Opening night for the 2019 Garden Bloggers Fling, at The GrowHaus

Each year the Garden Bloggers Fling begins with an opening night bash. Held on Thursday evening—before the event proper gets underway on Friday morning—it's an opportunity for experienced fingers to see old friends, for new flingers to get their feet wet, and for the organizers to set the tone for the next three days. This year the party was at The GrowHaus...

The colorful murals and painted signs told us this wasn't a stuffy affair.

The sheer quantity of plants had us well, at least me, feeling right at home.

Big leaves, stock tanks, a jungly feel...

Here are a few of my fellow GBF attendees, the second bus hadn't arrived quite yet.

The GrowHaus is a is a nonprofit indoor farm, their vision is to bring about a neighborhood-based food system in their community which is healthy, equitable, and resident-driven. They achieve this vision through three program areas:

FOOD PRODUCTION: The GrowHaus produces fresh produce year-round. Their three growing operations demonstrate a variety of innovative, community-oriented urban farming techniques: Hydroponics Farm, Aquaponics Farm, Growasis Permaculture Farm

FOOD DISTRIBUTION: In addition to farms, a healthy food system needs infrastructure for food processing and distribution. The GrowHaus works with community members to provide fresh and healthy food at a price residents can afford. They have a daily market and food boxes for sale.

FOOD EDUCATION: The GrowHaus offers education for people of all ages and backgrounds around nutrition, gardening, cooking, and other essential skills for building healthy communities. (source)

Unfortunately we couldn't actually walk out into the growing area (regulations on access to edibles) but there were lots of windows for us to check out what they were up to.

We were also able to spy on the mushroom growing operation through a window, but the photo I took was too dark.

The entire operation was very impressive.

I would have loved to know the story behind this great hideaway spot.

Did I mention the atmosphere was kinda jungly?

Here's our leader for the next 3 days, Judy Seaborn of Botanical Interests seed company.

The Denver organizers raffled off lots of fabulous prizes from Fling Sponsors. I initially won a Cobra Head weeder and cultivator, my fourth. Yes I'd won this fabulous tool at three other events. A gardener really only needs one (I'd gifted on my other two) so I sweet talked Denise of A Growing Obsession into trading with me, she'd won a Tula hat. This one, which I was trying to model with a sly look, knowing I'd gotten a sweet deal. I LOVE THIS HAT! Thanks Cobra Head, Tula, and Denise (and additional thanks to Denise for taking, and sending me this photo).

There was just enough time to wander around outside a bit before we piled back on the bus and returned to the hotel. I guess I've never really seen a full grown baptisia, I had no idea they got so large.

And this! This large shrub is definitely in the pea family but I have no idea what it is.

One of my most vivid memories of this Fling is of the dramatic clouds. Denver definitely does sky drama. There were all sorts of interesting fluffy clouds, thunder clouds, lighting (thankfully we avoided a Fling downpour) and even a double rainbow one night.

Weather Diary, June 23: Hi 71, Low 55/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.