Dave's Garden Party

I kinda like that title, Sir Knight...I may just keep it! But it just doesn't fit with the black stuff ( I have no idea of what), I have all over my hands, that keeps getting on everything I touch! I feel more like "Pig Pen" than Empress!

How about Empress MainsNoires of the South Seas, maybe?

I have a friend whom I lovingly refer to as The Regal Strong Woman of the Everglades. She is a sweetheart. She keeps a loaded shotgun by each door. That way, she's always ready to shoot those pesky 8-foot alligators trespassing on her property. She then summons her neighbours and they butcher the unfortunate saurian (MM, MM, Good: I'm addicted).

They then throw the head into the bush where the ants pick and clean the bones clean. They use the head to make a lamp. I wish I had such a luminary in the living room, were it not for the Loyal Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition's imperious veto on the motion. A polar bear's life is not always easy.

Sylvain.

You may have all the titles you may want as long as you remember...I am Queen of Everything and Princess of Quite A Lot.

Good Morning.

I am, always was, and always will be a polar bear. Clever eskimos fear me. I eat the rest of them sooner or later.

Sylvain.

Look! everyone, I was able to have my photo taken with this celebrity!
The Queen E herself!

You stinker! hahahaha

I'd love this! - It would be awesome to meet some of my friends from Dave's - they all so scattered. 2009 is a great idea - gives a chance to save for it. If I can save enough moolah, count me in! If it's in Texas, please plan it so it's not in tornado season (I have a prob with those) :-)

LOL....
I have alot of family from Spokane...(I'm from Seattle)
I actually went to boarding school in Spangle for about a year..in 19 somethinganother...

Are we going out of state for the Garden Party ... I would love to go to IOWA. :)
Dave should try for a convention in a different state every year, as i like to travel :)
Ok so I am off topic...lol

This message was edited Dec 30, 2007 12:53 PM

RJ- you must be SDA? I grew up Seventh Day Church of God and went to boarding school at SVA in Owosso, MI - 1983 grad. Glad to meet you! What is your name? (can't tell by your dave's name).

that's where it get's complicated. I sat keep it in Texas where Dave is, since it's his party. But I only speak for myself.

Don't care where...gonna be there!

Ding ding ding!! Yes, was SDA- Our family were missionaries in W. Africa, and I came back to the states my senior year to go to boarding school...Yes, we were so stoked when we got to go to the big city of Spokane!

My trusted GPS tells me there are 1,238 milles from here to Houston. Oy... I'll be flying to wherever it is the event is held. Drive or fly, I'll be there. Of course, that's unless it is held in Florida. Yeah, like THAT's going to happen. Have Party, will get there.

Sylvain.

I just found this thread and missed out on this last party! RJ, there won't be a party without you
gail

City_Sylvia--I second the motion for Iowa! :-) I'd be interested in knowing what sparks you're enthusiasm for my home state.

Actually, there is a lot happening in Iowa, gardenwise. Many great gardens to tour. Lots of history. I'd be more than happy to open our gardens to a Dave's party. South Amana is one of seven villages comprising a former German-speaking commune. Our gardens contain species brought to this country from Germany in the mid-1800s as well as much newer, cutting-edge perennials. We are listed on the National Register of Histortic Places and with the Smithsonian Institution as a National Heritage Garden. If you and other Dave's denizens would like further info, please visit my blog at http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/m/LarryR/ and click on the Cottage-in-the-Meadow Gardens tab.--Larry

Main entrance to our gardens:

Larry, read every word of your journal about the garden. My parents visited there in the early 80's and talked of the beauty the rest of their lives. Could you perhaps d-mail some information for accomodations.
As of this morning, DG posts over 342,000 members and 6600+ subscribers.
This is gonna' be a biiiiggggg party.

Keep those cards and letters comin'!

Christi

Christi, I'll be there! I already have a separate savings account set up for the party..... uhhhh..... travel expenses! Can't wait to meet everyone in person. This is SO kewl! :-)

Barb

Will do, Christi. Larry

Lou, I have a little teasing to do! I hope you don't have your heart set on those 342,000 members coming??

Hi Barb--Nice to hear from someone in Huntsville, AL. My wife, daughter, and I lived there for six years back in the 70's. Absolutely loved it! It was exciting to get to garden in a different zone. I especially liked the fact that I could pick daffodils on my Jan. 31 birthday (most years, anyway). Best--Larry

An early-flowering tulip in our gardens, but definitely not on my birthday!

LARRYR...I have good Hosta buddies in Iowa, matter of fact I will be there in May Diann (Ticker) invited me. ...besides it sound like a gardeners haven to me. ...and you are right, you guys do have a lot going on there! I talked to healthcare rep there once, I mention gardenig and he went on and on .... got me really excited ...even told me where to stay. just asked Diann if I should book my hotel now....but its the airfair that I got to worry about.

