top of page

OMG, the Fling has Flung and Elvis has left the gardens.

  • memphisfling2025
  • Jun 20
  • 5 min read

Updated: Jun 21

The 2025 Memphis Garden Bloggers Fling (June 5-9) is officially a wrap — and what an unforgettable adventure it was!

On behalf of your Memphis Fling team — Sharron, John, Tatyana, Bonnie, Pam, and Kim — THANK YOU for joining us for the 16th Annual Garden Bloggers Fling in our lush, tree-canopied city. From the moment you arrived, we hoped you’d fall in love with Memphis — and judging by the smiles, the photos, and the laughter, we think she worked her magic.



A Blooming Welcome

It all began on Thursday at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Memphis, steps away from Beale Street, the Peabody Hotel, and AutoZone Park. When you checked in, you were greeted with a sweet-smelling tussie-mussie flower arrangement — a fragrant little “hello” bouquet for your room. And then there were the Swag bags heavy with love and garden goodies.

Plus, we had a book table brimming with works by fellow Flingers — we hope you found something inspiring to take home, and maybe even left a kind review or two!



Five Days, Countless Memories

Did you know we welcomed 71 Flingers from 24 states and Australia? Tennessee showed up big, with 16 attendees, including three bright horticulture students who soaked up every minute. You can reach out to them here to stay in touch:


We explored 10 Memphis neighborhoods — each one revealing a different personality, from historic to offbeat, elegant to funky: Annesdale-Snowden, Bartlett, Central Gardens, Cooper-Young, East Memphis, Germantown, Lakeland, Lenox, and VECA.


Between Thursday and Sunday, we toured 34 gardens, and on Monday, an optional bonus of 22 more in the colorful, artsy Cooper-Young neighborhood. That’s nearly 60 gardens in five days!


A Little Rain, A Lot of Heart, plus Humidity and Heat

Yes, we had a few summer showers — but did that stop us? Not a chance. Umbrellas went up, ponchos came out, and you kept exploring. Thanks for embracing it all with your usual Flinger flair!


Garden Highlights

We saw gardens of every kind — with pools, water features, she-sheds and greenhouses, orchid collections, funky sculptures, and thoughtful designs. 

Public garden standouts included:

Neighborhood Gems

The Lenox neighborhood was a hit, full of jewel-box gardens and quirky charm. And how cool was it to discover the new historical marker mentioning the Fling? History is happening every day — and we were part of it!




We were also welcomed into architectural gems, including homes in Art Deco, Midcentury Modern, Mediterranean Revival, Tudor cottage, and shotgun styles.



Unforgettable moments included:

  • The iconic Verbarium garden of Bernhard Meck

  • The Germantown Harvest Gardens Flower Farm in Germantown, where floral genius John Mark Sharp wowed us with his design skills — and his bow-tying talents. Everyone enjoyed the Elvis-themed guitar-shaped pool.

  • The photo op at the Memphis Botanic Gardens with the Elvis sunglasses and sideburns and everyone's Elvis sneer impression.

  • Watching the garden hosts almost cry when Flinger Rachel Balk gifted them a quick sketch of their garden.

  • On Monday, we wrapped things up with a visit to New Hope Urban Farm School in Frayser — a powerful reminder of how gardens can nourish both land and lives. 



Shopping, Souvenirs, and Garden Prizes

We shopped, of course! Palladio Garden and Millstone Market & Nursery were local favorites, and a huge thanks to Tricia Hunt for gifting each of you a succulent planter — a living keepsake from your time in Memphis.

Then there were the amazing prizes we gave away daily and during the Saturday reception from our generous sponsors, including: 


Southern Fare & Memphis Hospitality

We made sure no one left hungry! Here’s just a taste of what y’all enjoyed:

  • Thursday: Welcome reception at the DoubleTree

  • Friday: Mimosas & breakfast bites at Memphis Botanic Garden; boxed lunch alfresco with homemade pickles & watermelon; evening charcuterie and cocktails at the Dixon Garden.

  • Saturday: Grab-and-go breakfast; Central BBQ buffet lunch (yum!); and an elegant evening at Annesdale Mansion with fascinating Memphis history told by Bill Townsend.

