2017 Capital Region Fling Registration Info

I'm having a party! Are you coming? I hope so! Here's everything you need to know about registering for the 2017 Capital Region Garden Bloggers Fling. The Fling will be held from 6 pm Thursday, June 22 to 8 pm Sunday, June 25.

COST: 

Registration is $300 and payable with all major credit cards. I'm using Eventbrite to manage our registration and there is a $17 processing fee. You also have the option to add-on a wine tasting at Stone Tower Winery. Only those who have purchased this prior to the Fling will be able to participate. We'll be having lunch at Stone Tower and they'll be setting up a special tasting just for us in the beautiful event space we've reserved. Wineries are busy places on summer weekends so purchasing this ahead of time guarantees you a chance to sample our amazing Virginia wines. 

If you'd like to add the wine tasting, it's available on the final 'Pay Now' page. You also have the opportunity to Opt-In to receive information from our sponsors. This is an excellent way to learn more about these wonderful companies. Only registrants who have Opted-In will have their email given to our sponsors.  

HOW DO I REGISTER?

Registration opens at 12 noon on Saturday, October 15. To register send an email to Tammy@capregiongardenbfling.com. In the email, include your name, a link to your blog, and how long you've been blogging. I'll visit your blog to make sure it's at least six months old and includes at least one post written on or after April 15. If there's an issue, I'll email you back. If not, you'll receive an email from Eventbrite with an invitation to our private registration page. Early registration is not available unless you have previously sponsored a Fling. 

CAN I REGISTER FOR OTHER PEOPLE?

No. Registration has been set up to allow each blogger to only purchase one ticket at a time. If you write your blog with another person, they'll need to register separately.

IS THIS FLING MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE OTHER FLINGS?

No. While our registration is higher, we've been given an excellent room rate of $159 a night at the beautiful Hyatt at Reston Town Center, which is lower than previous Flings. The Hyatt also offers a free shuttle from Dulles International Airport, eliminating the extra expense of a cab. The Thursday night Welcome event will feature a full dinner instead of just appetizers, courtesy of the amazing folks at American Meadows and High Country Gardens. These savings reduce the cumulative cost of the Fling, making it the same as previous Flings.

WHEN CAN I BOOK MY HOTEL ROOM?

Once your registration has been confirmed, I'll send you an email with the link to the Fling-only Hyatt registration site. A code has been applied giving everyone a special rate. If you reserve your room before being given this code, you'll pay a much higher rate. If you want to extend your stay, the Hyatt is offering the same rate on June 21st, 26th, and 27th based on availability so book the extra days as soon as possible to avoid paying the standard rate. 

Party in the Capital Region! Are You Coming?

We're having a party and you're invited! The 2017 Fling will be in the Capital Region and we want you to come! The 2017 Fling is open to garden bloggers from around the world and will feature amazing gardens in Washington DC, northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland. It's going to be awesome!

Here's the scoop:

What are the dates/times and who can come?

We begin at 6 pm on Thursday, June 22 and end at 8 pm on Sunday, June 25, 2017 Any garden blogger with a blog at least six months old by the registration date that contains a minimum of one post written on or after April 15, 2016 is welcome to join us.

What do you do at the Fling?

Think of the Fling as the ultimate garden tour. You'll be surrounded by other gardeners as passionate about gardening as you are. Bloggers are interesting, intelligent, creative people and visiting gardens with them is an incredible experience. Have you ever wondered about the people behind your favorite blogs? This is your chance to meet them! 

Enjoying lunch by a lake at the 2016 Minneapolis Fling. Photo by Helen Battersby

Ok, so what are we going to do at the Capital Region Fling?

We'll be visiting the amazing Smithsonian gardens along the  National Mall in Washington DC. You'll have several hours to self-tour this area which will probably include a bathroom break in one of our world famous museums.  We'll also be visiting the incredible US Botanic Garden as well as a few other fabulous DC gardens. Did you know there's an urban "farm" right in the middle of DC?

