Whoohoo! I am first!

Either sounds good to me!

I was looking at the 27th, thinking it might be better to move it back to get away from Easter, but how many wouldn't be able to attend if we have it on the 20th?

I'm guessing the 13th would be too early? We don't have anything going on in April that I can think of, so any time is good for me.

I'm probably out both days. We have relatives coming in to celebrate Christmas (for real!) from April 26 - 29. I have a community egg hunt on the 20th. Although, I could come for the end of the party. Maybe. Honestly, I probably wouldn't be able to leave until 1.

Anything sounds great to me. Except the first weekend I will be unavailable. But whatever y'all decide is good. I can't wait to see you all.

I can make any Saturday work.

The 27th is my birthday, ;) We might have family dinner on Easter Sunday, which would make the 20th difficult.

Janet's birthday is also the 27th.

I wouldn't be adverse to looking at the 13th?

Just in case we would have a repeat of last year's weather, later might be better. We celebrated Amy's birthday last year, too! We didn't know about Janet's at the time, I guess?! But whatever you all decide is great. Good point about Easter, though, Amy. And either place sounds good, Bruce.

I have no problem sharing my birthday with you all.

You know I want to be there, but I don't want y'all to change it just for me...or are worried about the weather on the 13th.

I think there is a risk of less than perfect weather regardless which date we chose? Rain or cool temps would likely be the concern on the earlier dates and the whirly twisty things would be more likely to occur on the later date.

I do like the planting potential with the 13th, as Dawn mentioned. Although it may just increase the temptation to take way more plants than I really truly need!

Jennifer, I don't think the weather on the 13th would necessarily be any worse than the weather on the 6th or the 20th. I mean, really, who the heck knows what we will get on any given day in April in Oklahoma? We could have snow. We could have tornadoes. We could have heat and drought. Nothing is off the table here, weatherwise.

Bruce, I agree. Really, we've been fortunate so far to mostly avoid those swirly, twisty things on Spring Fling day but it seems inevitable that someday we're going to have a bad, scary day on SF day. Hopefully that won't happen this year.

The temptation to take way more plants than you need is not really a bad thing. You just never know when the weather will turn ugly, and having extra plants on stand-by really helps if a big storm wipes out your garden. Been there, done that, and it is one reason I grow so many extra tomato plants. I like having backups sitting in the greenhouse in case hail, flooding, strong winds, a late freeze or whatever takes out whatever is growing in the ground. To me, extra plants are a security blanket.

Dawn

Well, another good thing about having it the 13th would be that we can get rid of our extras for friends 2 weeks earlier! The more I think about it, the better 4/13 sounds. LOL Also agree any place that is centrally located would be just fine. Might be easier on you and Janet, Bruce, to have it at the pavillion, but it would also be fun to see your place! Either would be fine.

Heya Peeps! I've done some more research regarding centrally located Pavilions and another option is Draper Lake. They've made some really nice walking trails, pavilions, playgrounds, etc. out there. A porta potty is provided on site and included in the Draper pavilion rentals of $100. Didn't verify any others but I had no idea so many were available. The problem is they aren't available until April 15. Let me go find the site link......

OKC Pavilion & Shelters

The only issue I think we'll have to really consider is Oklahoma Spring Weather which we know is not predictable. I do believe a large roof would help keep us dryer!!!!

Bruce - I apologize for the brain lapse I was having during our text the other day!!!! One side effect of the seizures is I sure can't multi-task like I once could! LOL! I know you kept thinking "Paula! Listen to me!"

Looking forward to this may keep me sane during our search for a new home. It's killin' me to not even set my seed-starting shelves in the middle of the living room! ha!!!! I'm not even keeping seed catalogs...well, maybe a couple of my faves.....

Wanted to help bump this up to the top!!!

Thanks, Paula!

When I spoke to the lady at Lake Thunderbird State Park, it sounded like they had available pavilions at all of the camping areas.

I may try to drive over and see what they look like and if there are restroom facilities nearby. A few are still closed for the winter, but are supposed to open around the first part of April.

I'm late chiming in here but the 13th works for me. As does any of the other dates, but it's sounding like the 13th is the preference. Now y'all stop talking about the twirly things before they start thinking we're calling for them. And Dawn, I do my part to keep the creeks don't rise saying alive.

Lol!

I'll be working in Norman for the next 2-3 weeks and if it ever warms up a little I'll see what the pavilions look like. If we decide to go that route, I'll stop back by and reserve it.

Finally started clearing out my raised beds yesterday and that made me think of spring fling! Glad to hear it is in the works. We will make every effort to attend, whichever date it may be.

Megan, I'm glad I'm not the only one keeping that old southern phrase alive. We must preserve our southern culture.

Bruce, While you're checking out the pavilions will you keep an eye out for Spring and let us know if you see it anywhere. We cannot have a Spring Fling without Spring, can we?

Mia, It is always so good to see you, your hubby and the boys! I hope y'all can make it this year.

Dawn

Spring Fling!!!

(does anyone have any extra tomato plants? lol)

Hahahaha! DO I!!! I'm drowning in tomato plants up here. I swear I am!! AND many other things. What was I THINKING! I know, Dawn. I know.

