I’m excited to be for the new decade of 2020 with some wonderful classes and a larger Summer Market than last year.
Felty Folks with Jonni Reed
Pineneedle Basketry 101 with Kaili Plummer-Slate
will be coming right up. More information on the class pages.
Nettle cordage making, cedar bark basketry 101, embroidery & ceramics are also in the works with dates to be announced.
Before we head into the plans ahead I want to thank you all for your support – from the very successful winter market & summer markets to the classes we’ve been offering.
Below are some highlights from December as we wrapped up our first full year in this new venture.
Our Holiday Open House & Market was such a success this year and I’m ever so thankful for all of you that came out to support the many artists that brought their work to sell.
Many thanks to my dear and talented son-in-law, Matt Dillon, renowned chef and owner of Sitka & Spruce, who brought his fantastic truck with a wood oven on the back and made Tarte Flambe ( an Alsasian pizza sort of thing ) on the first weekend of the holiday market. He was set up near the entrance and served until the food ran out.
We had a nice bonfire the first weekend so people could wait for food by the fire or warm their hands if they were taking one of Brita’s wreath classes.
Brita Fisher ( on left ) once again taught the wreath classes and everyone went home with some fine cheer to hang on their door. Even Heather took a break to make a wreath. Coffee, hot spiced cider and homemade cookies kept us fueled.
Deborah had such a good time coming to the wreath class last year she came back again this year with her mom and friend. Always wonderful to see old friends return!
A bittersweet time as the iconic restaurtant Sitka & Spruce has closed it’s doors. I got to help my daughter Brita decorate this wonderful restaurant and bar for it’s final holiday season.
I first ate at Sitka & Spruce in 2006 when Matt Dillon opened in the tiny Eastlake location.
All 3 of our kids said they knew a man who was an amazing cook – most had met him when he worked at Cafe Lago. Anytime I wanted to have a major treat-dinner I’d go to Sitka & Spruce.
It was such a surprise when our youngest daughter ended up with him many years latter. Not only do we get to have great food when he’s around but he’s a man of great integrity, passion and heart. The Seattle food scene is fortunate to have Matt Dillon with his forward thinking ideas and incredible food.
At the end of this first full year of transistioning to a new venture, I got to thinking about the start of my garden / nursery in 1985 – 34 years ago and how Brita has come to love the plant above – Magnolia stellata.
HOW MAGNOLIA STELLATA COMES FULL CIRCLE:
I had been on a drive with our family in the spring of 1984 and seen an amazing Magnolia stellata. I was truely star stuck by it’s beauty and was possessed to buy a 5 gallon plant. We were scraping by, building our house, and spending $25.00 on a special tree was not exactly on the high priority list ( except for me) !
I collected the outgrown, but still decent condition, childrens clothes from Leah, Andrew and Brita and took them into Seattle to a little store called Cloud 9. With proceeds from selling the clothes I was able to purchase the prized Magnolia stellata. I planted it outside our sunporch window all those years ago, where it has grown so tall we don’t need to look down to admire its blaze of delicate curving white petals.
My daughters, Leah & Brita, worked with me over the years in the nursery, as well as preparing wedding flowers for many clients. They both came to love and bond with the many plants we grew, and developed a deep appreciation of all plants.
Brita continues to create flowers for clients – from weddings to custom orders. As I picked Magnolia stellata branches for her this year, it dawned on me that the selling of her baby clothes allowed for the purchase of one of her favorite materials to use in arrangements as well as wreaths. We have come full circle – with Magnolia at our side – as Brita brings beauty to this world and I happily share many of the older plants which grow in the garden.
I feel deep gratitude for the paths the plants have taken me down, the friends I’ve met through the nursery, the children that I’ve watched grow up over the years, coming in and out of the garden, and the many talented people who continue to show up and inspire me into new directions.
May 2020 bring us all good cheer and postive change so needed in these tumultious times!
I hope to see you at some of the new classes we are planning for 2020.
Gratefully,
Mary Fisher
7568 Cultus Bay Rd
Whidbey Island
Clinton WA 98236
360-579-2329