In Maryland and northern Virginia, we'll be exploring amazing private and public gardens as well as visiting a very cool local winery. There will also be an opportunity to shop at one of the premier nurseries in our area. Check out this interactive story map for a sneak peek into our itinerary!

There are twelve Smithsonian gardens along the National Mall. 

What is the Capital Region?

The Capital Region includes the surrounding suburbs outside DC that are home to most of the people who keep the nation's capital running. DC is a small city and doesn't have enough space to house everybody who works there. Waking up in Virginia, commuting into DC, and then popping into Maryland is very common. Believe it or not, you'll probably lose track of what state we're in while you're here. One of the unique characteristics of the Capital Region is its geographic diversity. Within 45 miles of the White House you can find numerous historic towns such as Arlington, Alexandria, and Annapolis, world class wineries, beautiful farm land, and views of the Chesapeake Bay and Blue Ridge mountains.   

Did you know there's a house in Maryland with a sidewalk in DC?

When can I register and how much does it cost?

Registration opens at noon (Eastern time) on Saturday, October 15, 2016. The cost is $300 and is payable through all major credit cards. Registration is expected to fill up quickly so mark your calendar so you don't forget! 

How do I register?

As soon as registration opens, send an email to the Capital Region Fling committee that includes the following info: Your name, how old your blog is, and a link to your blog. We'll quickly confirm that your blog meets the registration criteria and will send you a response with a link to our invitation-only Eventbrite site to register for the Fling. Once you've registered through Eventbrite and your payment has been processed, you're all set! 

Where can I find this information?

About two weeks before registration opens, We'll post a reminder on the Garden Bloggers Fling website as well as on the blog, Casa Mariposa. There will also be information available in the Facebook group. We'll post the email you'll use to contact us on October 1 but won't begin responding until noon (Eastern time), Saturday, October 15. To make it fair for everyone early registration isn't an option unless you have previously sponsored a Fling. 


What does my registration fee cover?

Your fee covers the expenses related to the Fling including admission and transportation to each garden, fresh from the farm appetizers at our Welcome! party on Thursday night, and lunch on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as dinner on Sunday. You will pay for your transportation to the Fling and your hotel expenses. We're staying at a beautiful Hyatt at the Reston Town Center and have been given a special Fling-only room rate. There will be multiple opportunities to win incredible door prizes supplied by our sponsors so leave some space in your suitcase for all the swag.

We'll be traveling in air conditioned comfort thanks to the luxury coaches and mini-buses of Reston Limo.

Are we going to be visiting Casa Mariposa?

Yes! While Tammy's garden doesn't compare to the others we'll be visiting, it's her pleasure to welcome you to the Casa! We hope to see you there.

Are you coming?

Minneapolis Fling: So Much to Write About...

2016 Minneapolis Garden Bloggers Fling group at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in St. Paul.

The 2016 Garden Bloggers Fling is over, and the tired but exhilirated bloggers have gone home to sort through hundreds (thousands?) of images and digest all that they have seen and learned about northern gardens. We'll be sharing their posts here. For real-time information about the Fling, check out our Garden Bloggers Fling Facebook page or look on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #gbFling2016. (The photos will blow you away!)

The Fling was organized by Amy Andrychowicz, Kathleen Hennessey and Mary Lahr Schier. You can check out our itinerary, our terrific sponsors, and more information about gardening in the North on this blog. Now, on to the posts!

MINNEAPOLIS -- THE CITY AND ITS GARDENS

• Highlights of the Minneapolis Fling by Garden in a City 
• Gorgeous Gardens Dominate 2016 Garden Bloggers Fling in Minneapolis by Sharing Nature's Garden
• Fling, Flang, Flung by Woodchuck Acres
• Busy Flower Visitors on Swamp Milkweed by Natural Gardening
• Some Fling's Up at the Casa by Casa Mariposa 
• Minneapolis' Courthouse Plaza by Toronto Gardens
• Garden Bloggers Unite! by American Meadows 
• Minneapolis Water Features Great and Small by Commonweeder 
• Garden Bloggers Fling 2016 by Nature Hills Nursery 
• Scenes from the Minneapolis Fling by Digging 
• Why Garden Hats Matter by Notes from Northern Gardener
• Come Sit with Me in these Gardens by Toronto Gardens 
• Color FULL Small Gardens by More Than Oregano 

