If your mind is still a blur from all the sensory input even two weeks later, how would you write the stories of the Garden Bloggers Fling? First, we’ll start with some facts:
This year the fling was in Portland, a gardener blogger paradise.
- Three full days of glorious garden touring. We went to seventeen gardens. That’s a lot!
- The first two days were sunny and very hot–yes, in Portland. The last day was cool and rainy, perfect for taking photographs.
- Eighty plus people came. It was overwhelming for this introvert and others I hear, but also, so much fun.
Like other garden bloggers, I’ll tell the stories from the fling with my favorite photos. You can get other fling posts on the Garden Bloggers Fling website. They are linked either under the gardens, or under a miscellaneous category of sorts.
Let’s start with Chickadee Gardens and their creator, Tamara Paulat. I loved her tightly-planted, urban garden located in an historic neighborhood. Tamara and I met at the teahouse in the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Barbara Wise took a photo of us with Leslie Bennett, another of my fave freinds.
Tamara Paulat, Leslie Bennett and I having tea at the Lin Su Chinese Garden. Tamara and I also had the “four keys to happiness” plate. It was interesting.
According to its description in our official handouts, Chickadee Gardens is on a typical Portland lot of 50 x 100 feet. That’s not large, but it does give room enough to be creative with plantings and design. I immediately fell in love with Tamara’s garden when I saw her wildlife and pesticide free certification signs.
Pesticide Free Zone sign–after seeing this, all of the bloggers who garden for habitat and pollinators wanted one.
RDR is also a Certified Wildlife Habitat from the National Wildlife Federation and a Pollinator Habitat certified by the Xerces Society. Chickadee Gardens is certified “gold” by the Backyard Habitat Certification Program (a collaboration between the City of Portland and the Columbia Land Trust.) Tamara plants northwest natives and other perennials in her small space, and the pollinators were in buzzing good health the day we visited. As I said before, it was sunny and hot, and Mr. Sun smiled upon the echinacea teaming with bumbles and honeybees.
Bumblebee on Echinacea Chickadee Gardens
Although her lot isn’t large, Tamara makes the best use of it. Here she is in the green dress coming out of her beautiful and historic stucco home.
Tamara coming out of her back door and into her backyard habitat.
Tamara’s house was built in 1929 and is in the Spanish revival style. It’s adorable. I love her use of color against the white facade. Below are some more shots of Chickadee Gardens. There’s nothing like seeing another’s garden to wake you up about your own plot of Earth.
Certified Backyard Habitats need a water source for birds and pollinators.
Casa de las gatos (House of the cats) is the name of Tamara’s house.
Tamara and her husband collect black cat motifs. Note the name of their home. Love that rain chain.
In front of Tamara’s house. Love her rain chain.
Beautiful cobalt blue for the shed in back. It has a green roof. Cobalt is my fave color.
Okay, that’s today’s Garden Blogger Fling report. Have a great rest of your week.
I thoroughly enjoyed Tamara's garden too. Such a buzzing, flitting paradise! And, she inspired me to plant a Lagerstromia 'Natchez' out front. Can't wait for it to grow big!
I thoroughly enjoyed Tamara's garden too. Such a buzzing, flitting paradise! And, she inspired me to plant a Lagerstromia 'Natchez' out front. Can't wait for it to grow big!
I thoroughly enjoyed Tamara's garden too. Such a buzzing, flitting paradise! And, she inspired me to plant a Lagerstromia 'Natchez' out front. Can't wait for it to grow big!
I, too, immediately was taken by that sign–loved this garden! I’m so glad the organizers included several smaller gardens like this on the tour. They were all so different and so inspiring, showing that you don’t have to have a large space to create a beautiful garden. Tamara was such a gracious hostess, too; the inside of her home was just as appealing as her garden. I even got to meet the feline residents, whose names I’ve now forgotten:)
What a terrific garden, tfs
Stories from the Garden Bloggers Fling: Chickadee Gardens http://t.co/GC0dRlWfLY from Red Dirt Ramblings by Dee Nash
That’s a great garden. Thanks for sharing it. And, the photo of you all enjoying tea is great too.
I love the name "Chickadee Gardens". I have been reading all the different posts on the Fling and it seems a great time was had by all. 17 gardens is a lot to see, but I am sure you had a wonderful Fling.
What a fun place! I’m glad you all had so much fun. Every year I say I hope I can make it next year, so I’m not going to jinx it this time. 😉 Cheers!
That is a wonderful garden, so sad I missed the Fling this year. I was on the waiting list signing up one day late. It is wonderful Tamara has this garden, more should be pesticide free. I am the only one in my neighborhood. I love that sign and will check out her blog.
Oh, I’m so sorry you weren’t able to come. It did fill up really quickly. I hear that Toronto will do the same because there are so many Toronto bloggers. Just a thought for next year. I’m signing up the first day.~~Dee
Thank you Dee for the lovely post! It was a thrill to have everyone over and to be a “Flinger” this year, too!! So glad we got to meet…and for anyone looking for the Pesticide Free sign, here’s a link: http://www.pesticidefreezone.org/
Thanks Tamara for the link to the signs.
pure heaven in this garden….love that sign as well…need to find one that is big so my neighbors get the message!!
Hi Donna, Tamara sent us the link to the pesticide free zone signs. It’s in her comments. Have a great day!
Stories from the Garden Bloggers Fling: Chickadee Gardens http://t.co/NdzEVoXEcQ #garden
Stories from the Garden Bloggers Fling: Chickadee Gardens http://t.co/awWq5xHjQC http://t.co/nOkecxlMy7