Vase-Making Workshop -- We Did It Oct. 15

In November there is not a Willow Garden Club event -- it's our month of rest, supposedly.  Please come back soon to see details on the December event, which is likely to be a workshop to create holiday topiaries.  What fun that will be!

Speaking of fun, we had some on Oct. 15 at the Vase-Making Workshop.

For most participants it was a first experience of working with porcelain. For others, it was returning to an activity they had done loooooooong ago and they wanted to see how they liked it as an adult.  Lots of experimenting, discovering, visiting, and even chuckling along the way.

After wedging the clay and being advised of a few studio protocols and porcelain characteristics, the potters began their work.  Clay was rolled into slabs, cut, altered, compressed, attached, stamped, and compressed some more before being covered lightly to begin a slow drying process. 

The morning group focused on vases -- some tall and thin, others short and asymetrical.  The afternoon potters made vases, some bowls, small plates, cookie stamps, garden stakes, sugar keepers, and even a spoon rest.  Workshop pieces have been bisque fired and are currently at this stage of the process:

Beautiful in white .  These were fired in the kiln for 20 hours and 19 minutes.

 
A few photos will help share the activity

-- but they do not tell it all. Glazing and another firing are yet to come. 

She's ready and rarin' to go!

It's good to have smart phones and buddies.

All smiles -- and rested after the gardening season?

She's thinking it through.

Yes, there was supervision.

Watching from afar when her work was done.

 If others have photos of the clay day to share, please send them to Carol.  Hopefully we'll get pictures of the potters and their pots once the pieces are ready to go home.

You, too, can enjoy Willow Garden Club Programs.  Become a member so you don't miss out on the announcements -- just $10 a year.  Renewals and new memberships for 2016 can be sent to Kathy Mailer, PO Box 947, Willow, AK 99688.

New officers were determined in October and those attending the Harvest Dinner signed up to serve on committees.  There's still room for more members, more volunteer help, and more learning and fun in the Willow Garden Club.  We'd love to hear from you!!

Vase Making With Porcelain is next!

The Harvest Dinner was a small gathering of folks, delicious food, and productive discussion.  The meeting focused on recruiting members to commit to committees and to assume leadership roles in WGC. It takes time, talent, and dedication to keep the Club's many activities and programs moving forward and it appears there are new and returning gardeners willing to commit for 2016.  It also appears that there is still plenty of room on the "organizational chart" for additional volunteers, so if you missed out on the opportunity to sign up at the dinner, please don't miss out on signing up for committee work with your friends and fellow gardeners.  Where will you help?

Next Event:  Vase Making With Porcelain -- Thursday, October 15 
One group will meet 10-1; a different group will meet 2-5.

This event is at WillowAK Pottery on Shirley Lake. The workshop will include a demo, instruction, and time for you to create a porcelain vase which eventually will be fired, glazed, and fired again. Come with your ideas and expect a fun half-day in the studio. Club members have priority until Oct. 10 securing their registration with a $30 fee for materials and processing. Checks should be made to Willow Garden Club. Hopefully you'll end up with a piece you like and have a good time creating it!

For additional info and registration, send a message to Carol Goltz at willowakpottery@gmail.com

Harvest Dinner Flyer

Have you marked your calendar?  Invited a friend and/or neighbor to join you?   If you have any questions about this event for all of Willow, please get in touch:  willowgardenclub.gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

Harvest Dinner for Community -- Thursday, Sept. 17

This is a community-wide event for sharing all things "harvested" -- and for a good time.  It's a potluck and it is free.

Following the dinner will be the annual Willow Garden Club meeting focusing on an opportunity for members and potential members to consider where they'd like to volunteer with Club activities in 2016. Hopefully all will see a spot where they could be of help in keeping Willow Garden Club alive and well in the community. Please give some thought ahead of time to where your interests and talents would best fit. 

The more the merrier at the Harvest Dinner! Please extend an invitation to neighbors and other friends. If you didn't harvest something to bring to the potluck, bring what someone else grew, shot, caught, or picked.  It will all work out!

