Earlier this week, I had the honor of being invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, for author, garden designer, and TV personality P. Allen Smith’s fourth annual Garden2Blog event. This event brought together garden bloggers from all over the country to meet some of the movers and shakers in the gardening world and discuss current trends in the industry. I mean, what’s better than powwowing with a group of garden geeks over our love of dirt and all things green?
We packed quite a bit into our much-too-short two days in Little Rock, from a personal tour of Moss Mountain Farm (Allen’s country estate on the banks of the Arkansas River) to workshops with some of Garden2Blog’s sponsors, learning about a variety of products and getting to meet the actual owners, managers, or marketing teams behind those companies.
The face time with these people were one of my favorite things about the event. Not only were they completely receptive and attentive to our questions and suggestions, but they were people just like us, with a passion for gardening and simple living.
The bloggers themselves were an incredible bunch. I was happy to finally put a face to the names I’ve always seen online, make some new friends, and score a few books! (There were quite a lot of published authors in the group, so it was humbling to be in the company of such great, creative minds.)
I’ll post more on the event next week, but in the meantime, check out our very own Garden2Blog music video (the first, I’m told — maybe the first of many?!), and the bloggers, writers, garden designers, and hort experts who made the event so fun! Hope it brings a huge smile to your face as we head into the long weekend!
And the awesome Garden2Blog 2014 attendees:
Susan Fox of Gaga’s Garden
C.L. Fornari of Garden Lady
Rebecca Sweet of Harmony in the Garden
Lisa Steele of Fresh Eggs Daily
Kathy Purdy of Cold Climate Gardening
Jan Bills of Two Women and a Hoe
Mary Beth Shaddix of Mary Beth Shaddix
Christina Salwitz of Personal Garden Coach
Robin Horton of Urban Gardens
Kylee Baumle of Our Little Acre
Jenny Peterson of J. Peterson Garden Design
Lamanda Joy of The Yarden
Michael Nolan of My Earth Garden
Chris Van Cleave of Redneck Rosarian
Teresa Byington of The Garden Diary
Kenny Point of Veggie Gardening Tips
Steve Asbell of The Rainforest Garden
Kelly Smith Trimble of DIY Network
Jerusalem Greer of Jolly Goode Gal
Janet Carson of University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
Stephanie Buckley of The Park Wife
Julie Thompson Adolf of Julie’s Garden Delights
Tina Wilcox of Ozark Folk Center
This post is brought to you by Garden2Blog and its sponsors. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that support Garden Betty.
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Linda, I loved meeting you! What an amazing experience. Please let me know as soon as your book hits the shelves! Now, back to sorting photos…(why did I take so many photos??!!) Best wishes on your book!
Thank you Julie! It was so awesome to meet you as well. Wish we had more time to spend with everyone, really… I felt like I was just starting to get to know you by the time we left! Still plugging away on the book… the release date still feels soooo far away, but I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
It was so great to meet you, Linda! You’re such a cutie with a fantastic blog. Can’t wait to read your book….make sure to let me know when it’s published, okay?? XO
Aw, thanks Rebecca! Such a joy to meet you as well. Since you’re relatively close, hopefully I’ll see you on one of my trips up north before next year’s event!
RT @theGardenBetty: A glimpse into Moss Mountain Farm and my stay in Arkansas: Happy at P. Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog Event! http://t.co/fdT…
A glimpse into Moss Mountain Farm and my stay in Arkansas: Happy at P. Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog Event! http://t.co/fdT7C5OF2c #G2B14
Behind the scenes at my first blogger event in Little Rock: Happy at P. Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog Event! http://t.co/yHxbuLfrJ0 #gardenchat
RT @theGardenBetty: When a group of garden bloggers get together, it goes off! Happy at P. Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog Event! http://t.co/OAU…
RT @theGardenBetty: Powwowing with a group of garden geeks, starring in our own music video: Happy at P. Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog Event! h…
Powwowing with a group of garden geeks, starring in our own music video: Happy at P. Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog Event! http://t.co/hRIyQt9RRF
When a group of garden bloggers get together, it goes off! Happy at P. Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog Event! http://t.co/OAUH7CYth5 #gardenchat
Back from Little Rock, Arkansas! See how it all went down: Happy at P. Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog Event! http://t.co/gTAKp3tqsp #gardenchat
It was so great to meet you! Hope to see you there next year and of course I’m excited to read YOUR book! Lisa
Likewise Lisa! Fingers crossed for a #G2B15 reunion!
That’s awesome!
I was just looking at your recipes too Betty, and I can see, they are just as addictive to me and P. Allens. I would love to use your pickle recipes as well. I have been picking yellow crookneck squash so far out of my veggie garden. The zucchini are forming, and I also have some heirloom squash that I got from the Heirloom veggie expo last fall. Yugoslavian Finger Fruit, you pick them young, they are like a white patty pan squash like your page photo, or you can pick them later like a white fleshed acorn squash.
I’m growing Finger Fruit this season as well! It’s a new variety for me.
Cool! Mine are growing well, but not to the point of setting fruit or blooming yet, started them later.
You know what? I was watching his cooking show on PBS today, and I found out he has the exact same microwave as me. I’m on a diet, and he was making me so hungry with the Avocado Salsa and Turkey burgers LOL
Janie Hummel, I think all his followers do! Me included! He is great!
I love P Allen Smith.
Blogged on Garden Betty: Happy at P. Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog Event! http://t.co/gD4d4X28az