Contributions of goods or promotional material for attendees’ swag bags and/or door prizes are accepted.
• Company name listed on shared signage at one event.
• We profile your business on our website – including information about your business, services and products that you’d like to highlight for Fling attendees.

STEM LEVEL $500 - $749
• Sponsor directory listing - Facebook and website sponsor roll.
• Sponsor directory ad - 1/4-page. Contributions of goods or promotional material for attendees’ swag bags and/or door prizes are accepted.

ROOT LEVEL $250 - $499
• Sponsor directory business listing and sponsor rolls on Facebook and website sponsor roll.

SEED LEVEL - Up to $249
• Sponsor directory business listing.
 
SWAG BAG CONTRIBUTOR $50
Swag gift bags are given to, and happily received by, each registered blogger in attendance. Individual items will be required (they don’t all have to be the same, or could be one large item for the dinner raffle). Due to storage and sorting costs, a $50 donation is required to include any promotional material or product in the swag bag.

Thank you, thank you!

(Contact us at madisongbfling@gmail.com to pledge your sponsorship.)

Onward With the Madison Fling!

Rosa rugosa 'Jens Munk,' among the many roses that might be blooming
during our visit to Olbrich Botanical Gardens; just one highlight of the Madison Fling.

As we mentioned in our last post, the Madison Fling planning committee is committed to continuing with our event this June. This Fling may be somewhat different than past ones, but we’re ready to take on the challenge. We’ll be outdoors, vaccinated, and together during a safer time of year, so onward!

Registration will open soon!

If you’ve already registered, you’re all set with a discounted price. No need to pay more. For new registrants, as in the past, early preregistration is offered to former/future planners and board members first. And then, as of 2022, registration opens to not only garden bloggers but also Instagrammers, podcasters, and YouTubers.

Watch for a post soon with information on how to register, who qualifies, information on booking hotel rooms, and more.

How will registration work?
When registration opens, we'll post an announcement here on the website and on our Facebook page. We’ll ask you for specific information, and then we’ll share a link to our registration site and how to register. After you complete your registration, you'll be led to the reservation page for our official Fling hotel, where you can reserve a room at the special Fling rate.

What are the dates, and where will it be held?
The 2022 Garden Bloggers Fling will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 23-26, 2022.

How can I learn more about the Madison Fling?
Visit this link, and stay tuned to this website for updates in the coming weeks.

Stay healthy and happy, and watch for more information very soon!

Still Flinging in 2022!

Dear Fling Friends:

We want you to know that we’re committed to holding a Madison Fling in June 2022, and we plan to open registration after the holidays. Because of COVID uncertainties, we can't know yet if the format will be exactly the same as in previous years, but we do know we're excited to share Madison gardens with you.

Throughout most of this pandemic, Madison’s county of Dane has had some of the strictest mandates in the state and the lowest levels of COVID transmission and illness. Visit this link to see data for the state, including Madison and Dane County.

Currently, Madison is experiencing a high rate of COVID activity. We, of course, hope this won’t be the case in June. Our cases, like those of other Northern communities, tend to peak during the colder winter months when people are more likely to be gathering indoors. With that said, Dane County is one of the most vaccinated counties in the entire country.

Like most Garden Bloggers Flings, most of our venues will be outdoors, which greatly reduces the risk of transmission. We will lean toward decreasing indoor activities from our schedule.

For this Fling, it’s likely COVID vaccination will be required, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. More details on vaccine requirements will be posted soon. Masks likely will be required on the buses and for indoor gatherings (which we will try to limit).

To recap, if you want to know more about the schedule, click on the “2022 Madison” tab at the top of this website, or visit this link: Madison Fling.

Registration for the Madison Fling will reopen soon. If you’re already registered, you’re all set, and you’ll have a discounted price for attendance.

If you haven’t registered yet, we hope you’ll join us! If you have any questions about registration or anything else about the Madison Fling, contact us at madisongbfling@gmail.com. We may not have all the answers yet, but we’ll be happy to discuss our plans.

Thanks for your patience and support! Happy Holidays!

~The Madison Fling Planning Committee