Visit this blog again soon and you'll find a flyer about the event.  This is simply a preliminary "heads up" message so you save Sept. 17 for the Harvest Dinner,  a potluck organized by the Willow Garden Club.

Agenda for August 20 Meeting! See you there!!

Willow Garden Club - Thursday, August 20 @ 7:00 PM - Community Center

AGENDA
Guest Speaker: Jeff Graham, AK Div. of Forestry -Forest Rehabilitation

Gardening Under Construction: Club Service Project introduction

Annual Harvest Dinner - September 17.  "Your Garden Club"  Think about how the Club can serve your needs and of ways you can contribute to the Club.

Carpool visit to Sockeye-impacted properties  

See you Thursday,
Your Willow Garden Club

willowgardenclub@hotmail.com
willowgardenclub.blogspot.com

Forest Rehabilitation Program -- August 20

In case you haven't heard elsewhere, the Dan Hinkley program on Aug. 1 was chalked up as educational, entertaining, fun, and a very successful Willow Garden Club event.  Many people worked hard to make all that happen!  If you would like a more active role in planning, implementing, and participating in WGC events, please send a note to Willow Garden Club to say so!  It takes lots of volunteers to offer the many programs and events throughout the year.

Moving on to the next event:

We are almost there!

It's nearly time for the Dan Hinkley Program!

Saturday, August 1, 1:30 p.m., in the Willow Community Center.

Tickets can still be purchased online at danhinkleyinwillow.eventbrite.com, or they can be purchased at the door on Saturday for $12.    Here's what we posted earlier about this special event:

Willow Garden Club is honored to host Dan Hinkley, the well-known American horticulturalist, award-winning author, plant explorer, and lecturer. He is best known for establishing Heronswood Nursery and Windcliff, near Poulsbo, Washington. For the past twenty-five years he has traveled to all corners of the world searching out rare plants that would be suitable new introductions for the temperate climate found in the Northwest. Dan will share stories from his most recent adventure searching for rare plants in China, Vietnam, and Myanmar. He will also highlight examples of plants found on his trip; some of which could be grown in Alaska’s garden zones. This is a presentation that every gardener or armchair traveler in Alaska will enjoy.
Tickets available at danhinkleyinwillow.eventbrite.com

A brief reception/visit will be held in the Community Center directly following the program.

Hope to see you on Saturday!

A Reminder... and Something New: Coyote Garden Tour 2015

Do you have your tickets yet for the Dan Hinkley program in Willow?  You can read about him on previous blog postings, or do your own Internet search to see why we're so excited about his presenting in Willow.  Yes, tickets are still available for the Aug. 1 program:   danhinkleyinwillow@eventbrite.com

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 And, there's another special event coming up even sooner!

Willow Garden Club invites all to enjoy a tour of Les Brake's Coyote Garden:

Solstice Picnic CANCELLED

By the way, have you purchased your Dan Hinkley tickets yet?  We've made it easy for you to do so online by using this link:  danhinkleyinwillow.eventbrite.com 

The Willow Garden Club Summer Garden Picnic previously scheduled for  Saturday, June 27, has been CANCELLED.
  
Please check back for future announcements.

She's Planted...Properly!

 Dan Hinkley tickets are available and selling well.  Get yours here.

A small group gathered today to learn more about trees and shrubs -- why to plant them, where to plant them, how to plant them, and more.  We missed many of the usual attendees at Willow Garden Club programs, but figure they were busy working in their own gardens on this beautiful day in Willow!   The information from arborist  Pat Joyner was excellent, as is that in the handouts she provided.

Following the meeting a beautiful tree was planted in the Willow Library Garden, which is maintained by the Willow Garden Club.  Pause as you go in and out of the Community Center to see how this new beauty is doing, and appreciate the efforts that Garden Club members put into providing this jewel of a garden for all to enjoy.

Select your tree carefully noting form and root system. Spread the roots; plant in a shallow, sloped hole; water.

 
On another note, several Garden Club members are donating plants to the Grow Your Library fundraiser being held this Saturday, May 30, in conjunction with the Willow Art Studio Tour. Thanks to these members for supporting the Library once again and for making plants available to others in an effort to further beautify Willow! 

Happy gardening!