Our Summer Arts & Crafts Market was richer with so many new vendors this year, as well as some old favorites. Ida Gianopulus brought her gorgeous flowers and garlic braids. The marigolds I bought from her are still going strong on the front porch where I drink my tea.
Rachel Clark, who lives in Bellingham but has lots of family on Whidbey – ( Prima Bistro owner Jenn Jurriaans, as well as parents ) joined us for the first time this year – such a delight to have her along with all the other great vendors that could come.
Calm waters all through the Straits of Georgia. I got to join Tom for the last 4 days bringing our new / old boat down from Seward Alaska.
We spent the last night meeting up with other family on Sucia Island in the San Juans. Many wonderful islands and coves to explore in this rich area.
This is the Lord Nelson Victory Tug we bought – now the Fair Isle but we’ll change it back to a former name we prefer. It feels right to be on this kind of boat as I meet Tom when he had a slightly smaller, and much less comfortable boat, as a salmon troller in Sitka Alaska. We are thrilled to spend time on the water again.
Pelicans in Florida – such a treat to see the flora and fauna that is so different from our area. Leah, Pasha and I went to Rockledge FL to spread the remaining ashes of Tuan. We joined his large and loving family for amazing Vietnamese meals and some beautiful ceremonies.
White Ibis cruise around in peoples yards like our robins do! Feels exotic.
Parakeet flower – one stem is all your need for a great statement in the house! Seems no one picks the local flowers except us.
Tien, Tuan’s mom, grows so many of their favorite fruits and herbs for making traditional meals. This is a strange shaped fruit called a sugar apple or custard apple. Needs to get soft then the outer rough lumps peel off to a very sugary sweet soft flesh surrounding lovely large black seeds. YUM
Royal Poinciana – a striking tree that marks the beginning of summer for many in Florida. It’s native to Madagascar but has been planted in Hawaii and Vietnam as well as, I’m sure, other hot areas as it’s a show stopper.
Butterfly Pea is as blue as the photo and used as a safe blue coloring in food – like icing. Makes your tongue so so blue!
So many gorgeous palms in the area – this one is the Silver Bismark Palm. While I drove through the neighborhoods I compiled a list of what plants I’d put in my yard. Some really stood out as very incredible.
Leah, Renata and I did all the flowers using things from the yard and roadside – just as Tuan would want it.
The beautiful beach – Tuans final resting spot so he can watch the waves roll in from the sand dunes that no one is supposed to walk on.
Tricolor Heron, formerly Louisiana Heron was a first time spotting for me and this guy is a juvenile as they are the ones with the rusty neck feathers.
Love my bird apps that help me ID the unknowns.
Our next class coming up and sure to be a hit is Foraging Color – Making Watercolor Paint with natural pigments has just 2 spots left.
Alison Webb will guide us through creating pigments from minerals and plant materials we source locally and seasonally. It’s bound to be an eye opener as well as colorful experience.
October 12th & 13th, Allisa Allen of Mycopigments will lead a weekend extracting color from a wide range of Northwest mushrooms and lichen.
Read more about the class and register on the link below.
Exploring Whidbey Islands Mushroom & Lichen Dye Palette, 10/12-13 In this two-day workshop, we’ll uncover the hidden rainbow found in what often appear as mundane mushrooms: Grey, tan, and brown caps give way to reds, greens, blues, and purples! Once you start noticing fungi, you’ll see dye potential wherever you go.
The color range is phenomenal and you’ll have lots of samples and notes so you can continue your mushroom dying adventure on your own.
Indigo and Shibori classes with Elin Noble – 2025 – plan ahead they fill fast.
Shibori Techniques – Sewing and Wrapping – Friday July 11, 2025
To get ready for the weekends Indigo Workshop, Elin Nobel is offering a full day of diving deeper into various techniques for preparing your cloth for the dye bath. With this additional instruction you can make more pieces your excited about and see the myriad possibilities of design with shibori.
Shibori Explored – Indigo Dye Weekend July 12 & 13, 2025
I feel so lucky that Elin teaches at my gardens each year since she’s a friend, because she’s super busy traveling to other locations to teach. So you who live close enough can take advantage of this generous and knowledgeable person if you’re into fiber arts.
I advise making a decision as soon as you can, as the class generally fills up.
The Loving Interconnection of Life – by Leah Nguyen
Leah Nguyễn was asked to create a public art piece for Bumpershoot this weekend. This very large piece painted on muslin is hanging in front of the pattern that continues on the ground.
Free opening to the public Friday 5-8 pm ( There is more art as well as Leah’s )
Work only up until 9/1
Maybe some folks in Seattle will be headed to Bumpershoot and can see all the art.
Mary Fisher
www.cultusbaygardens.com
7568 Cultus Bay Rd
Clinton WA
Whidbey Island
360-622-6275