HJ, I should have plenty of extra tomatoes.

I‘m in the market for a couple of feed tubs, if we can figure out how to get them in my little Honda coupe.

Lol! After not having much of a Spring last year I think we should get extra spring-like weather this year? I know that‘s not how it works, but we can dream?

So yes, Dawn I saw spring. It was yesterday!

Jennifer, you know there will be tons of tomato plants available. I only have about 150 extras this year, so far.

Rent a truck, Rebecca!

Rebecca, if you're not concerned about color, I might be able to round up some feed tubs. I'll know more when SF gets closer.

Mia, I think you're the one with bamboo, right? If so, I could use some. I think you're not too far from me so I could come get it rather than have you haul it to SF.

Jennifer, I'll have plenty of tomato plants too, and they are likely to be in bloom or close to it since I start earlier down here than the rest of you do further north.

Rebecca, Do the back seats of your car fold down? If so, tubs likely would fit there.

Bruce, Well okay, that was spring, but we need more spring than 1 or 2 days. I think I'll get spring here with sunshine on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and maybe partial sun on Thursday, but the temperatures will be in the low 30s at night so I am not sure how much it will feel like Spring. I'm missing last March's abnormally warm weather a lot right now.

Nancy, Clearly, when it comes to raising tomato seedlings, none of us think! We just sow those seeds and figure we'll deal with the excess plants later. Actually, I do think. I remember years when golf-ball or larger sized hail destroyed the entire garden and the tomato plants had to be cut back to the ground just to see if they would recover, and I remember when late freezes have destroyed the entire garden in the same way. So, I grow too many so I'll have one-for-one replacements in the garden if that happens. Really, I probably have 2 extra plants for each one that will go into the ground in case double-trouble happens. At the absolute worst, what happens? We have extra plants to give away or to compost if we are "stuck" with them at the end of planting season. I just cannot think of having too many tomato plants as a problem, because they make great compost if nothing else. Granted, it is hard to throw them on the compost pile, but I have done it before and I can do it again.

I wish Spring would hurry up and get here so our Spring Fling actually is a Spring Fling. At the rate things are going, we may end up with a Winter Fling. Stranger things have happened, you know. I am pretty sure our location is not the only one that has had sleet or snow in April some years.

Dawn

Megan, I am! I'm in NW OKC and my grove is available year-round for thinning to local gardeners. Just send me a message anytime here or on FB. I used to bring a bunch with me to the Fling but once I started hauling car seats and children around I don't have much room to fit the canes in my vehicle anymore.

Did you all settle on a date, or are you waiting until you've gone up to see the pavilllion(s), Bruce. Cuz if we grow that route, it'll have to be the 20 or 27, right? Just when I was deciding I liked April 13!

Dawn, no, they don’t fold down.

Megan, I don’t care about color.

Rebecca, I'll measure them. Maybe they could ride in the backseat sitting up on their sides?

Mia, I sent you a message on Facebook. I'm in SW Edmond so we are fairly close.

Thanks Megan. It’s an Accord coupe, so a little more room than a Civic. Alternatively, the passenger seat will recline almost flat. I don’t mind being a little squished driving home.

I managed to look at 4 sites today after I left Norman. Two were still closed and out of the other two, I liked South Dam the best.

Better than lake average running water restrooms and showers and plenty of tables, water, electric, charcoal grills and is far enough from the water we won’t have to worry as much about the littles getting in trouble.

From a $$ standpoint, we are looking at $75 for everything versus $100 for an OKC rental plus $100 for a portapotty.

Ack! I need it to warm up so I can dig up some plants. So far the only thing to come out of my garden was a dead possum. I truly wanted to post a pic in OGN, but I figured the Admin would kick me out for causing havoc :) :) :)

Yep, those OGN admins are rascals!

I’m loving an early SF, but if it’s too early, I need to know before I pay to reserve!

I like the lake option

All you decision makers who were setting this up just throw a dart at a board and choose! We'll follow! :)

Bruce, The location you found sounds fine to me and I am sure we all will chip in to cover the cost of renting it.

Lisa, Yuck! You could have composted it, but then there would be that smell....

And you do have to watch out for those OGN moderators! (grin)

I agree it needs to warm up so stuff can sprout or I'm not going to have any volunteers to dig up, pot up and bring. This is the slowest Spring I can remember in quite a few years. I think mid-April is fine. Surely we'll be warm by then and, if not, we'll just make it work. Go ahead and reserve it and I'm sure we'll all fall into line and just be happy about it.

Dawn

Sounds good to me. Seems like we've had it sort of early before & had great weather, had it end of April & froze. So no matter what, we'll all be there. And with a pavilion, we won't have to run between tents to dodge raindrops.

Bruce, the South Dam sounds good, as does any date. I will chip in on the cost.

Andria

I suspect we all can chip in on the cost, right? Perhaps we can send you $$?

No need to send $$s. I’ll get it reserved and we’ll figure it out later.

Retired from planning. Just tell me when, where, how much$$, We'll be there. LOLOL

Lol! When I retired my official job title was Industrial Engineering Tech, but the shop term was Planner.