Leava - I'm truly sorry you won't be able to join us, but tell Jeff HAPPY BIRTHDAY from us all! As every true gardener says: "There's always next year!"

I've been looking for Armenian Yard-Long seeds. Dawn, we would love a couple!

Okay, I'll be bringing a bunch of them.

Yes Dawn that's what I did with them last summer and they were huge. All that went by my house wanted to know what they were.

Dawn, could I get a few cannas? I'm hoping to get a patch of multi colors along my fence.

Dawn, I would love some datura and I can take any leftover fennel. I can always use more, but I'd rather we get more butterfly hosts :)

Sorie, I don't know why they aren't more popular as a hot summer petunia because they endure our heat so well.

Jen, Lisa and everyone else, Alright then, I'll bring everything I mentioned and plenty of it.

Lisa, There will be no shortage of fennel for folks who want to help feed the butterflies. I have potted up six 6-packs of it. We can cut the 6-packs apart if someone doesn't want six plants. If I have time, I'll pot up dill as well. They reseed all over the place (as does the datura) so there's plenty of them.

Dawn

I wanted to come soooooo bad, but my little guys surgery was moved to Thursday so I will be staying close to him and his momma this weekend. Everybody have a blast and I want to hear all about it. Hope I can make next year.

I would love some dill. I let the butterflies have mine last year so they never went to seed. I can't wait till Saturday!!!

I would love some fennel Dawn! I've got lots of dill too if you don't have enough :>)!! I'm with you lovn can't wait till Sat.!!!

stockergal, Oh, I was hoping you could make it, but the little guy comes first and we know that. I hope his surgery goes well and the recovery is smooth. Be sure you let us know how he is doing after his surgery is over, and be sure to spoil him the way a grandmother should.

Kim, I'll pot up dill and bring it. I can't wait either. Did you hear that Whitesboro and Howe had small tornadoes the other night cattycorner across the river from SE Love County? For small tornadoes, they did some pretty big damage.

Sorie, You can bring some dill if you want to! The more the merrier, and I'm bringing 36 fennel plants (they are in six packs but we can cut six packs apart if people want only a plant or two) so there should be plenty for everywhere.

Only a couple of days and our big garden family reunion/pot luck luncheon/garden plant swap/giveway and door prize bonanza will be in progress. That gives us all so much to look forward to, even through tonight and tomorrow's dreary rain.

Anyone who is shy or introverted and who is reading this and thinking they'd like to come but who might feel intimidated about being around a sizable group of people, please, please, please come anyway. I promise that Paula and Ken are absolutely the most perfect, laid-back, easy-going hosts and they set the tone for a perfectly delightful, relaxed, gentle gathering of friends (even if you haven't met these friends in person yet). You can just walk around and collect plants and eat lunch if you want, or you can sit in your lawn chair (if you bring one) and chat in small groups or you can flit like a social butterfly from group to group and try to meet everyone in one day. It doesn't matter what your style is, there's a place at the Spring Fling for you! It is amazing how quickly you go from feeling like a stranger to feeling like you're meeting a long-lost family that you never even knew you had. The love of gardening breaks down all barriers. I've been attending Spring Flings since 2005, and think I've missed either 2 or 3 during that time, and I hated missing every one of them. I think of them now as our annual family reunion.....you don't have to be blood-related to be family.

Dawn

I guess Barbara & I will miss it. Paula can't seem to get my email, although I've sent it twice. Perhaps its because I sent it to her personal email?

No need to miss....!!! Paula will see this and figure something out so we can get you there!
I second what Dawn said - tomorrow should be BEAUTIFUL and you should BE there :)
(now to figure out what to bring and find a lawn chair....my ancient woven ones finally died before they could dump me in the dust, lol)

Sharon

I'll go out and pot up some dill right now!!!

okoutdoorsman I would LOVE to have a pine seedling or two.

cochise, No! Please don't miss it. You and Barbara would enjoy it so much. How about this? Try sending me (via Houzz/Garden Web) the info you're trying to send to Paula, and then I will forward it to her. This forwarding method has worked well for us in some previous years when, for reasons we never understood, certain people couldn't get their messages through to her via GardenWeb, but the messages came through to me just fine. One year we had to forward quite a few messages this way to make it all come together, but I didn't mind it one single bit, and it worked.

I potted up random plants all morning, and will do the same this afternoon. I just filled up a flat with little paper cups half-filled with potting soil and then walked around digging up volunteers and plopping them into the cups. Using this method, I potted up some herbs not on my previous list of what I'm bringing, including tansy, silver tansy, several knds of basil, chives, lemon balm and catnip. Who knows what I'll find this afternoon, but it likely will be more kinds of flowers. I'm pretty loaded up on veggies and herbs, but only have a few flowering plants loaded up so far, so this afternoon is all about flowers.

Please note that I am not digging up and potting up any of the abundant weed volunteers like elm tree seedlings, pigweed, crab grass, knotweed, lambs quarters, etc. Y'all can thank me later for not sharing those with y'all. : )

Dawn

enstanfield@gmail.com

Any hardwood tree saplings, Dawn? (LOL)

Bon, I haven't dug any but I could. It might be better for me to dig and mail them in the fall. It is late now to dig up a sapling of any size and expect it to do well in the summer (unless we have our second wet summer in a row), but in the fall I could dig up and mail you oak saplings---as many as you want and in any size you want.

Dawn

COCHISEINOKC - Cancel those hot plans at the casino on Saturday because I've e-mailed you the map as well as my cell phone number if you need it!!!! We all look forward to seeing you and the Mrs on Saturday! Remember, you'll have to take home your share of the leftovers! hehe!

Paula aka p-mac aka okspringfling

P.S. Thanks, Dawn, for your help and you too, Sharon, for the vote of confidence!!

Okay...will this be rude?

We are stopping by for maybe a half hour right at 11. I'm not bringing food, or plants to share, or a door prize. So, if I just meet those who are there at 11 and take some plants--is that rude? It's not that I don't WANT to bring food and a door prize, etc, it's just that our daughter's graduation party starts at 1 and we have several things to prepare for that as well...and my son's band banquet is that evening.

I just don't want people to think..."hey, who's that rude Hazel Chick just browsing around taking stuff and not bringing anything." (Hazel is unfortunately not my real name, but I'll make myself known to those who are there) My real name is Jennifer. Or Jenny. Or Jen. Hopefully next year I'll be able to participate fully.

Since I just live "down the street and around the corner" from Paula, maybe I can get some of you to come over and assess my garden next year. haha!

Jenn - please know that you even making a few minutes on that Important Saturday an item on your list of things to do is just fine with us. Please don't worry about how it may "seem"!!! Just be here when you can. This whole thing is a "come-n-go"....It's Spring. And it's Saturday. Lot's to cram in to a short period of time. And this goes for everyone else! If you can just stop by for a short period, that's better than nothing at all! We just designate a day and time that we can all try to be together for a short period of time and share.

And I just typed all that as a HUGE May-fly decided to scare the WITS outta me while flying in front of my monitor...yeh, it's spring.....going to double check the locked doors now....

Jenn, Rude? Are you kidding. We will be so thrilled to meet you that we will try to force-feed you from the potluck luncheon (just kidding, we won't actually force feed you) and we'll be loading you up with plants........whether you want or need them or not......cause that is how we roll. We're all garden-obsessed, you know.

This is not a traditional plant swap where a person must bring a plant to formally trade with another person, like I'm trading you a tomato plant for a lilac bush or whatever. This is more like a crazy, wheels-off, no-holds-barred unloading of excess plant material on one another. We just pile up all the plants in one area and everyone can 'go get them'. Our theory is that if it is good for each person to go home with one new plant, then it is better for them to go home with 15 or 30 or 45 new plants. Yes, we are crazy.

From the moment you step out of your vehicle, all we want is for you to be happy, whether you are there for 10 minutes or 3 hours. We're just so tickled that anyone with a busy schedule like yours on Saturday could find time to stop by for a few minutes. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is going to think it odd if you can only stop by briefly. My favorite part of the Spring Fling is not the plants and it is not the luncheon (though both the plants and food always are awesome). My favorite part is just getting to see everybody.