  • Sunday: Gibson Donuts in the morning; then a delicious lunch at Bobby Lanier Farm Park, catered by the Suburban Garden Club and the Germantown Garden Club, and friends, capped off with the best peach cobbler by Chuck Wagon Master and National Champion Steve Gibson

  • Monday: Final breakfast + a $25 voucher to eat your way through the Cooper-Young neighborhood.



Thank you, Garden Volunteer Angels.....

It takes a village of friends and volunteers to make the behind-the-scenes happen so effortlessly. So many lovely people offered to help. Memphis is truly a generous city of heart and hospitality. Please forgive me if I left you off this list.

Germantown picnic lunch and garden docents:

Alexandria Johnson • Anca Marr • Anne Piper-White • Barbara Dodge

Brandy Miller • Carol Krebs • Carol Symeon • Claire Shapiro • Dana Kendrick • Daneise

Burnette • Debbie Rutledge • Deborah Matthews • Diane Callahan-Edens • Donna & Steve

Dusenbery • Elaine Hare • Elsye Grant • Emily Ozier • Fini Koerner • Gerry Covington • Ginny

Steffens • Jackie Walker • Jane Jones • Karen Lawhorn • Kathleen Syracuse • Kathy Russo

Kay Black • Lisa Sulipeck • Liz Thomas • Lucie Calvin • Maggie Cobb-Boyd • Marjorie

George • Marlene Norman • Martha Hester • Mary Lawrence Flinn • Melissa Kimbrough

Micky Clippard • Pam Key • Pam Vornberger • Peggy Gattas • Phyllis Allen

Rebecca Priddy • Regina Scruggs • Renee Stuart • Rhea Clift • Rhonda Beaty Sammy Marshall

Sandy Jones • Sara Stewart • Sarah Betten • Stephanie Lincoln • Susan Labovitz

Susan Lawless-Glassman • Terry O’Nele

Registration and buses:

Chris Jones • Donna Ephgrave • Emily Keplinger • Julie Schultz • Kathleen Clark

Leslie Parker • Mary Leslie Dawson Ramsey • Michelle Mullen • Tatyana Jankov

Swag bags and Raffles Prizes Volunteers:

Ellen Hornyak • Emily Keplinger • Kim Halyak • Mary Sexton • Tatyana Jankov


Until Next Time...

From every blooming corner of Memphis to the laughter we shared on garden paths, buses, and shady porches — thank you for making the 2025 Garden Bloggers Fling so special. We hope you left inspired, a little sun-kissed, and perhaps carrying home a plant or two (or three), along with a whole bouquet of memories.


We can't wait to see you next year at the 17th Annual Fling in beautiful Buffalo! It was a true joy to welcome so many new faces to the Fling family — let’s keep this blooming community growing.


Blogs, Videos, and Photos about Memphis Fling

If you joined us this year in Memphis, we’d love to read your blogs and watch your videos as well as salivate over your gorgeous photos. Use #MGF2025 so we can relive the magic through your eyes.


Elvis has officially left the building, but Y’all come back now, ya hear?


With love and gratitude, The 2025 Memphis Fling Team — Sharron, John, Tatyana, Bonnie, Pam, & Kim


5 Comments


shari
Jun 22

So much fun to relive each of the many very special moments that occurred each day! You all truly outdid yourselves. So much joy and fun, so much hospitality and warmth and so many gardeners and gardens. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Like

Means Memphis
Means Memphis
Jun 21

Thank you for the wonderful blog post!

Like

Kimberley Protzman
Kimberley Protzman
Jun 20

Thank you for all of the effort you all put in, finding gardens to tour, getting sponsors and so many donations, doing your best to meet all of our needs, and showing off your fair city! I'm overwhelmed at the thought of all the work you did! Thank you so much for providing us with such a variety of what Memphis gardens have to offer, and thank you for doing it all with smiles and humor!

Like

dianackirby
Jun 20

You all did an amazing job of wowing us in every way. Thank you for all the wonderful memories.

Like

Elizabeth Stetenfeld
Elizabeth Stetenfeld
Jun 20

It was a wonderful Fling! Thank you for hosting this lovely event, and for the magical Memphis memories!

Like
bottom of page