September 19, 2019 – Fall Floral Arranging – Brita Fisher – for Northwest Horticulture Society
( register for this class at NHS www.northwesthort.org )
October 17, 2019 – Fall Wreath Class – Brita Fisher – for Northwest Horticulture Society
( register for this class at NHS www.northwesthort.org )
October 26, 2019 – Nettle Cordage Making
October 27, 2019 – Cedar Bark Basketry
November 2, 2019 – Sensational Salads – Leah M Nguyen
To register and pay for the last 3 classes go to our website www.cultusbaygardens.com
Fall is certainly in the air with foliage beginning to turn color and our recent rains. It’s not too late to sign up for Brita’s lovely fall floral arranging class. We’ll have an abundant supply of luscious flowers, a vessel of your choice and a delicious lunch and pie for a delicious, creative & calming day Just follow the link with Northwest Horticulture Society listed above to sign up. If you’re a member of NHS the fee is lower. Class is September 19th 11:30 – 3:30 pm.
This summer has given me a couple of really fantastic opportunities to help Brita on some large weddings she did. Our first adventure took us to the stunning scenic valley of Jackson Hole to a wedding for accomplished rock climbers – fitting location near the Grand Tetons. Matt Dillon drove his flat bed truck over with a huge wood oven over on the back, and prepared yet another memorable meal in the field which included bison from the Patagonia herds. ( She’s a rock climber sponsored by Patagonia)
Wildflowers were collected from the area and the beautiful and simple flowers were perfect for such an outdoors woman.
Our next adventure had us back working at Old Chaser Farm, on Vashon Island, where Matt & Brita host events and weddings. We were up to our necks in fabulous garden flowers – a car load of my hydrangeas in pinks and whites as well as many dahlias and gardens roses from other growers.
The tables were a mix of hydrangeas, garden roses & dahlias.
I made bridesmaids bouquets, buttioners and corsages while sometimes rocking Jura’s portable bed with my foot! No wonder women are good at multitasking – they’ve always had to be with children about.
Brita and I look forward to more opportunities to collaborate on weddings together when it works out. After many years of her assisting me I relish being her assistant now.
I grow some unusual hydrangeas so if you’re interested in some cut flowers let me know. I might have something you’d like.
This is Hydrangea ‘Shamrock’ – bred by the president of the French hydrangea society many years ago. One of my favorites and makes a fabulous cut flower.
‘Shamrock’ also ages to amazing antique colors, as many hydrangeas do.
The arborescens form, ‘Hayes Starburst’, is another unknown and fantastic flower – especially for weddings.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘QuickFire’ is Brita and my favorite of all the paniculatas, although I recently planted a ‘Pink Diamond’ which may head to the top of the list.
Another arborescens variety, not grown much, with amazing color as well as aging to antique tones is ‘Invincible Ruby.’
There is a newer one too called ‘Mini Mauvette’ which has stronger stems.
The original in that breeding program is ‘Invincible Spirit’, which I still grow and adore. It has the most delicate of all the series but does flop a bit.
This is Barb Schiltz – a WIN volunteer and renowned nutritionist who has been with Whidbey Island Nourishes since it began 12 years ago.
As many of you know I helped start a non-profit on the island that makes nutritious ready to eat food for South Whidbey children. Whidbey Island Nourishes is having it’s fall fundraiser Saturday September 14th at the Dancing Fish Winery in Freeland. https://www.whidbeyislandnourishes.org/frolic.html
We’d really appreciate your support by coming to the Frolic if possible! The food and music will be fantastic.
We’d sure love you to support the kids! We make over 2000 meals a month and it requires $13,000 to keep us running. We are a model of efficiency and primarily volunteer run. You can be sure your dollars really go to feed kids. After recently watching the documentary Fed Up I can see yet again the sad state of affairs our country is in concerning food and the serious impact it is having on all kids.
Nettle Cordage Making
Instructor ~ Kaili Plummer-Slate
Saturday, October 26
1 pm ~ 3 pm
39.00 ~ includes all supplies and nettle tea, nettle pesto and gluten free crackers
Kaili will open your eyes to the many advantages of nettle as you learn how to make cordage from this useful and versatile plant. From the many health benefits of incorporating nettle into the diet, to the amazingly strong cordage you can create, you will see we are surrounded by a friend in the plant world that can enrich your life.
We will discuss the benefits of this amazing plant while sipping nettle tea and tasting nettle pesto with gluten free crackers.
You will learn the whole process – from the correct time of gathering the material as well as the method used to remove fibers for spinning. The fibers we actually use will be already prepared since it’s a multi-step process requiring time.
Nettle fiber is strong and was used by early europeans for clothing, shoes, and drag nets for fishing. Native Americans also used nettle for food, medicine and cordage. You will probably come away from this class a bit more patient with the stinging aspect and ready to incorporate it’s gifts to us.
You will be able to use this cordage for the cedar bark pouch you weave the next day if you choose to take both classes! It will look great with the cedar bark.
Cedar Bark Basket Pouch
Instructor ~ Kaili Plummer-Slate
Sunday, October 27
11 am ~ 4 pm
89.00 ~ includes all materials, lunch, beverages & pie
From cedar bark Kaili collected in Southeast Alaska, you will be given enough prepared material to weave a pouch shaped basket that will be attached to a cord, which will be provided, if not taking the nettle class the day before.
Kaili will also have un-prepped, but already harvested, cedar bark so you will learn the prep process as well as weaving the basket.
We will cover some of the many uses of this important Northwest native tree with examples of products made from this well-respected and useful tree.
A short power point will show other amazing baskets that have been made using the bark of cedar for both a sense of history and inspiration.
A warming lunch will be served which is always a hit at any of our classes and latter in the day we’ll enjoy Mary’s famous pie.
I’m so excited Kaili has moved to Whidbey with her many talents and look forward to offering more classes lead by this very amazing woman.
You won’t want to miss these two classes if you’re a fiber / basketry person.
Sensational Salads
Instructor Leah M Nguyen
Saturday, November 2
11 am ~ 1:30 pm
69.00 ~ includes all supplies, lunch & pie, recipes & dressing
Salads can be not only delicious and nutritious but, when well done, often become the favorite part of a meal when done with a twist most folks don’t think of. I’ve seen time and time again Leah’s salads being the most talked about part of a meal. With this class you too can feel comfortable and empowered to make amazing salads and dressing. From leafy greens to ‘hard’ salads made with crunchier vegetables and grains you will have many options to choose from.
Leah has always been a ‘salad master’ and she will start the class discussing what she calls ‘the philosophy of salad’. Once she clearly explains her approach you will be making a couple of different kinds of salads. Recipes for both the salads (with variations) & dressing recipes you will have you feeling empowered to start on a path of creative delicious salad making. The use of herbs and lentils as well as toasted nuts and seeds will be included.
You will leave not only having had a delicious lunch and pie, but salad for 2 to take home with a jar of dressing.
I hope you can join us for some of the classes.
We are already lining up some new artist and craftspeople for our annual Holiday Open House November 29 & 30 & December 1, 7, & 8.
Happy Fall Garden clean-up. Thank goodness the rains have started!
Mary Fisher
360-579-2329
7568 Cultus Bay Rd
Clinton, WA 98236
IG @cultusbaygardens
IG @maemaesew