Sylvia

See...this is what I am talking about. We are all so anxious to just talk to each other. Gail, I am thinking really positive. These are passionate people and they can make anything happen when it comes to our plants.

"An optimistic gardener is one who believes that whatever goes down, must come up."


Christi

You are enthusiastic and I love it!!

Spread the word....leave the link....

Keep those cards and letters coming..

Hi Larry! Nice to meet you! I've been in Huntsville for 8 years now and really love the mountains. Sure is different from coastal south Florida. I look forward to meeting you and your family in '09.
This is going to be great!

Barb

Barb--Just got back from a New Year's Eve dinner and dance. Eight years, eh? We lived there for six years and the population turnover was so great that we were considered natives! LOL Larry

Just a thought, as this sounds like so much fun.. many will have to fly to whatever location this ends up at. Flights are usually cheapest to airline hubs. Might make a difference to many people. What a cool idea!

iowa sounds great--never been there --just not in the winter please!! wouldn't hawaii be something--way too far--way too expensive--just dreaming! never been there either!

I realize a lot of people love Dallas but that is the only city in Texas I haven't been to since my daughter was in boarding school there in the 80's. Perhaps I don't like the city as I have never learned my way around easily. Navigating around Austin, San Antonio and Houston is like being at home.

I, personally, would love to have it in Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida or any southern state unless we could go west to California.

Maybe a place in the center of the continental US. And in late spring/early summer, before it gets too hot.

St. Louis is right in the middle, hint hint.

i do not mind St Louis, but since it is outside the 500 mile mark that Dave requested, perhaps we could have it in Springfield, MO.... there is lots to see and do ... and there is always Branson close by... Springfield is still not too large a town while being big enough to accomodate the number of folks we will have...

If I had a vote, it would be for Springfield, MO... :)

Springfield is a lovely area.

Thank you, Cathy... I do not live there but am only a couple hours away... I shop there when I can...

I would be willing to do a lot of footwork to help out if it is selected...

listening.....

I would love to see this happen LouC, and I would be glad to help however I could... I am good at organizing, and can make calls and do research... give me a task or several ... If you want info from/about Springfield: tell me what you want...

Spring is a hard time to leave for gardeners but fall is easier. I don't blame anyone for not wanting summer. Missouri is only a 12-16 hour trip from here. That sounds fine with me.
I am just messing around talking about it *lol* as I don't have strong feelings about the location at all.

You could have a contest . . . have people that want to offer their state as the site put together information of what would be offered or available and submit it on ONE thread. Then have a voting booth for members to vote on the location.

Oh, Planolinda, wouldn't Hawai'i be something, though?

It's a pipe dream to have the party there but man-o-man could we go to town! Some lucky members live in Hawai'i but the vast majority are on the mainland.

Food for thought, friends: Hawai'i is the most diverse ecosystem in the nation with Florida following close behind. You can't swing a dead cat in Hawai'i without hitting a botanical garden; Florida follows close behind in that respect, too.

Florida's a state with a built-in tourism industry, botanical gardens and wonderful state parks. Plus, it's got the five "S" words of fun: sea, sand, sun, ships and Sylvain. Florida, the sunshine state where great white egrets are the state bird, where the zebra longwing is the state butterfly and where Margaritaville is in the running for becoming state song. It's definitely not Hawai'i but if you ask nicely, I'll don a grass skirt, play the ukulele and sing Hawai'i Aloha in hawai'ian for you all. Spirit of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, let me finish this post in peace!. But I digress.

Dave wishes it within 500 milles of his home. I realize that this web site is HIS sandbox but it is only logical that the needs of the group outweigh the needs of one individual. I may be wrong and I may get a slap on the wrist for saying this but it's my opinion. I'll go where the party is, not bring the party to me. This great country is 3,717,813 square miles and we are targeting a circle 785,000 square miles, thereby only considering 21,1% of the nation's continental area.

I am a retired statistician. Let's find out from Dave's organization where our subscribers, paying members live. Then, let's issue a D-mail (not a garden poll) to each of these subscribers and ask them about their intentions with regard to "The Great Roundup of 2009":
- will definitely attend;
- might very well attend;
- not quite decided,
- unlikely to attend;
- won't attend.

Now you can start mining data based on that response. It's susceptible to change and represents a picture of the membership at a given time. Armed with hard data of that kind, you're equipped to attempt the beginning of an enlightened decision.

Wish lists are nice but in the end, logic must prevail. Whichever locale is chosen, there will be grumbling, trust me. Let's try our best to keep it at a minimum. And if it were to be held in Farmington, Maine well so be it. Against all odds, in the middle of great farmland and corn fields, there's an unbelievable chinese restaurant that makes crab rangoons that are just to die for. But I digress again. Forgive me.

Just adding french fry oil to the fire for the greater good, here.
Sylvain.

This message was edited twice because I can't construct a decent sentence this morning. Where's that coffee, Gail?

This message was edited Jan 2, 2008 8:08 AM

This message was edited Jan 2, 2008 8:12 AM