It's time for pumpkin crafts!

Succulent pumpkins are back! Last year we let our creativity go wild with hardy sedums, sempervirens, tender succulent houseplants too, donning our pumpkins with a mossy cap and hot gluing our desired cuttings directly on top!

October 20th Sunday 4 pm at downpour brewing

Bring your creativity and a pumpkin (the flatter the top the better: one large 8-10” in diameter or several small 3” pumpkins) and choose from a large variety of locally-raised succulents for a new take on a seasonal centerpiece you can enjoy and later re-pot as houseplants!

Beer, cider, wine, kombucha, root beer and other non-alcohol options are available. CLICK HERE to see Downpour’s current tap list.

Pre-registration is required. Workshop is for all ages. 

Bring your pumpkin, a spare glue gun and gloves if you’ve got them!

Extra pumpkins will be available at event for $5-$15 depending on size

Save your spot for Sunday October 20th at 4pm

Downpour Brewing: 10991 NE State Highway 104, Kingston, WA 98346

Take a look below at past creative examples!

Northwest Botanista Basics: Wreath Making

Wreath Making in the Pacific Northwest is such a treat, we have a bounty of native plants in our own backyards to design unique masterpieces! But what materials are best to use for a long lasting wreath?

Not all greens are created though. While Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), and less common White Fir (Abies concolor) are excellent options for building the base for the best wreath, some greenery simply doesn’t last. I’m talking about Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Although it has gorgeous needles with white undersides, once cut, they soon drop and you’ll have a wreath made of naked twigs; that’s no good, leave those branches on the tree!

Accent foliage

It’s what gives any wreath that Je ne sais quoi - something shiny? Maybe some berries? Twisting, zig-zag stems? We’re looking for unique textures are colors that will stand out and create a pleasing contrast against the base greenery. There are many plants in your own garden that are great candidates for wreath making:

Coniferous or Evergreen Shrubs and Trees:

• Pine

• Incense cedar

• Cryptomeria

• Juniper

• Arizona cypress

• Rosemary

• Doug fir

• Western red cedar is one of my fav greens to top the bulk of the greenery, it has scaley, shiny strappy fragrant foliage. because it is so flat, you need a lot more material to create a full wreath, it is best used as an accent. I also add many other accents on top of the cedar, mix and match. check out how you like your combinations before you commit to your full design.

Broadleaf Evergreens:

• Evergreen Magnolia

• Holly (Ilex)

  • bonus red berries!)

• Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina)

  • great rainbow foliage and large clusters of red berries

• Eucalyptus

  • blue foliage with fragrant leaves

• Bay Laurel

  • green, shiny, fragrant

• Salal

• Mahonia

• Evergreen huckleberry

• Ivy

• Firethorn (Pyracantha)

  • bright colored berries

Deciduous:

• Red Twig Dogwood (or any other variety/color, they really stand out!)

• Colorful stemmed maples like ‘Sangu Kaku’

• Willows

  • some yellow stems or unique, curly growth

• Grape vines

• Beautyberry

  • bright purple clusters of berries

• Witch Hazel branches

What can I collect around my garden to dry ahead of time for my wreath?

• Hydrangea

• Grasses

• Moss

• Poppy seed heads

• so much more

Types of Wreath Making:

• clamp machine

• hand tying - you can do this at home!

• wire wrap

What makes for a long lasting wreath?

• Fresh cut greens

• Place outdoors (never indoors, it will dry out in a few days and fall apart!)

• If it is under cover, a couple spritzes of water every once in awhile will keep it fresh

Fall is just around the corner, it's time for some fun pumpkin crafts!

Succulent pumpkins are back! Last year we let our creativity go wild with hardy sedums and semps as well as tender succulent houseplants, donning our pumpkins with a mossy cap and hot glueing our cuttings directly on top!

October 8th and 15th Sunday 1pm at downpour brewing

Save your spot for Sunday October 8th at 1pm or Sunday October 15th at 1pm

Downpour Brewing: 10991 NE State Highway 104, Kingston, WA 98346

Bring your creativity and a pumpkin (the flatter the top the better: one large 8-10” in diameter or several small 3” pumpkins) and choose from a large variety of locally-raised succulents for a new take on a seasonal centerpiece you can enjoy and later re-pot as houseplants!

Beer, cider, wine, kombucha, root beer and other non-alcohol options are available. CLICK HERE to see Downpour’s current tap list.

Pre-registration is required. Workshop is for all ages. 

Bring your pumpkin, a spare glue gun and gloves if you’ve got them!

Extra pumpkins will be available at event for $5-$15 depending on size

Wreath Making with Northwest Botanista

The wonderful Downpour Brewing in Kingston once again hosted another successful Botanista workshop! I am so grateful to have access to the perfect space for plantcrafting- it is covered, large outdoor heaters are warming up, personal little buddy heaters are available to whoever is feeling chilly, the beverages are flowing, we can make a mess, get our creativity on, and have a blast making amazing fresh wreaths to take home!

Nov 20th 2022 - everyone striking a pose as they’re almost finished! Some had to leave early and others were still working- see additional pictures in the gallery below.

Check out this array of ornaments, pine cones, baubles, dried grasses, flowers, fruit, and ribbon for bow making:

Wreath Making with a machine - let’s get clampy with it

More pictures from Nov 20th! Second wreath workshop is Sunday Dec 4th - - SOLD OUT

Look for the next post- Wreath Making in the Pacific Northwest: what to collect to make one-of-a-kind wreaths

Let’s get creative!

Stay tuned for more plantcraft workshops- join the mailing list to be the first to know: CLICK HERE

Workshop fun in Kingston!

These past few months have flown by and yesterday was extremely hot, hitting 90F. I spent the past few days preparing, watering, and moving some special plants in pots around to more shade. I still have 3 more summer container clients (yes, into July!) it’s been busy busy.

Downpour Brewing in Kingston has been hosting my plant workshops this spring and I’m looking forward to more! We’ve made succulent dish gardens, Japanese Kokedama hanging balls, and arranged sedums in unconventional containers. It is so fun to see everyone’s creativity!

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the last few workshops: