WHG Garden News - January 2023

News from the Garden

Issue 7 I January 2023

A wet and wild start to 2023.

So far 2023 has been a bit of a blur in the garden. The new year brought refreshing rains that turned into a relentless series of atmospheric rivers stretching the capacity of our ponds and runnels with many inches of water over many days. The deluge saturated the soil, and toppled three of our legacy trees.

The Serbian Spruce is now in the big pond and much of the blooming purple acacia and the gorgeous 100-foot weeping golden cypress are now mulch or ornamental garden artifacts. As you may have seen, we’ve had to close the garden to visitors through mid-February to clear debris and repair paths. But nature is hearty and so are we. We know change is constant and are excited for all that’s ahead this year.

Flora Grubb’s bucket list.

We have been humbled by the support of the garden-loving community already this year — both in helping us manage storm repairs with advice and concern and in helping build awareness of our work on the garden.

Last week we yelped with excitement when we were included on Flora Grubb’s bucket list of Bay Area public gardens to visit this year. She even led with a photo of the upper path. Read the full blog post here, and check out the incredible company we are in. There’s even a handy map so you can plan your adventures.

Spring programming.

One of our priorities this year is to build up the programming we offer in the garden. We’re planning creative classes, horticultural workshops, and wellness retreats. Check out what’s on the calendar for April and early May below.

Mary Delany Collage Workshop: Mary Delany (1700-1788) was a fascinating and intrepid English gardener, writer, and artist known for her intricate floral paper-cuttings In this class, artist and instructor, Kim Bennett will borrow her technique. Participants will use observation, specimen dissection, color mixing, and paper cutting to create a beautiful collage of a plant from the garden. Discussion will focus on what we can express about our hopes for the future when we represent the world around us. $75. All materials included. April 22nd, 10-2pm.

Color Theory in the Garden: Explore the weird and wonderful magic of color theory with Bay Area artist Lena Wolff through the inspirational palette of Western Hills Garden. This is an interactive crash course in color for beginners and practicing artists alike, diving into basic color properties, the bizarre nature of color relativity, and the science behind color perception through hands-on exercises in paint-mixing and collage. $125. All materials included. April 29th, 10-4pm

BioEuphoria: Join artist and educator Jessica Abbot Williams and meditation coach Debi Gollan for a drawing and meditation workshop for beginners and experienced artists alike. The program will include a guided intention-setting meditation, a contemplative walking meditation, and a demonstration and instruction on observational drawing using tools from the natural world. Participants will leave with a visual record of time spent in connection with the garden. $75. All materials included. May 7th, 10-2pm.

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Volunteer appreciations.

We are incredibly fortunate to have a dependable group of determined volunteers, many who have worked in the garden for years. Their knowledge and encouragement are invaluable. We took a day off at the beginning of January to go visit Single Thread Farms in Healdsburg for some inspiration and team building. Thanks to Single Thread for the hospitality and to our volunteer team for making Tuesdays so fun. We’re always looking for more folks with garden (and other) skills to join us!

Support Western Hills Garden

Running the garden takes a village, and we rely on our community. From friends like you. Come for a day visit (after Feb 15th), bring a group for a tour, become a member, or make a tax-deductible donation. Your generosity and patronage makes a difference. It helps us with storm clean-up, ongoing operations, and our longer term vision. Thank you for believing in the value of public gardens.

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