As I mentioned last month, I was travelling to Minneapolis, MN in July for the 2016 Garden Bloggers Fling. This is an annual event and my 2nd time participating. We explored private and public gardens in Minneapolis, St Paul and even into Wisconsin. Garden Bloggers Fling is an annual meet up of Garden Bloggers from North America and beyond since 2008.
There was so much to see and do and so much to write about. Each garden deserves its own blog post but I know better to promise you that…
Here is my first post with a few of my highlights. I promise to add more soon and if you enjoy these pictures, please follow my Facebook page as I will share posts from my fellow bloggers.
Here we all are on the last morning at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in St Paul.
I learned about the term “Hell Strip” on the first day of the Fling. Here’s a garden in an extremely challenging area and it is thriving.
Minneapolis had been experiencing the same hot dry weather that we have been experiencing. Yet this dry strip between sidewalk and street looked good and established. So it is also salt tolerant as well.
Who would have thought a bed of just irises would looks so good and lush when they are not even blooming.
The garden of Rhonda Fleming Hayes was another highlight for me on day one. Rhonda is a garden writer and author of “ Pollinator Friendly Gardening.”
Here is a peek of her beautifully designed garden, starting with this lovely entrance from the sidewalk.
To her front gardens:
With the garden surrounding the front yard creating a circular lawn!
Now to the fantastic sunny side yard with Cor-ten steel edged vegetable gardens. The wooden willow edging blends into the steel and adds the extra height needed to keep critters out of the veggies.
Lovely stone wall separating the driveway from the raised patio.
Cor- ten steel also makes a unique edging for this stunning water feature. This feature is enjoyed from the patio or from inside lovely potting room.
Wouldn’t this be a great place to putter during our long winters.
Hope you enjoyed this first blog about Day 1 of the 2016 Minneapolis Garden Bloggers Fling.