Any long-time Partiers recall Pinky the Traveling Flamingo?

12 years ago

Due to a number of life style changes and several moves over the last 15 or so years, I have not checked out the Garden Party in a LONNNGG time. There still must be some folks around from that time... :-) I tried doing a forums-wide search but found no reference to Pinky (or Pinkie, either).

Anyway, back in the mid-1990s, someone started a plastic garden flamingo on a journey, and "Pinky" began an around-the-world adventure to Partiers all over. People could put their names on a waiting list and eventually Pinky would arrive at their door in a box along with her travel journa. Photos of her adventures would be posted somewhere, or go into the box with her.

A new friend has invited me to a Flamingo Party, which set me to wondering if any are still in this forum that enjoyed a visit from Pinky. As for me, I have a big box of unsorted photos in a cardboard box I just brought down from the attic. I need to find my Pinky photos to take to the party March 3!

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Comments (8)

anneliese_32
12 years ago
I was not a member then, just reading once in a while, but I remember the Flamingo. No idea what happened to it.
User
12 years ago
Here is a post from 2008 that mentions pinkie and also has some pictures. Many popped into this thread that have not been seen for some time.

Here is a link that might be useful: What happened to the old GP days?
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Hi old friends, Been a long time and just lurk now and then. Lots of changes, home, state, gardens and friends, but always think of my GP friends. I had to look up my old password, and realized that my AARP, Medicare passwords are easier to find than GP! LOL Especially this time of the year I visit LindaC in my mind, Suzi, Andi, Liz and Robert. Ruth Anns, newly painted bathroom and the pergola was a story that still makes me smile. I recently shared the Dogs in Elk, with friends that they read as they went elk hunting and they laughed till they cried. Tammy was a trip and would never attend our swaps in N. CA although she was invited. I miss my old CA friends and hope that Maggie and others drop in to say hello. As you may remember, we moved after 40 years in CA to our home state of WA. Exchanged the Salvias and Cannas for Ferns and Rhodies. We love our new life and being with the hundreds of relatives has been wonderful. At the time of my son's illness your prayers were so important and he is now the founder and director of his own foundation. Middle son is now here with us in the PNW and husband is retired. I brought plants with me especially those from trades on GP and from the Get-together. That was one of the most fun events I have ever attended and Robert knocking on the motel room and saying 'Candy Gram' was one of the funniest moments of all. Linda, I use chicken wings for my soup and everyone loves it. What a lot of fun we used to have. Dicken, he is in my heart and I still cry when I reread the emails from him. It was a sweet time and life is far more busy now that we are with all our families. Have a wonderful spring, we are still in freezing nights here in Seattle but the ferns and Rhodies are happy. Here is the link to my son's website for those who remember Ron. Here is a link that might be useful: Ophoenix.org
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Actually the Hornbaker idea might be a worthwhile day trip for you. It's a great place to visit and I get clumps there all the time, but I go over, have never mail ordered from them. If not this season yet, next season as their early, Early-mid ect are blooming. As you enter you pass the iris beds (you might like that next season as you can go out and pick out what one likes and then have it shipped or come back and pick up) and then the daylily beds. If you follow the road up you come to the shrub and perennial potted section. One could even bring a potted blooming perennial down to the daylily beds and walk around and see how things look together. They are great people, great products and I was just there a week ago for some late bloomer. Did not go up and see what was up in the perennial section this trip though as it was daylilies I was after. You can view their daylilies online and also they have their perennial list available to view online also. Are you might enjoy an outing sometime over by Rockford to Robert Ellison's place, he has some nice ML and L bloomers ( some of his are at Hornbakers too)
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west_gardener
12 years ago
Oh, I sure remember Pinky, as I recall, the last sighting was in Australia.
rob333 (zone 7b)
12 years ago
Australia?! The original Pinkie? Will it come back here? That flamingo is also "before my time", but any die hard GPartier knows about it.

I hope it shows up for your party!
calliope
12 years ago
Of course I remember Pinkie. She stayed with us for two weeks, as I dragged her pink carcass over over the county taking pictures of her. Her baby was named Dianthus. Pinkie went to visit down under and never returned. It may have been "FOWL" play. LOL
lindac
12 years ago
Another Pinkie rememberer....but never a host. I think Pinkie went to a gt once or twice....
I still have a flamingo sweater bought with Pinky in mind and worn to a GT or so...
Saw it in a spare closet and thought I really should get rid of that.....then thought...naaah!! LOL!
weedlady
Original Author
12 years ago
I am "tickled pink" that Pinkie is still in the hearts & minds of some of us! LOL
A special thanks to don_socal for the link, "What happened to the old GP days?" Wow, what a stroll down memory lane! Neat to hear some of the names of folks I still remember, and have a bit of an update on where they are now.
I had drifted away from the gang before Dicken passed on to the Eternal Garden...so sad to read that.

Spent the better part of a morning going thru the box of old photos I have but found only a few pictures of Pinky. I had taken her to a Civil War re-enactment on our little town in SW PA where she met with the brave nurses that traveled with the troops. Among the photos I had was one of her on a makeshift table with a nurse in costume dressing a "wound" on Pinkie's leg. :-) Had another one of Pinkie being held by a slightly bemused modern-day EMT that was also there, and of course several pics of her among the various pink flowers in my garden. Unfortunately, I found none of these better pictures. Cannot imagine where I put them for "safe-keeping" but someday when I least expect it I imagine they will surface!

Anyway, thanks to those of you who responded, and for the pleasant nostalgia trip! Best wishes to all GPers for a terrific gardening year. CK
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
Well, I sure am glad I stopped in for a quick visit and discovered this post! What a wonderful trip down memory lane!

Loved reading the older post, too. I'm happy to report that Robert and I are doing great! It seems like he took pictures of Pinky during her ill-fated visit with him...I'll see if he can resurrect them.

Love to you all...and I'll be sure to post more often.

Dorie

Any long-time Partiers recall Pinky the Traveling Flamingo?

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anneliese_32

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Any long-time Partiers recall Pinky the Traveling Flamingo?

Comments (8)

anneliese_32

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