Aug 24, 2016

Party in the Capital Region! Are You Coming?

We’re having a party and you’re invited! The 2017 Fling will be in the Capital Region and we want you to come! The 2017 Fling is open to garden bloggers from around the world and will feature amazing gardens in Washington DC, northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland. It’s going to be awesome!

Here’s the scoop: What are the dates/times and who can come? We begin at 6 pm on Thursday, June 22 and end at 8 pm on Sunday, June 25, 2017 Any garden blogger with a blog at least six months old by the registration date that contains a minimum of one post written on or after April 15, 2016 is welcome to join us. What do you do at the Fling? Think of the Fling as the ultimate garden tour. You’ll be surrounded by other gardeners as passionate about gardening as you are. Bloggers are interesting, intelligent, creative people and visiting gardens with them is an incredible experience. Have you ever wondered about the people behind your favorite blogs? This is your chance to meet them!

Enjoying lunch by a lake at the 2016 Minneapolis Fling. Photo by Helen Battersby

Ok, so what are we going to do at the Capital Region Fling? We’ll be visiting the amazing Smithsonian gardens along the National Mall in Washington DC. You’ll have several hours to self-tour this area which will probably include a bathroom break in one of our world famous museums. We’ll also be visiting the incredible US Botanic Garden as well as a few other fabulous DC gardens. Did you know there’s an urban “farm” right in the middle of DC? In Maryland and northern Virginia, we’ll be exploring amazing private and public gardens as well as visiting a very cool local winery. There will also be an opportunity to shop at one of the premier nurseries in our area. Check out this interactive story map for a sneak peek into our itinerary!

There are twelve Smithsonian gardens along the National Mall.

What is the Capital Region? The Capital Region includes the surrounding suburbs outside DC that are home to most of the people who keep the nation’s capital running. DC is a small city and doesn’t have enough space to house everybody who works there. Waking up in Virginia, commuting into DC, and then popping into Maryland is very common. Believe it or not, you’ll probably lose track of what state we’re in while you’re here. One of the unique characteristics of the Capital Region is its geographic diversity. Within 45 miles of the White House you can find numerous historic towns such as Arlington, Alexandria, and Annapolis, world class wineries, beautiful farm land, and views of the Chesapeake Bay and Blue Ridge mountains.

Did you know there’s a house in Maryland with a sidewalk in DC?

When can I register and how much does it cost? Registration opens at noon (Eastern time) on Saturday, October 15, 2016. The cost is $300 and is payable through all major credit cards. Registration is expected to fill up quickly so mark your calendar so you don’t forget! How do I register? As soon as registration opens, send an email to the Capital Region Fling committee that includes the following info: Your name, how old your blog is, and a link to your blog. We’ll quickly confirm that your blog meets the registration criteria and will send you a response with a link to our invitation-only Eventbrite site to register for the Fling. Once you’ve registered through Eventbrite and your payment has been processed, you’re all set! Where can I find this information? About two weeks before registration opens, We’ll post a reminder on the Garden Bloggers Fling website as well as on the blog, Casa Mariposa. There will also be information available in the Facebook group. We‘ll post the email you’ll use to contact us on October 1 but won’t begin responding until noon (Eastern time), Saturday, October 15. To make it fair for everyone early registration isn’t an option unless you have previously sponsored a Fling.

What does my registration fee cover? Your fee covers the expenses related to the Fling including admission and transportation to each garden, fresh from the farm appetizers at our Welcome! party on Thursday night, and lunch on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as dinner on Sunday. You will pay for your transportation to the Fling and your hotel expenses. We’re staying at a beautiful Hyatt at the Reston Town Center and have been given a special Fling-only room rate. There will be multiple opportunities to win incredible door prizes supplied by our sponsors so leave some space in your suitcase for all the swag.