The summer has gone by in a flash it seems. The Summer Arts & Crafts Market was just wonderful, with many new vendors and visitors who delighted in the selection and gardens.
Many thanks to all who came and supported our artists as well as the hard working folks who sold their wares.
Special thanks to my dear friend, Jonni Reed, and her daughter Arwen for selling sandwiches cookies and beverages. It sure made it more fun, and you can always count on Jonni’s food!
And many thanks to Tekla Cunningham, director of Whidbey Island Music Festival, for holding two of their concerts in our gardens this summer. The front porch makes for great acoustics so the very brilliant musicians sounded their best. It’s so lovely to use the gardens for hosting music as they marry so beautifully.
We had shade tents up for those that came, and next year I’ll rig up even more shade options for everyones comfort.
UPCOMING CLASSSES
Patti King – textile artist and teacher
Bojagi – The Art of Korean Patchwork
October 24
Patti is offering this popular class again this fall in the comfort of her gorgeous Langley home and studio. You’ll be given a lovely selection of her special fabrics with clear instructions on piecing them together.
Patti has been in multiple shows and is both a weaver and stitcher. Her library and knowledge is extensive, and she’s eager to share more with either first time or repeat students, who will learn more stitch options.
Kaili Plummer-Slate will offer this class, with the nettle materials prepped, and ready for use. You will also learn how and when to harvest the bountiful nettles that have been used for centuries by both indigenous people and early Europeans for clothing, nets, fishing line and more.
It’s amazing to see how you can use this material, so readily at hand, to produce such a fabulous product.
Pie and beverages included of course.
Nettle fibers ready to make into the cordage
Pine Needle Basketry 101 – Coiling from a Base
October 16th
Kaili will also be teaching this popular class, with a variety of bases to choose from and all the pine needles ready to go. This class is limited to 6 people, so you can be sure to get plenty of assistance as needed.
Pie and beverages always included with all our classes – this photo was from the large Indigo Gathering Weekend class taught by Elin Noble. Elin and I are cooking up more class ideas for next year.
Garden Projects & New Plants
After running the nursery for 32 years I was on burn out when it came to working on my own garden. I still enjoyed design work for others (and still do), but took a long break when it came to my own space.
Well that’s all past now, and I’m very excited to be working away in my garden again, making it more lovely for myself and those that visit.
During a visit at Easter, our son Andrew suggested I move all the boxwoods from an old knot garden and expand the brick terrace in the back.
Originally that area had been our kitchen garden, when the kids were young, and they each had a square to plant as they liked with vegetables and flowers. I quit growing food many years ago, as the nursery got busy, so I filled the area with shrubs, but it had run amuck and looked over-grown and messy.
The revival has started. When Andrew and Molly arrived from California for their summer visit, Molly said they were willing to do some ‘big muscle work’ – so I jumped on terrace expansion. Nothing like young strong labor.
Molly, Leah and Andrew got a good start the first day digging 30 year old dwarf boxwoods I’d started from cuttings, and transplanting them to enclose the expanding terrace.
Molly, Tom and Brita worked on moving boxwoods once Andrew hurt his toe, so the project could keep rolling! We took up all the old brick paths into the garden area to use for the terrace expansion.
It will take awhile before it’s done but I can already see how nice it’s going to be, and I’ll continue to work on the garden to make it feel peaceful and not so overgrown. Lots of editing required.
I find that’s how old gardens are – things get too big or reproduce more than the area can hold and one has to get in and rip, out or prune when possible, and hopefully share plants with other gardeners.
I bought some of these new salvias for a job and decided to try one out myself. It’s been an incredible performer. I put it in a large clay pot and have a ‘Marmalade’ Heuchera sitting at its base. The colors are terrific and hummingbirds of course love the salvia. Supposed to be hardy to zone 7 but we’ll see. Definitely will grow again if it doesn’t overwinter.
This new plant is just getting going – had a rough start as I brought it back from Annies Annuals in California in February and the difference in weather between there and here was extreme. It’s supposed to be hardy… I’ll see if mine makes it. I know Sarah Slovensky has one in her garden with much better soil and lots more sun where it’s planted.
This clematis finally put on a great show in June. I have some of the poorest soil on the island, so sandy and lean, so I really need to work on feeding many of my plants better than I have.
A Few New Market Vendors – Many Thanks
Lori Kane of Ritual Mischief
Lori is a delightful, kind woman with a wide selection of soaps, salves, and balms she lovingly makes at her studio in Langley. She hosts markets at her place, and I was happy to have her at the Summer Market for the first time. I think she’ll also be part of our Winter Market.
Ida Gianopulus – Lone Creek Farm
I had not idea that this delightful farmer grew plants just down the road from me. Ida brought her lovely bouquets, perfectly made dried wreaths, garlic braids with straw flowers and some fun plants to sell. She will definitely be back for the winter market with some beautiful items.
Don Wodjenski – Woodwork
Don is a busy guy, had a music gig on Sunday, but sold lots of his turned woodwork on Saturday and will be back for the Winter Market. He was an art teacher at the high school when Brita was there.
Britta Culbertson – Mud Lotus
This amazing woman works in conjunction with NOAA, getting teachers onboard the NOAA vessels to work with the scientists. They can then go back and bring that learning experience into their classroom.
Britta was a double major, biology and art, and has taught school as well. She works with PNW stones in her jewelry, and incorporates topo maps and beach images in the silver on the back side. She’ll be back at the Winter Market as well.
I’m excited to say we are working on some new ideas for her to teach here at the gardens. More to come on other ideas that are in the works!!
Leah Nguyễn – Plant Paint People
Community Vision Pattern – Bennett Colorado
Leah was at our Summer Market again with her art work, tea towels, alter cloths, tee shirts and flower essences, which was of course a delight.
She recently returned from Bennett Colorado where she painted this public art commission on a trail in one of the parks there.
I’m very excited for this wonderful artist (and daughter), that her work is getting out into the world in a bigger way. You can see more of her work at her website and follow her on IG @plantpaintpeople
As I get deeper into this new version of working, I see that my main focus is community building. Bringing artists and craftspeople together, offering resources for others to come be inspired and enriched by the classes we offer, and providing a setting of beauty and calm during these hectic and often overwhelming and scary times we live in. I hope you will find a class that appeals to you, or come support the artists at one of our two annual markets.
As I sit on the porch and finish this newsletter I got a hit of a distinctive smell. I hesitated and took it in a few breaths and realized it’s the dry-grass-end-of-summer smell. How lovely to be told we are moving towards another season by the breeze in the air.
May your fall be gracefully embraced, even if you prefer the summer.
Mary Fisher
Cultus Bay Gardens
Whidbey Island
www.cultusbaygardens.com
@cultusbaygardens
@maemaesew