Spring Fling Notes & Comments: The Final Edition

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Here we are, roughly 24 hours away from our big gathering. I started this new thread so we'd have less comments to wade through (at least for those of us who are all caught up on everything from yesterday.)

So, here goes. Remember that our Spring Fling plant swap/potluck lunch is at the Clear Bay Point pavilion at Lake Thunderbird State Park and Bruce posted directions to Clear Bay Point a couple of times on the other thread....once very close to the end and at least once near the top.

Ticks are bad at this time of the year, so if that worries you, bring your favorite insect repellent. Much of the area where we will be is concrete or asphalt, so that should help. However, if you think you're going to wander off the beaten path.....you probably will need repellent.

What to bring:

Yourselves

Your plants

Some sort of container in which to gather the plants you intend to take home

Your door prize if you are participating in the door prize giveaway

Money to feed the kitty so that Bruce isn't paying for the pavilion rental all by himself.

Whatever food you said you'd bring. Maybe we all could list what food or beverage items we are bringing here, one more time, so everyone can see it and also, so if there's any gaps or obvious things missing, it will become apparent and perhaps someone can then volunteer to bring the obvious missing thing.

Folding lawn chairs if you intend to sit in comfort.

An umbrella or light rain jacket if the 20% chance of rain bothers you. (Down here, we have the same 20% chance but for us it is supposed to be no earlier than mid-afternoon. If any of you in the OKC area have heard timing on the rain up there, please let us know.) Thankfully a 20% chance of rain is a pretty slim one.

If you bring pets, they must be leashed.

We will have an area set aside for reserved plants labeled with the name of the recipient, so remember to put reserved plants there, and also to search that area for plants somebody is bringing for you.

If you have any last minute plant requests, please list them here.

If I have forgotten to list anything we all need to remember, please list it here.

Now, I'll go first:

Tim and I are bringing the ingredients to make S'mores and a bowl of fresh fruit. Of course, we're also bringing plants, and if you have previously requested a specific plant that I have, your name will be on it and it will be in a 'reserved' flat. There are plenty of non-reserved plants too. We're bringing ourselves, door prizes and money to feed the kitty. We currently have no plans to bring pets or small children, though we adore both.

What about the rest of you?

What are you bringing?

What new plant requests have popped up in everyone's minds since last night?

If there are any questions, please ask them here. If you have a last minute issue tomorrow, you always can get hold of pretty much any of us via Facebook or through the FB gardening groups.

Oh and one more thing: Bruce, thank you SO MUCH for taking on the burden of planning and organizing the Spring Fling this year. Your efforts are so very much appreciated.

See y'all tomorrow!

Dawn

Featured Answer

Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author

5 years ago

Jennifer, We're just glad you and Tom can make it for a little while and I am glad you are not trying to bring food as well. You have too much going on this weekend.

I do think that Moni has a schedule conflict and will miss this gathering. We'll miss her and Kim. Maybe next year we will have the whole family together again.

Don't worry about plants that look beat-up. It is Oklahoma in the springtime. Plants that are beat-up are the norm.

See you tomorrow!

Dawn

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Comments (27)

hazelinok
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I am only bringing Tom and myself. Along with coleus.

Nancy, Mia, and Rebecca have coleus with their names on them. There’s extra for the

“ free for all” table. They look a little beat up from the wind but they should be fine. Mine in the flower bed looks great and suspect these will too.

Does anyone know if Moni is coming? I thought I saw that she is unable to come to this one.

Looking forward to seeing the early birds! Am sad that I may miss a few of you.
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Paula, I'm bringing cookies too because when I was at the store this afternoon (likely while you were posting that you picked up a tray of cookies, lol), I was hungry and cookies sounded good. : ) I'm also bringing a big bowl of mixed fresh fruit. I bought red seedless grapes, green seedless grapes, pineapple, strawberries and 3 kinds of melon. Of course, I'm bringing Tim, door prizes, $$ for the potty and a few plants as well. I won't list every type of plant I'm bringing, but there's 8 flats of plants so far, including: -- about 100 tomato plants (representing virtually all the varieties on my 2014 Grow List) --five kinds of sweet bell peppers---mini bell peppers that mature to yellow or red and full-sized bells that mature to red, orange or yellow --the smallest hot pepper plants y'all ever will see but they are only a month old and fully hardened off---just tiny. They are mostly jalapenos (Early Jalapeno, Gigantea, Grande', Big Guy and probably Biker Billy), There might be an Ancho Gigantea plant or two in the flat of hot peppers. --some herbs, including Smokey Bronze Fennel, Florence Fennel, "Vierling" Dill for sure and some sort of basil, I think...and maybe some parsley --some flowers, including Outhouse Hollyhocks (mixed colors), Rose Mallow, Lion's Tail (tall, mint family, orange flowers) and Balsam. --A flower used more like an herb, specifically as a tea plant. It is Hibiscus sabdariffa and the calyx's from its flowers are used in tea--they put the Zing in Red Zinger tea. I mostly grow it just because it is a beautiful plant. I won't know until we load up the car in the morning if there's room for more flats of plants, but if there is room, I'll cram in some more plants. Looking forward to seeing everyone and so happy the severe weather won't start up until the Spring Fling is over! Dawn
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Paula, Thank you and Ken both for hosting the the event and for putting up with all of us! I missed the ones who couldn't make it this year too. Maybe next year those of you who were not there this year will be able to attend. OKBev, Yes it was. You should have stopped by for 5 or 10 minutes to say hi and meet everyone! Mia, I know you couldn't stay for long, but am so glad you were able to come. You brought so many goodies and all that bamboo did find a new home. I hope next year your schedule allows you to stay a little longer. Chandra, Thanks for everything, and especially for being the photographer who documents our big event. It was so great to see your family members there with you. Sheri, It was so lovely to meet you after all these years of chatting online and e-mailing. I truly appreciate that you drove a great distance to be with us. I hope the trip home was uneventful. Carol and Al, Thanks for the mushrooms. I'll be cooking up all kinds of delicious dishes with mushrooms this week. Y'all are so kind and it is appreciated so much. Jo and Seedmama, I appreciate all the extra work you two do to make the event special for the children who are in attendance. I promise to bring something for all the kids next year. All the rest of you....and I am not going to list names for fear I'll accidentally leave someone's name off the list....it was so wonderful to see you all again and to hear about what's going on in your gardens and yards!!!! I am so impressed at how much work some of you have done to enlarge your gardens and to build new raised beds and complete other projects. Meeting all the darling children and grandchildren was a special highlight of the day. Those of you who garden with your children and grandchildren are so fortunate to be able to share your gardens with them. The weather was pleasant and mild, the plants were bountiful and beautiful, the food and drinks were delicious, the conversation was fun and insightful, the door prizes were amazing in their diversity, and the fellowship was superb. How lucky all of us are to have one another! If you are new and this was your first Spring Fling, I know it is hard to walk into a gathering not knowing a soul and I appreciate that you were brave enough to show up. Now that you've seen and met your new extended gardening family, I hope you'll come back every year. I remember that my first spring plant swap in 2005 was a little overwhelming---so many new people and so many plants and I didn't even know where to start.....gathering plants or meeting people or what. We did it y'all! We made it through another big gathering, and I hope everyone who was looking for plants to fill gaps in the veggie gardens, yards and flower beds found something they wanted. I know it is a huge amount of work for everyone to dig up plants, tubers, etc., take cuttings, pot up volunteers, etc. I appreciate so much that we have such a caring, sharing bunch of folks. I really feel like the Spring Flings help us get to know one another better and make us a more close-knit group. Dawn
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okoutdrsman
5 years ago
May I make some last minute requests? I’ve been scrambling trying to catch up and honestly haven’t had much time to look at available plants.

Nancy, red bee balm

Mia , irises

Dawn, 4 oclocks, lemon balm, sage , chamomile

Jen H , oregano, mint
jlhart76
5 years ago
Got you down for oregano and mint, Bruce. Considering you gave them to me last year, it seems fair I give some back lol.

