A wreath workshop perfect for fall
Autumn leaves, twigs and seed pods are falling in Marin. If you knew how to fashion natural elements like these into a wreath, you could have custom decorations in your home all season long.
Fortunately, Ground Goods is offering a make-and-take workshop at their Tiburon store that will walk you through the steps of creating an autumn wreath on Nov. 13.
Ground Goods, a 10,000-square-foot home and garden store, offers wreath workshops every year and they always sell out, says Ground Goods co-owner Beth LaDove.
“Autumn wreaths are an easy, festive and long-lasting way to bring seasonal color into the home and garden,” she says. “They look equally at home on the front door as they do inside of the house. They can also be used as the base, or frame, of a centerpiece on the holiday table.”
Anna Hoffmann Farley, the owner and creative force behind San Francisco's Loop Flowers, will lead this year's workshop.
“We love how passionate she is about the intersection of nature, art and design, and her commitment to sourcing sustainably,” LaDove says. “She's also a lovely person.”
The two-hour workshop includes all wreath materials, including trimmings, such as seed heads and seasonal berries, and the use of tools.
The workshop will be held outside in an inviting garden space surrounded by unique and interesting plants for sale.
“The atmosphere is always friendly, inclusive, welcoming and collaborative,” she says. “It's like a crafty garden party. It's a fun experience to do solo or also to share with a friend or family member. Participants have such a fun time making their own creations and also sharing and connecting with other students in the class.”
According to LaDove, the workshop will begin with a demonstration that highlights the elements of structure, placement and composition needed to create a dynamic and lively design.
“Then participants create their own work of art with oneon-one guidance and instruction from the teacher,” she says.
Participants will also receive a day-of shopping discount in the store and, if the class sells
out, LaDove will take names and email addresses of interested people for possible future classes.
Ground Goods is at 1520 Tiburon Blvd. in Tiburon. The autumn wreath workshop costs $150. Reservations may be made at 415-797-6057 or groundgoods.com.
Helping hand
InSpirit, a West Marin nonprofit that helps fund independent living and attendant care for Marin quadriplegics, holds an annual plant sale and fundraiser on Mother's Day.
In a few months, the group will begin ramping up the planting for its sale, but right now, volunteers Marty Meade and Amy Valens need your help.
“Ideally, people who are dividing plants now would put a division (or more) aside for us,” Valens says. “Best is potting it up and keeping it until closer to the sale, but if that isn't possible, bringing it to our greenhouse for us to tend.”
Perennial divisions can be of ornamentals, berries and trees.
If anyone is “making cuttings right now, and can make extras for us, that would be great, too,” she adds. “Please make sure they are cut at the appropriate time for the plant and are labeled well.”
From January to May, the group will accept any annuals and extra seedlings, as well as donations of seeds and soil anytime.
If you have a green thumb, Valens says, the group wants you, too. “We are always looking for growers who can grow plants of any kind for us.”
Meade will set up a special area in the group's Lagunitas greenhouse for donations.
To learn more about InSpirit, go to inspiritmarin. org. And to donate plants and materials, send an email to amyvalens@comcast.net.
Show off
If you have a beautiful or interesting Marin garden or a newly designed Marin home, I'd love to know about it.
Please send an email describing either one
(or both), what you love most about it, and a photograph or two. I will post the best ones in upcoming columns. Your name will be published and you must be over 18 years old and a Marin resident.
Don't-miss event
• Meet author Louesa Roebuck at a book signing of her new book, “Punk Ikebana,” at 11 a.m. Saturday at Copperfield's Books at Marin Country Mart at 2419 Larkspur Landing Circle in Larkspur. Call 415870-9843 or go to copperfieldsbooks.com.
PJ Bremier writes on home, garden, design and entertaining topics every Saturday. She may be contacted at P.O. Box 412, Kentfield 94914, or at pj@ pjbremier.com.