FRIDAY, July 15

• Creating a Focal Point at Hearts and Ivy by Toronto Gardens
• Cor-ten Beauty in Rhonda Fleming Hayes' Potager Garden by Digging
• A Twin Cities Fling, Part 1 by Plant Postings 
• Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden by Wills Family Acres 
• Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden by Recreational Gardener 
• Minneapolis Garden Bloggers Fling, Day 1 by Shovel-Ready Gardener 
• Our Recent Garden Trip to Minneapolis, Day 1 by Ravenscourt Gardens 
• Noerenberg Memorial Garden and Carmichael-Kelley Home Garden by Digging
• 2016 Garden Bloggers Fling, Day 1 by Down2Earth
• Eloise Butler Gardens by Floradora Gardens 
• Eloise Butler Wildflower Gardens by Homegrown
• Peacefulness in Minneapolis by Rebecca's Retreat 
• Noerenberg Memorial Gardens by Garden in the City 
• A Gardening Couple's Magnificent Obsession by Garden in the City 
• Day 1 Highlights on the Still Growing podcast 
• The Garden of Rhonda Fleming Hayes and Bachman's tour by Adventures in My Garden 
• Ideas for Designing with Vegetables by Toronto Gardens 
• Lyndale Park Gardens by Adventures in My Garden 
• The Studio Garden of Donna Hamilton by Adventures in My Garden 

Springwood Gardens Daylily Farm was a favorite stop.

SATURDAY, July 16

• Garden Bloggers Visit Vera's Garden by Notes from Northern Gardener
• Springwood Gardens Daylily Farm by Digging
• Minnesota Landscape Arboretum by Digging 
• Dynasty Drive flowers and bonus hosta garden by Digging
• Celebrate July's Profusion in the Garden by Toronto Gardens 
• I Went to the Woods and Saw Walden Road Garden by Digging 
• Dotty Over Monarda Punctata by Toronto Gardens 
• Will Fine Plastic Netting Deter Deer? by Toronto Gardens 
• Twin Cities Fling, Part 2 by Plant Postings 
• This is an Espaliere Belgian Fence by Toronto Gardens 
• Garden Tour: Day 2 by Ravenscourt Gardens
• Day 2 Highlights on the Still Growing podcast

What a pretty vegetable garden!

SUNDAY, July 17

• Lotus Position, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory by Toronto Gardens
• What Makes a Japanese Garden by Woodchuck Acres
• An Enchanting Gate by Natural Gardening
• Woutrina de Raad's Sculpture Garden by Toronto Gardens
• Design, Plant Collections and Larger Than Life Sculptures Dominate Fling Garden by Sharing Nature's Garden
• Making Fish Box Troughs by Toronto Gardens 
• Como Conservatory and Japanese Garden by Digging 
• Elegant Garden of St. Paul Writer Marge Hols by Digging 
• Inspired at Squire House Gardens by Digging 
• Garden Artistry at Woutrina De Raad's Sculpture Garden, Part 1 by Digging 
• Magical Mosaics in the Garden of Woutrina De Raad by Digging 
• A Twin Cities Fling, Part 3 by Plant Postings 
• Day 3 Adventures on the Still Growing podcast

 

Planning Your Trip To Minneapolis

I know we've thrown a lot of Fling info at you over the past few months, and it can be hard to find all the information you're looking for. So I thought I'd put together a list of important links and information you'll need for making the final arrangements for your trip to Minnesota next week.

Minneapolis skyline

Communication

#hashtag

Our hashtag for the 2016 Garden Bloggers Fling is #gbFling2016. Please be sure to use that every time you post something about the Fling on your favorite social media site. It's a great way for sponsors, garden owners, and fellow Flingers to follow along on our adventures.

Facebook Group

Also it's important to note that all of our communication during the busy days of the Fling is done through our Facebook group. If you're coming to the Fling, but you're not a member of that group yet, please click here and request to join. Then turn on the FB notifications, and keep your eyes peeled for important announcements from now all the way through the Fling (and afterward as people start posting pictures and blog links about the Fling!)