I plan on bringing deviled eggs, door prize, and my share of the kitty fund. We have a client coming tomorrow so the husband can't make it, and it's not really fair to bring one of the furry kids and not the others so I probably eill be alone.
Rebecca (7a)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I am bringing myself, no cats.

I have mini sunflowers for HJ. I have to go back and look for anything else. Please remind me If I promised you something.

Veggie slaw and chocolate chip cookies.

I don‘t own a folding chair, if anyone has extras.
AmyinOwasso/zone 6b
5 years ago
We have tortilla chips and a fancy bean dip. I have tomato plants that include a Heidi for Rebecca. I believe there is at least one additional Heidi, a Baker Family Heirloom, Sioux and or Super Sioux. I have honestly forgotten what I put in the SF tub!
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author
5 years ago
Bruce, I'll set aside those plants for you with your name on them.

Rebecca, A cat on a leash would be so cute, wouldn't it, but I don't know any cats that tolerate leashes---certainly none of ours do.

Jennifer, I found more LB petunia seedlings sprouting in the garden today so can bring you one of the older ones because I know I'll have the tiny ones left to carry on.

One important note about sharing plants. One year, George (MacMex) lost all his tomato plants to a late freeze when the temperature dropped to 32 despite having a forecast low of 50. (This happened to him almost one year to the day after it happened to me. OK weather is crazy---who in their right mind ever would expect a freeze when the forecast low is 50????) Anyhow, somebody (might have been Carol? Amy?) had some extras of one of his favorite heirloom tomato varieties, Baker Family Heirloom, and they were able to give those to George at the Spring Fling just a week or two after his froze. Because this is a plant that has a special sentimental connection to George, it was so important that he was able to receive those plants that year. I always think of that when we are sharing plants....you never know when some sort of plant that you gave away will find its way back to you again, coming full circle. I think that is the coolest thing.

Dawn
gardendragonok
5 years ago
Got a nasty cold and won't be able to make it tomorrow. If I can, I will arrange for the plants to make it anyway.

Miss you all!

Andria
Nancy RW (zone 7)
5 years ago
I don't know how I'm going to get Lil Smokies done, truck loaded, and outta here by 7:45 a.m., but that's the goal. And I apologize in advance for plants I dug up that won't survive and for any I've forgotten. :)

Andria, I'm so sorry for your cold! Don't worry about plants. . .don't worry about anything, just get better soon.

That was a sweet story about George's Baker Family Heirlooms, Dawn. Furthermore, I'm buying a cat harness straightaway. First cat to be okay with it and a leash wins a big reward.
OklaMoni
5 years ago
Yes, I can't make it... sorry.... all promised plants have found other homes after the rescheduling... and I will be fine without the ones from my wishlist.

Hopefully I can be there next year.

Don't eat to many little smokies... LOL

Moni
jlhart76
5 years ago
I feel for y'all that have to get up early. Can't wait to see everyone, & we'll miss those who can't make it!
Nancy RW (zone 7)
5 years ago
Everyone should feel very very very sorry for me. In fact, I think everyone should donate their gifts to me. You have no idea, guys, what it takes to get me out of the house before 8 a.m. (Of course, there is always the chance I won't make it. Always the chance I'll sleep through my alarm. In THAT case, I will send your plants, HJ, with Elizabeth, and she'll have to contact you. LOLOLOL)
Rebecca (7a)
5 years ago
I have the directions down, but couldn’t see the linked map on the other thread, so hopefully I’ll do a better job getting there on time this year than last.

I have a list of stuff to not forget. And a full tank of gas. And a frozen water bottle and caffeinated beverage for morning.

And pain meds. I picked a great time to flare.
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author
5 years ago
Andria, We will miss you very much and I do hope you get over your cold quickly.

Moni, We'll miss you too and hope to see you next year.

Jen, Well, we are used to getting up early since Tim's alarm goes off at 5 a.m. daily. He is getting to sleep until 6 or 7 a.m. tomorrow, so he is happy he gets to sleep in. I usually stay up later, and am up later tonight again, but the vehicle is all packed up and loaded with everything but the food we're bringing so I won't have a lot that I have to do before we leave in the morning. Well, there will be cats, dogs and chickens all demanding to be fed, but that's just part of the daily routine and either one of us can deal with them with our eyes closed and one hand tied behind our backs.

