Our first snows have dusted us with beauty and even school closure on some islands! Mahonia ‘Winter Sun” – the first of the Chinese mahonia’s to bloom is providing food for the overwintering Anna’s hummingbirds. A good reason to grow other mahonia’s besides our native ones.
Our annual Winter Arts and Crafts Market was a big success! I’m deeply grateful to all that came out to support the artists and craftspeople that participated this year – our biggest selection ever with 30 makers.
Special thanks to Tekla Cunningham, director of Whidbey Island Music Festival, and her father and bagpiper, John Cunningham, for leading caroling music around our bonfire. Tekla said they already have plans to improve the song books for next year.
This was a super special addition, by a wonderfully talented and beautiful soul. I encourage you to look into the concerts she arranges in various venues from Seattle to Whidbey and beyond.
Young and old enjoyed the music and we even had a couple of elfin darlings arrive at the perfect time!
Thanks to Brita Fisher for offering another one of her popular wreath classes the first Saturday – lots of beauty came out of that class.
Brita and husband, Matt Dillon, will be hosting a sweet little market at Old Chaser Farm on Vashon this coming weekend – so if you have a taste for an outing, seeing other artists, enjoying some of Matt’s incredible food head to Vashon on Dec 10 or 11.
poster included below for details
A sweet selection of artists – including Eric Fisher ( no relation sadly ) – who has made all of Matt’s art work over the years including these delightful animals, which I hear he’ll be selling as printed cards. Each year of this market there has been a different animal sprouting natural beauty of our region.
Wine, food & festive fun, and art in lovely spot – how can you go wrong? But be PATIENT – there’s one chef and many mouths!
From youngest to oldest at our market – Don Wodjenski , former High School art teacher, wood worker, artist, photographer & musician, to Elsa Laymen, high school sophomore selling her own honey and beadwork, we had a sweet collection of mostly local folks.
Don was also playing music, busking for my favorite non-profit Whidbey Island Nourishes during slower times at the market.
I was especially happy to support younger artists and know their sales helped them get critically important things for their homes – like a hot water heater or repair their car.
Leah & Brita were so helpful with all the behind the scenes work the first weekend when we had to deal with wind, freezing cold and moist conditions! Jura did her part as she always wants to help. Don got in this photo as he was Brita’s photography teacher 23 years ago!
Sporopolus wrightii – ‘Windbreaker’ Giant Sacaton Grass – native to western US and N.Mexico
On a trip with Brita and Matt to the Syncline Winery, where he was cooking for their annual fall celebration, I was amazed by the selection and placement of incredible grasses. This huge one was especially dramatic and fantastic with the backlighting. The weather hopped about during that weekend, from sun to rain and wind. ‘Windbreaker’ Giant Sacaton was always a show stopper.
The leaves have dropped now on my Franklinia alatamaha, but it’s a tree I’ll always cherish even if not well adapted to our region. As humans & gardeners, our plant choices are so commonly influenced by our childhood ( should we have been tuned into the natural world at that time ). I grew up on the eastern seaboard from Georgia, Florida, Pine Barrens of New Jersey to the waters around Annapolis Maryland.
When I started the nursery in 1986 I was drawn to trees I knew from my childhood, like redbuds, dogwoods & oaks. I never really saw or knew about the Franklina until I took horticulture classes with Dan Hinkley in 1986 at Edmonds Community College.
Finding out the history of this incredible tree I knew I had to have one in my garden. I tell this story to show that our gardens reflect who we are, and not all decisions are practical.
Native to Georgia ( where I was born ) it only grew along the Alatamaha River and has been extinct in the wild since 1803. ‘Discovered’ by a white English plantsmen John Bartram, it was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. I was told by Dan that all the trees we have in the US now are from seed of the tree that Benjamin Franklin had in his garden. Perhaps I’m not recalling that story correctly so please let me know if you know differently.
This little alpine European strawberry is something I’d be happy to share with folks if they come out to Whidbey at a convenient time. I’ve grown this delicious and surprising flavor ( a touch of pineapple ) for many years and it has spread all over the place making, a delectable ground cover.
I was still picking and eating berries while setting up for the market in November, before the temperatures dropped. It just keeps making berries once it starts. Children love to explore under the leaves and find the tiny treasures.
I’ll be hosting some really great new classes in 2023 and have plans for more changes around the gardens, which will make our classes and markets more enjoyable.
The January Bojagi – Art of Korean Patchwork class is full but Patti will be offering a class in February which I post once she has the date / details confirmed.
One woman I got to know a bit during this winter market is Emily Wilder, of EatSalinity, who sources a wide selection of PNW food and crafted items so you can make up your own gift boxes, which she ships wherever you choose.
Her main focus is promoting and saving the native Pacific Oyster ( the earrings I’m modeling! ) Order oysters by midnight, Sunday the 11th, for delivery anywhere on Friday the 16th. Or send a gift card, or order now, for a delivery date in January or February.
Emily makes it easy to share this special PNW treat anywhere across the country.
This tiny, delicious oyster is the only oyster species native to the North American West Coast! Grown by The Swinomish Tribe in Similk Bay off Fidalgo Island. Emily works with them for any orders which include oysters.
Check out her website if you want to create personal gift boxes from the comfort of your couch. There is an extensive collection of items to choose from.
Emily is an example of the young people of Whidbey I’m excited to help promote as she’s doing GOOD work and gives back to a number of local organizations.
Oregon Opal – from Sheila Carbon
The talented woman, Sheila Carbon, who made the many stone inlaid bird baths I sold for years, passed on this year but not before I had a couple more visits with her and she offered me all her rocks ( huge collection ) as well as rock cutting equipment! An honor from such a talented and focused woman.
Britta Culbertson, Leah Nguyen and I have been talking about how we can honor Sheila and spread her great collection of PNW rocks around to folks who appreciate what she loved so much, by hosting classes which use her rocks. Petrified wood, jasper, obsidian, mahogany obsidian, oregon opal and so many I’ve not learned the names of yet.
I have a class in mind I hope to develop with Britta.
I’ll be selling more of the remaining bird baths that Sheila made – most are still at her Freeland home, but I have a robin and a brown creeper here at the gardens if anyone is looking for a special gift. I’ll be bringing down other baths when time allows in 2023.
I’ll leave you for December, with this incredible Death Valley Indian Paint Stone necklace made by Britta Culbertson of Mud Lotus . If you didn’t get to see her work at the market check out that link to see a wide selection of well done jewelry
She’s a local artist whose paying job is working for NOAA, organizing teachers across the country to work with scientists on NOAA boats, so they can take those experiences back to the classroom in what ever discipline they teach.
Britta was a double major in college, both art and biology and has been a high school teacher. I wonder at all her skills and how she marries her love of the land, nature, sea and science with her jewelry making. This pendant is still available I think.
I also have big plans for getting Britta involved in teaching here at the gardens.
Wishing you all a delicious, festive, musically rich holiday season whatever way you celebrate! Maybe share some cookies or even just a cup of coffee or tea with someone you’ve not seen for awhile and brighten their day. In-person connections mean even more these days with so much screen time altering our minds.
Mary Fisher
www.cultusbaygardens.com
7568 Cultus Bay Rd
Whidbey Island
Clinton WA