The Gardens on Spring Creek - 2008 Workshop
I know the snow is still on the ground. However, It is NOT too early to think about what you will be doing in your garden this year. And.... it helps pass the time away if you are not a big winter snow fan (ie skier) The Gardens offer all kinds of classes, including weaving, water color, seads starts, paper making and more. See below for more details!
Winter/Spring 2008
What’s New at The Gardens
Extra Special Events!
High Plains Landscape Workshop
Saturday, March
Held at the Fort Collins Senior Center
A day-long series of workshops to promote attractive, sustainable landscapes that
reflect a Colorado
visit www.fcgov.com/utilities/highplains.php or call 970-221-6877. Join us afterwards
for a sneak preview of spring at The Gardens from to
Sweet and Savory Spring Plant Sale
Saturday, April 26
Mark your calendar now for The Gardens’ annual spring plant sale! We’ll have herbs,
unique annuals, and ornamental grasses, plus both heirloom and traditional vegetable starts.
These beautiful and healthy plants have been grown by greenhouse volunteers.
Proceeds will be used for future development at The Gardens.
Cash, checks, MC, VISA and Discover accepted.
Get Down and Dirty Compost Festival!
Saturday, May
Join us for this not-to-be-missed Gardens’ event.
Demonstrations and hands-on fun for all ages.
‘Light and Lively’ Brown Bag Lunch Series
First Wed. of each month, to in the classroom. FREE! No registration required.
February 6: Bonsai Basics, a History and Demonstration presented by Barbara Rich, president of the Fort Collins Bonsai Society
March 5: Building an Award-Winning Landscape with Chris Nylander from Alpine Gardens
April 2: TBA
Classes at The Gardens
Sat., January 26 Fleece Weaving
Fleece weaving is a technique of weaving with woolen fleece to make rugs and mats. Students will use a small weaving frame to learn how to weave and work with wool. Fee, including the take-home weaving frame:
$30 member, non-member $35.
Instructor: Liz Moncrief
Mon., January 28, February 4, 11, 25, March 3 and 10 Watercoloring the Garden
Enjoy the experience of painting in a garden setting. This class will open your eyes to colors, shapes and values while teaching you how to apply the paint in a fresh and vibrant way. We will continue to build upon the fundamentals of painting, as students will work from photographs and from life. Students need to be familiar with drawing and working with watercolors. A list of class supplies is available at the Gardens on Spring Creek front desk. Fee per six-week session: $105 member, non-member $110.
Instructor: Karen Ramsay
Tues., January 29, February 5, 12, 26, March 4, and 11 Beginning Watercoloring
This class will start your watercolor journey as you learn the fundamentals of the water medium. Sketching, techniques, colors, shapes and values will be taught along with how to apply the paint in a fresh and vibrant way.
What could be better than learning all of this in a beautiful garden setting? A list of class supplies is available at the Gardens on Spring Creek front desk. Fee per six-week session: $90 member, non-member $95.
Instructor: Karen Ramsay
Sat., February 2 Seed Starting Made Simple
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Learn how easy it is to start your own plants from seed. This class will cover all the “how-tos” of successful seed starting. Then roll up your sleeves for some hands-on transplanting. Class will include a tour of the greenhouse at the Gardens on Spring Creek. Fee, including materials for the seedlings you will take home:
$15 member; $20 non-member.
Instructor: Ted Schaaf
Sat., February 2 Fun and Funky Papermaking
This beginning class will teach you the basic techniques of making paper using a variety of organic materials. You’ll be amazed at how simple the actual process is. Come prepared to have fun creating delightful pieces to use in greeting cards, collages and other inspired artistic forms. A fun class for youth over 12 and adults.
Fee, including materials: $20 member; $25 non-member.
Instructor: Laurie Fonken-Joseph
Fri., February 8 Winter Nature Journals
noon-4:00 p.m.
Don’t let the snow, cold, and long grey days of winter get you down! Explore the artistic and ecological practice of keeping a nature journal through the winter season. Delight in the natural world as you observe and record the details of plants gone to seed, pine cones, and icicle patterns. Observe bird activity from a window and study the winter tracks of wildlife in the frozen earth. This workshop will acquaint you with basic tools and
techniques, with classroom instruction in attuned observation, writing in reverie, basic sketching, and color. Beginners welcome, as well as advanced naturalists. Fee: $30 member; $35 non-member.
Instructor: Maria Hodkins
Session 1: Wed., February 13, 20, 27, and March 12 Meditation is for Everyone!
Session 2: Wed., April 9, 16, 23, and 30
This non-sectarian meditation class offers a practice that benefits mind, body and spirit. It can help reduce stress and enhance focus, creativity and healing. In this class, we’ll discuss the various practices of meditation and
then experience them in short, bite-sized pieces so that you can find the one that works best for you! Students should bring a notebook and/or tape recorder. Fee per session: $40 member; $45 non-member.
Instructor: Kathy Jones
Session 1: Wed., February 13, 20, 27, and March 12 Yoga to Reduce Stress
Session 2: Wed., April 9, 16, 23, and 30 and Increase Energy!
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Gentle yoga is a great way to stay in shape for the gardening season! Learn to strengthen your body and increase flexibility and relaxation with movement and breathing that feels good. You'll learn techniques to use at home to help you feel great, both physically and mentally. Students should bring a yoga mat and blanket. Fee per session: $40 member; $45 non-member.
Instructor: Kathy Jones
Sat., February 16 Enhancing Your Garden with Feng Shui
Learn ancient feng shui secrets to make your garden special, regardless of the style. Discover cross-cultural techniques of energy movement to capture beneficial chi while bringing balance and harmony to your home and life through your garden and landscape. Handouts and an illustrative Power Point presentation will assist students in their understanding of how to incorporate feng shui principles into their landscape. Please bring a to-scale copy of your site plan with the house and gardens located on the property.
