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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

A Different Kind of Flower Gardening

On Saturday, it was cold but clear outside, perfect weather to do some odd jobs around the garden.  However, I was teaching a class inside instead. 

This class was a blast,  all of the participants seemed to really enjoy themselves. 
 
 Can you guess what kind of flowers they're growing?

Here are some clues.  See the blue flower behind the fellow on the right and the glass petals that the lady on the left has just cut out?



 What's so great about this class is that each flower turns out looking unique.  No two are ever alike.

Aren't they fun? 

They can be put in the ground outside to hold up stray plants or several of them can be put in a big pot to provide exotic blooms  for plants when they're not creating their own.


Perhaps make a spot for a tea light to fit in the middle and line your sidewalk with glowing poinsettias for the holidays.

So, even though I didn't get to work outside or take any garden pictures on Saturday, I got to be with a fun group of people doing flower gardening of a different kind.

33 comments:

  1. Those are all wonderful works of art! I bet that was a fun class.

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    1. We had lots of fun and the flowers will brighten up some grey days.

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  2. Wow Peter, that looks like a fun class! You certainly have your way with glass and even better that you share with others how to be creative with it. Would love to learn something like that one day, perhaps to do panels and light holders too.

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    1. It's a fun hobby and you two would be great at it!

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  3. Any chance you'll teach this class in Seattle? If so, please advertise. I'd love to attend.

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    1. I would be happy to teach it in Seattle but I have been teaching for the last 10 years or so at Mandarin Stained Glass in Lakewood. One of the people in this last class came down from Seattle and a few from Seabeck. If you'd ever be interested in getting the class offering emails (about three a year) from Mandarin, drop them an email at mandaringallery@comcast.net, give them your email and they'll add you to the list.

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  4. Wow those are some very creative students! Did these people come with some glass skills or were they total newbies?

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    1. Yes indeed! There were all skill levels from total newbies to fairly advanced.

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  5. All are absolutely beautiful! You're clearly a great teacher.

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    1. Thanks. Don't know about being a great teacher but the folks who take these classes are so creative and interesting (like gardeners) that something great always comes out of our time together.

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  6. It can't be an accident that each of those items came out looking uniquely distinctive. Could this be a (budding) second career?

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    1. You crack me up! I've been teaching a variety of glass classes (leading, copper foil, fusing, and one day make it and take it things) in the evening and on a few Saturdays for about 10 years now and do occasional commission work. It's a fun hobby that helps pay for my plant addiction.

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  7. it's amazing what you wrote in your blog. Very beautiful work!

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  8. Pretty and bright - just what's needed for the coming dark months. Your many talents keep surprising me, Peter!

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    1. They came up with some pretty flowers. Oh yes, there's just no beginning to my talent.

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  9. Wow. I have not seen those before. Tom used to do stained glass work. Hmmm.

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  10. Whoa, you keep blowing me away with your talents! Those turned out so cool.

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    1. Well, I just took pictures. Glad you like the flowers.

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  11. Peter, you spent nice time with talented people, wonderful flowers, they are really masterpiece!

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  12. Fascinating flowers, everyone is either so talented or it is your great teaching skills. I used to do stained glass many years ago.... I really like the peach one.

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    1. The flowers turned out well. I'm voting for everyone being talented. You should get out your tools and make some glass stuff sometime!

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  13. Wow!! that is neat!! I would definitely love to assist to one of those classes if I could. It looks like fun.

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    1. You're always more than welcome. Of course, it might be a bit of a commute for you.

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  14. What do we, bloggers, know about each other? What other hidden talents do you have? I want to be in your class one day! Got the info from the comment above about Mandarin; thanks! All the shown flowers are beautiful!

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    1. It's fun to learn about each other via our blogs. Glad you liked the flowers and it would be wonderful to meet you in a class or maybe you'd like to come on some garden tours with Alison and me next summer?

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  15. Well, look at those flowers, I am in awe. Glad to meet another gardener/stained glass artist, and a skilled teacher, too.

    If you could see my house right now (and I'm glad you can't, lol) you'd see lamps, lamps and more lamps, all in various stages of completion. We purchased some supplies and unfinished lamps from a gentleman whose health has failed and though I have no idea what the color scheme will be until they are off the forms, we don't have the heart to discard his hours of work. We're looking forward to the unveiling. In the meantime I have the big Wisteria 3/4 of the way done; just waiting for snow to put an end to my outdoor work for good.

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    1. I've never made a lamp, other than the panel kinds that take much less time. Lots of my friends do lamps and my hat's off to everyone who has the patience to create them as a lamp made with well chosen glass is such a beautiful thing! Am looking forward to seeing the unveiling of the mystery lamps!

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  16. I'm sure this is fun to do, even though it looks a little bit complicated! =)

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.