|
|
|
 |
 |
||
| The ensemble Lake Effect Winds performing at the Summer Solstice fundraiser June 20. | Nancy King Mertz of the Plein Air Painters of Chicago holds one of her paintings of Fernwood while auctioneer Kent Stroud takes bids for it during the Summer Solstice Fundraiser on June 20. | ||
 |
 |
||
| Artists from the Plein Air Painters of Chicago were at Fernwood June 19 and 20, painting Fernwood scenes to be auctioned off at the Summer Solstice event the evening of June 20. | |||
 |
 |
||
| What is this grapevine object? It is one of three that creative members of our horticulture staff, Steve, Mary Jo, and Gerald, are working on in the South Vista. You'll just have to come see the final product. |
 |
||
 |
This Magnolia tripetala, Umbrella Magnolia, blossom photo was taken on May 17. The tree was planted near the Winter House four years ago and this is the first year it has bloomed. | ||
 |
 |
||
This house wren was seen checking out one of the green roof bird houses we have for sale in the Garden Shop, and even began bringing in sticks. According to Naturalist Wendy Jones, the male begins several "dummy" nests and lets the female choose which one she likes the best. There are still a couple of these adorable houses left if you want to make a pair of birds in your yard very happy. |
Designer of our Japanese Garden, Ben Oki, returned to Fernwood on April 30 to trim and manicure the Japanese Garden and Conservatory. | ||
 |
  |
||
| Something else for the birds at Fernwood, as well as for our visitors' enjoyment, are the bird cams hooked up to two of our bird houses. This is the second year for the cam viewing in the Visitor Center, and one was recently installed in the Nature Center. This titmouse fledged three babies, and in the Nature Center, a house wren with two eggs. | Steve Bornell, Manager of Grounds and Collections at Fernwood, reported that the Carolina Silverbell, which is marginally hardy in southwest Michigan, is the prettiest he has seen it in years. This photo was taken May 14, so stop by to see it before it finishes blooming. | ||
These photos were taken during the February Faerie Weekend. Wisconsin artist Tatiana Katara showed photos of her work and spoke of where she gets her inspiration. Participants then took her workshops to learn how to make Faerie Cottages and furniture, like the ones shown below.    | |||
 |
What are these people doing? | ||
 |
They are making hypertufa trough containers for planting, like these pictured, in a class in the Meeting House on May 17. The one below is a trough that Kay Boydston had made, and can be seen near the outside fireplace at the Winter House. The class formed their troughs in large plastic tote forms, while Kay's were poured into a hole dug in the ground, then dug up and rolled on logs to their current location. Two of the original three remain. |
||