Classes

Www.pleasantgardensct.com I give talks on growing lavender, propagating it, harvesting, drying or extracting, and of course! Cooking with it. I’m happy to talk to any civic group, garden club, etc. $300 plus mileage. I also offer samples of food made with lavender for a small additional fee. Lavender is primarily a savory flavor. It is great with garlic and other herbs, eggs, pork or chicken, cheese. Add lavender to anything you’re making with lemon. As a switch, dark chocolate things like cake or truffles shine with a hint of lavender. Shortbread cookies with lavender and lemon are amazing. Repotting your tropical orchid. Participants are offered to bring their own plant or plants to have them repotted live in front of them. If a screen is available, I have slides showing many different orchid types and methods for potting. Materials cost $10 per plant to be paid to the instructor.  Valerie Allgrove has been the Recording Secretary for the Connecticut Orchid Society, as well as the Conservation Chair. She has been growing tropical orchids in her Windsor home for well over 2 decades, learning to care for these sometimes-finicky plants has been an adventure. Can be taught at any time of the year. Capacity 10 people. Wreath Making 101. Participants are shown how to bend fresh grapevines into shape for wreaths, then decorate with a variety of herbs such as Artemisia, moss, pinecones, and other natural seed pods. As needed, we will use thin wire to secure items to the base. Materials cost $15 per person to be paid to the instructor Valerie Allgrove has been making natural wreaths for over 2 decades. Many of the plants used come from her extensive gardens. Should be taught in the fall, any time from September until before Christmas. Capacity 10 people. Wreath Making 201. Participants will be given a small wreath shape and shown how to secure dried rosebuds, other fragrant herbs and spices, to make a Valentine's Day themed mini-wreath. Materials cost $25 per person, to be paid to the instructor Capacity 10 people. Valerie Allgrove has been making natural wreaths for over 2 decades. Many of the plants used come from her extensive gardens. The rose buds come from Rosa rugosa, the beach rose. They are harvested in June and dehydrated, stored in special containers until needed. They hold a remarkable fragrance. Mosaics Fun Adventure. On a wood shape, examples heart, oval, circle, shield, house, make a simple mosaic using beads, buttons, glass droplets (for the fishtank), any broken rhinestone jewelry, etc. Participants are encouraged to bring beads and anything else they have that would be fun. At the end of the class all items will be grouted either light or dark, then available for pickup either at Adult Ed or my studio the following week. Longer: 2 hours at a stretch  Materials cost: $30 to be paid to the instructor. Glass on Glass Mosaics 101. On a glass picture frame (5x7) participants will compose a mosaics picture designed to be hung in the window of their home. You will learn how to use the Glass Nippers to break glass, and chip away at a piece to create curves, as for flower petals. Must be 18. Class 1: pick out a simple idea, pick colors, start learning to use nippers and secure the glass inside the frame. Class 2: glue and complete the art. Materials cost: $40.00, to be paid to the instructor. Max 5 people. Glass on Glass Mosaics 102. MUST already have some experience with using glass nippers. Class 1: On an 8x10 or 6x12 frame, determine a theme and picture. Create a simple watercolor or pencil sketch of what you are going to make. Pick your colors and start cutting. Materials cost: $60.00 to be paid to the instructor, includes frame, glass, colored glass, waterproof glue. Must be 18. Max 5 people. On-going demonstrations of techniques, historical examples, and chatter about the history of the art. Class 2, cutting and glueing. Class 3, cutting and glueing. Projects should be finished in this 6 hours timeframe. Additional hours available, please discuss availability with instructor.