True story: sometimes people who are driving by see all the cars and all the tables filled with plants and door prizes, and they decided to stop and see if there is anything they want to buy at what they presume is a yard sale. We get a big kick out of that! We always are friendly and hospitable and I think we may have sent people on their way with free gifts a few times since we aren't actually having a big yard sale at Ken's and Paula's place. (grin) If we can be that kind and accepting of total surprise visitors, don't you think we'll be even nicer to our dear Hazel? See you Saturday!

Dawn

I have barely been on the forum in over a year but I still can't wait to see everyone! So Hazel/Jen, I would not worry about it a bit.

I'm bringing some monkey grass and irises for redbirdroad. Anyone else want anything? I've got lamb's ear, elephant garlic, maybe some small Mexican feather grass starts, can take rosemary cuttings, and am thinking of bringing a concrete bird bath I need out of my yard. Unfortunately I can't fit bamboo in the car with Sprout's car seat, but if you all want some canes, you know where to find me.

Here we are!!! The Day Before! I can hardly wait! Just a head's up that we've already considered the mud situation and we'll be gathering up a bit closer to the house. With all the rains last year, a large part of the road to our west washed out and deposited several inches of dirt under the redbuds where we normally gather. We're going to put up some shade this year and try to stay out of the dirt. So look for the "tents". There will be the usual signs at the corners letting you know you're close also. I'm also putting a sign out by the road to let you know you've arrived at the right place.

The pork is slow cooking in the kitchen today and it's beginning to smell good! We are looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!!!! Is there anyone who hasn't received a map that needs one?

MiaOKC, I've been watching for a garage sale bird bath for a friend, so if you really want move it along, I can take it off of your hands!

I dug up small amounts of vinca, volunteer yard yarrow, wild violets, and have some pale purple irises from my folk's farmstead up north of Enid. If someone needs more than a little of those items, I can dig some more!

I would love some irises. Please and thank you! !!

So, talk to me about the door prizes - useful? Silly? I know garden/plant/landscape themed...can someone tell us newbies the sorts of things you've had in years past?

I'd love some iris too, especially if anyone has some other than purple. My dad has a bunch that I'm getting this fall, so it'd be nice to mix some other colors in with them.

I've got one batch of vinca dug up for rredbirdroad, but can dig more if necessary.

jlhart what color is your vinca?

Just a FYI, y'all.

A tornado warned cell moved through or near Paula's area a little while ago. She is fine. However, her power is out so she may not be online tonight if the power company cannot get the power back on quickly. I just wanted to let y'all know she is alright so no one will be worried.

If you have questions about the Spring Fling, post them here and some of us old-timers will try to answer them.

Dawn

I hope ms Paula gets her power on soon. Unfortunately, Luva basil and her comfrey have to be in a makeup class tomorrow and will not be there. For those who wanted comfrey, I can mail in fall, or meet you soon if u r near okc. Have fun everyone

Paula's power is back on.

Kate, Door prizes can be anything......funny, serious or in between. Some examples of past door prizes: small gardening hand tools, gardening gloves, gardening hats, bottles or bags of organic fertilizer, hummingbird feeders, garden art of any and all kinds, books, calendars, metal hoops and row cover, pruning shears, watering wands, homemade soap, homemade gardener's sugar hand scrub, painted gourds, garden marking pens, bird feeders, canning supplies, bird houses, kneeling pads, garden signs, homemade salsa or jelly, flower pots or soft sided fabric planters, seed-starting soil-less mix, packets of seeds, etc. Anything you can argue relates to gardening/eating what you grow/feeding the birds, bees and butterflies, etc. is fine.

Honestly, sometimes half the fun is oohing and aahing over the cool door prize ideas. People can get really creative....and every now and then we look at one of the door prizes and say "what the heck is that?" It is great fun, and whatever you choose to bring will fit in just fine with the wide selection of other creative ideas. The door prizes just add another little dimension of fun.

Dawn

We just got home from vacation (the weather made the drive from black mesa to Cleveland county pulling a trailer take much longer than expected!). I'm afraid I only had time to dig up some of the world's most tenacious oregano to swap. I will swing by the grocery store tomorrow to pick up some food to bring. Can't wait to see everyone!