Fee: $35 member; $40 non-member.
Instructor: Gary Hendrickson
Sat., February 23 Twining
Learn this popular and historic rug making craft from the South. It is a 'wrap and weave' method using cloth strips for the warp and the weft and can be very plain or patterned in a number of ways. Students may bring additional lightweight, cotton fabrics to weave into their sample. Fee, including the take-home weaving frame: $30 member, non-member $35.
Instructor: Liz Moncrief
Sat., March 22 Gourd Craft
Find out for yourself how easy it is to make a beautiful, decorative vessel or a winter bird house from gourds. For decorative pieces, you can integrate pine needle‑coiled weavings, incised lattice work, unusual natural objects or antler and wood handles. Wood burning also gives a nice effect. Once you’ve taken this class, you’ll want to plant seeds this summer so that you can grow, harvest and then craft your own gourds. Students may bring feathers, antlers, buttons or beads, wood burning or Dremmel tools to customize their gourds.
Fee, including gourds: $30 member, non-member $35.
Instructor: Liz Moncrief
Tues., April 8 The Fine Art of Photographing Flowers
This one-night class is designed for both film and digital camera users, and will assist each participant with finding a vision and utilizing their camera to fulfill that vision. A camera with adjustable settings is preferred.
General topics may include depth of field, composition, creative use of shutter speeds, multiple exposure, and computer enhancements. Fee: $20 member, non-member $25.
Instructor: J.R. Schnelzer
Thurs., April 10, 24 and May 1 Great Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
for Front Range Gardens
A couple of decades ago Siberian elms, silver maples, and junipers dominated our home landscapes, but not so anymore. Explore lovely options for shade trees, small ornamental trees, conifers, interesting shrubs of all sizes, and vines. Nationally renowned plantswoman, author, and designer Lauren Springer Ogden will introduce you to a host of wonderful woody plants. Seasonal interest, culture tips, and ideas for thoughtful and attractive placement will be discussed along with the plants, all accompanied by inspiring images.
Fee: $63 member; $68 non-member.
Instructor: Lauren Springer Ogden
Sat., April 19 Market and Garden Baskets
Learn a simple and quick method for creating a market basket or a basket for carrying small garden tools or vegetables harvested from the garden. These are multi-purpose baskets and make great gifts! Students may bring items to incorporate into their basket. Fee, including basic materials: $30 member, non-member $35.
Instructor: Liz Moncrief
Instructors
Laurie Fonken-Joseph has been making paper for six years and sells her collage greeting cards locally. She approaches her art in an unconventional way, experimenting freely with organic materials and pulps for her paper creations. Laurie enjoys sharing her passion for this ancient, textured art form with adults and children.
Gary Hendrickson is one of the few feng shui educators and practitioners to successfully synthesize the major schools of feng shui with noticable results. He is an architectural designer, author and founding council member of the International Feng Shui Guild.
Maria Hodkins teaches nature/field journaling programs and workshops for state parks, school, college environmental studies classes, botanic gardens, interpretive organizations, and art centers. She is a former naturalist for Colorado State Parks
Kathy Jones helps people from all walks of life find stress reduction and relaxation using the tools of yoga and meditation. She has given lectures and workshops around the country, for Hyatt Corporation and others. In her local yoga therapy practice, Kathy works with individuals to alleviate back pain and other structural and physiological conditions.
Liz Moncrief was an instructor in weaving, spinning and dyeing for Utah State University State Pioneer Museum
presents workshop-retreats in all fiber arts and enjoys gathering organic materials from the environment for both utilitarian and esthetic purposes.
Karen Ramsay is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art. With a long-standing love of drawing and painting, she now devotes her energy to developing her skill with watercolor. Karen’s work is featured
in many national and local exhibits throughout the year, and she is an avid member of the Rocky Mountain
Plein Air Painters.
Ted Schaaf is the horticulturist at the Gardens on Spring Creek and for the City of Fort Collins Lakewood
J.R. Schnelzer is an award-winning photographer with over 40 years in the photographic arts. He works in the areas of fine art collector prints, portraiture, nature, commercial and digital. J.R. owns and operates
WesternExposure and the Colorado School of Photography and has studied under such illustrious photographers as Minor White, Ansel Adams, Kim Weston and John Sexton.
Lauren Springer Ogden is a garden designer, photographer and plant fanatic. She has authored two highly acclaimed books for our region: The Undaunted Garden, which was named one of the 75 best American gardening books of the recent century by the American Horticulture Society and Passionate Gardening in collaboration with Rob Proctor.
Youth Programs
Read and Seed - Storytime and a fun, educational hands-on activity for ages 4-6
Each Tuesday, ongoing
$4.00 per session or $17.50 for 5 sessions Reservations required
Please arrive 10 minutes early to get signed in.
Parents are asked to accompany their children during this program.
Garden Journeys – Healthy snacks, art, music, science and lots of plant fun for ages 6-12
Second and fourth Wednesdays, ongoing
$6.50 per session or $30.00 for 5 sessions Reservations required
We spend time outside each session so please dress for the weather.
Call 416-2486 to register or find out additional information about
any of these educational opportunities. Please visit our website
for a listing of specific weekly youth activities.
Advance registration required for all classes. Walk-in or mail-in payment for classes should be returned to the Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 S. Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80526. Checks should be made payable to “The Gardens on Spring Creek.” Cash, checks, MC, VISA, and Discover are accepted. Adult classes may be canceled if minimum enrollment is not met at least three working days before a class begins. Visit www.fcgov.com/horticulture or call 416-2486 to register or for information on other programs at The Gardens.