Important Links

• Things to Pack and What To Wear
• What will we do during the Minneapolis Fling? 
• Itinerary Preview
• Thursday evening Welcome Event  

Hotel

• Info about our hotel for the Minneapolis Fling and parking

Transportation

• If you are flying in, there is light rail service from both Twin Cities terminals (Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) and Terminal 2 (Humphrey)) to downtown. You'll take the train to downtown Minneapolis, and then get off at the Warehouse District/Hennepin Ave Station. This station is on 5th Street N, between Hennepin Ave and 1st Ave N. Once you get off the train, you'll go northwest on 5th St toward 1st Ave and turn left onto 1st Ave N. The hotel is 1.5 blocks from the Transit Station between 6th St and 7th St, on the left side of the street (right across the street from the Target Center). Taking the Light Rail is super easy!

• A cab ride will cost about $35, or you can take an Uber.

• Driving directions to the hotel are here.  

Minneapolis Central Library (location for our Thurs eve Welcome Event)

Food

Some of your food will be provided, but not all of it. Below is a list so you know what to expect (the meals in bold/italic font are the ones where you'll be on your own).

Thursday:

• Appetizers and beverages at our welcome event
• You're on your own for dinner (if you're still hungry after the welcome event)
  

Friday:

• You're on your own for breakfast 
• Lunch
• Snacks on the bus
• Appetizers and beverages at happy hour
• You're on your own for dinner

Saturday:

• You're on your own for breakfast 
• Lunch  
• Snacks on the bus
• Banquet Dinner

Sunday:

• You're on your own for breakfast 
• Lunch 
• Snacks on the bus
• You're on your own for dinner

 

Your hosts for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Garden Bloggers Fling: 

Please remember that each Fling is planned, coordinated and run by volunteers - this is not our full time job. So please, please be patient if you experience any glitches during the Fling. We'll do our best to make sure everything goes as planned - but with every BIG event, there's always something, right? So, patience and understanding are always appreciated!

• Mary Schier of My Northern Garden
• Kathleen  Hennessy of 29 Minute Gardener
• Amy Andrychowicz of Get Busy Gardening!

Thank you!

Thursday Night Welcome Event!!

Our Thursday night Welcome event for the Minneapolis Garden Bloggers Fling will be at the Minneapolis Central Library. One of the reasons we chose this location for our welcome event is because it's a short 7 minute walk (3 blocks) from our hotel (or a 5 minute walk from the train station).

But the main reason we chose it is because the Minneapolis Central Library is a beautiful building (and we wanted to show it off)! Built in 2006, the Minneapolis Central Library is a fairly new addition to our beautiful city. Because of it's gorgeous, award winning architecture, the Minneapolis Central Library has been named one of the 50 most beautiful libraries in the world. (The library also has a green roof, but unfortunately it's not open for tours. Super bummed about that!!)

I would share a link to their website, but it's totally unimpressive!! Instead, you'll have to wait and see it for yourself. :-)

Thursday Evening Welcome Event

Location: Minneapolis Central Library - 300 Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis
Time: 5:30-8pm
Refreshments: Appetizers, beer, wine and other refreshments will be served
Attire: Anywhere from casual to dressy

The room is located on the 2nd floor on the north side of the building. They will post directional signage in the elevators and at the bottom of the escalator to make it easier for us to find the room.

We will plan to meet in the hotel lobby for those of you who are walking from the hotel. If you want to walk with the group, meet in the lobby between 5-5:15.

Or you can just meet us at the library. Since it's so close to our hotel, you can come and go whenever you want - so there's no rush to get there exactly at 5:30. Of course, you can leave the event early if you want to grab an earlier dinner (but you have to eat your fill before we let you leave, so that might spoil your appetite! LOL!).

For those of you who are driving... there are two levels of parking located beneath the Library. The parking ramp entrance is on 4th Street (across the bus and bike lanes) between Hennepin and Nicollet. The ramp is directly below the library.

Will we see you there?