Nancy, So, you're not a morning person? I used to be a morning person, but as the years go on, I am becoming more of a night owl late in life. It is weird because it isn't really an intentional choice---it just seems to be happening.

Rebecca, I probably should make a list like that. However, when I make lists, I always lose them or forget them so they end up not being as useful as I had hoped. I hope your flare is not too bad or too prolonged.

Since most of what we need already is in the vehicle, I have everything else piled together in the kitchen on the counter so I will see it when I go in there to get the fruit out of the fridge. Surely if I see the stuff, I won't walk out the door without it, right?

I kind of dread the alarm going off in the morning, so I need to go to bed soon. What's worse than having the alarm wake you up when you're sleeping well? Ha, the answer is to not hear it and sleep through it. So, either we'll be on time....or not....but we'll be there!

Dawn
p_mac
5 years ago

So sorry to be late to the party but WE WILL BE THERE! chicken taco meat is in the crockpot! Sorry, Rebecca - dang it. It's not GF. Bringing the fixings to go with ANNNND....the door prize tickets w/bucket, a big box of plastic utensils & plastic ware, paper plates, table covers if needed, and anything else I suddenly remember. No plants....because I'm living vicariously thru you all this year for a garden. Moving from 2 and a half acres down to .27 is a challenge!!

I don't know how we've carved out the time but DH insisted that if we don't - I'll kick myself all year. He's so smart! See some of you tomorrow!!!

Paula
Lisa_H OK
5 years ago
I have most of the prep work done for the cornbread salad. I have plant tags made and ready to be stuck in the appropriate containers. Thanks for ththe reminders about the chairs! Hopefully it sticks in my brain until morning!
okoutdrsman
5 years ago
I don’t think anyone has mentioned drinks?

I’m bringing an ice chest and a couple of cases of bottled water.
MiaOKC
5 years ago
Iris request noted, Bruce! I’m getting ready to go back through the other threads and note requests.

i will bring 2 liter drinks - not sure what all I’ve got but I’ve got a bunch I’ll throw in a cooler. Will bring cups and a roll of paper towels too. Anyone on plates and utensils yet?
MiaOKC
5 years ago
I’m sorry you’re sick, Andria! I know it’s a big letdown to miss our favorite party all year. Want us to swing by on our way outta town?
MiaOKC
5 years ago
Also, my brother sent me this today!
okoutdrsman
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Mia, Nancy said they cups and plates covered.

There a Dollar General not too far from the pavilion in case we forget something.

Hopefully the forecasted breeze will help with the mosquitoes.

Here‘s the map link again, just in case.

http://www.mobilemaplets.com/showplace/4677
MiaOKC
5 years ago
Great, I missed that. I’ll take cups off my list. The only other plant request I had was irises for Rebecca, so I’ve got that covered, too!
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author
4 years ago
Mia, I sent Bruce that photo this morning just to make sure his day got off to a great start.

We are getting ready to leave the Oklahoma outback down here in southern OK to head up there to the civilized territory. It takes us a while because we always get lost when we get north of the Arbuckle Mountains. It never fails.

See y'all in a few hours.

Bruce, If there's anything you need us to pick up last minute on the way up, message me.

Dawn
Nancy RW (zone 7)
4 years ago
Yeah, I am allowing 1/2 extra hour for being lost. I didn't sleep through the alarm and here we come, leaving now!
Eileen S
4 years ago
I will bring a beverage cooler of non-sweet tea and some slow-cooked spicy pulled pork. As well as plastic utensils and cups that Nancy mentioned. See y’all in a bit!
Nancy RW (zone 7)
4 years ago
So far, forgot door prize, folding chairs....

Non sweet tea.....Good job, Eileen!
Nancy RW (zone 7)
4 years ago
Yay, got new door prize!

Spring Fling Notes & Comments: The Final Edition

Okiedawn OK Zone 7
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Comments (27)

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Spring Fling Notes & Comments: The Final Edition

Okiedawn OK Zone 7Original Author

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