I didn't know vinca came in different colors. The vines are mostly green with white splotches, and the flowers are a purple blue color.

JLhart76, I think there is variegated vinca (sounds like what you described) and then there is a plain green I've seen.

Kate, I will be happy to earmark the birdbath for you. It's a heavy concrete beast.

I won't be bringing as many plants as I had planned. The hail had quite a party at my place last night. The only thing not shredded was trees and babies I had in the car with me lol. All is well and I will be hitting the road at 4. Headed y'alls way!!!

Power back! And the pulled pork just finished cooking so I'll be up and pulling early in the morning. There are several things I planned to do to prepare and wow everyone...but ya know what? It is what it is. I've got the basics covered and that's all that matters. Yes, we'll be on higher ground this year so don't look for the gathering under the redbuds out by the road. That is currently McWherter Pond. Look further up the drive. There will be our traditional Witchy Greeter out by the road to tell you that you've arrived. (Note to self - do not wait until the day before the Fling that you take off work to finish preparations. Mother Nature will jack you UP. Seriously. Whatsa matta wit you?!)

And a warm kuddos to our Dawn and Bon for keeping me propped up with texts and messages tonight. On that note - I"m toast. All you that are attending have my cell and it will be in my back pocket as of about 7 AM. Peace out and can't WAIT to see you!

Paula aka p-mac aka okspringfling

And I just learned that our okoutdoorsman was hit hard by tonight's storms. VisionFarms still gets the majority of our extra's - but I think we should save a few plants for Bruce - he needs a few plants to give him "happy place" while he rebuilds. I don't mean a full-blown garden...but a few tomatoes and peppers, maybe flowers...to give him and his Mrs a "grounding" spot. Low upkeep but "keeping his fingers in the dirt". Suggestions and contributions welcome.

Luvabasil, I'm bringing 3 comfrey -maybe that will help. Sorry to hear of all the storm damage - Edmond escaped again.

On my way !!!!!!

I know you all are having fun. Wish I was there.

Just got home, had to leave the fun early. But I'm pretty sure I have more than enough plants to keep me busy all summer.

Fabulous event once again. Thanks OKspringfling for hosting and everyone's generosity and camaraderie!

I made it home with some of the korean squash and armenian cukes. Do these both need vertical/trellis support? Or just the squash?

Amy, It was great but we missed you and wished you had been there with us.

Jen, I would hope so! If you didn't take home enough plants to keep your busy, then cleary that means you must take home a lot more next year.

Mia, They both do vine and do best on a trellis. However, you could let them sprawl if you want. With the Armenian cukes, I grow them both ways....letting each plant climb or spray as it prefers, and get a great harvest either way. With the summer squash plants that are C. moschata, they vine wildly and will do so whether on the ground or climbing something. I find them easier to control on a trellis.

In lieu of a trellis, how about an extra large bamboo teepee for each plant? I can just picture a certain little Sprout playing inside each teepee this summer.

Dawn

Lol, I'm starting fresh, which means a small garden this year. Plus I'm not sure of the location, so I didn't want to build a big garden if I have to move it next year. So this year is my trial period, next year I'll have to bring and take more.

"More" is our motto.

It was a great day!

Thank you for being so nice and welcoming and for all the plants!

Lisa, thank you for remembering that I asked for coneflower way back. It's already planted.

Also, thank you (to whoever brought them) for the milkweed, the ancho poblano pepper, the pink lemonade honeysuckle, the Korean summer squash (Dawn?), the supersonic tomato, and the striped cucumber. :)

Thank you, Paula, for hosting.

I'm sorry that I could only stay for a few minutes, but it was nice to meet a few of you.

Jen, It was just wonderful to meet you and your DH too after we have chatted online so much.

It sounds like you took home a nice selection of plants and, yes, I did bring the Korean summer squash. I believe it is the ultimate solution to growing summer squash without having to fight the squash vine borer wars.

I hope your day went well after you stopped by the Spring Fling. You certainly had a full schedule on Saturday.....and now you know why the Spring Fling is such a highlight of our year.

Dawn