When did you decide you loved plants?

I was about two years old and loved the fragrance of flowers. I still do.

We Were in the Daily Gazette on Sunday!

Thank you to Photographer Erica Miller for the great job she did capturing the Sunflower Hour reading and garden craft program at the Pitney Meadows Community Gardens.

Sunflowers Blooming, Great Photo Op

Don’t miss the sunflowers that are blooming in the Pitney Meadows Community Gardens. They are gorgeous.

Bring a camera and take a photo.

I hope to see you there, Natalie

Fairy Garden, Photo Exhibit and Art Show Today from 2 to 4 pm

There is a lot happening today at the Pitney Meadows Community Gardens, 223 West Avenue in Saratoga Springs.

Local photographer Tom Stock has an exhibit of Pitney Farm photos exhibited in the barn.  The Girl Scouts have created an extensive fairy village within a colorful border of flowers with little houses, pathways and treasures sure to delight.

And the children who experience the garden through art will have their art work on display in front of the sunflowers. Prizes will be awarded.

We will also have organically grown, dried sunflower heads that can be used to feed the birds or for flower arrangements and fall centerpieces on sale as a fundraiser for future events including a Spring fairy garden with mini-daffodils.  Treat your birds to this protein and mineral rich food and help support the gardens.

Contest

The Mammoth sunflowers grown as part of the Grow the Tallest Sunflower Contest will be measured and prizes award. That happens at 2:15 this afternoon.

Come join the fun today from 2 to 4 in the Pitney Meadows Community Gardens and see what has been accomplished the first season.

I hope to see you in the garden.

Natalie Walsh, Garden Director

 

Art Classes for Children

Art classes for children age 6 to 14 will be held on August 12, 19 and 26th at the Pitney Meadows Community Gardens starting at 9 a.m.

On August 12 and 26, children will be able to draw and paint flowers and bugs in the garden under the guidance of two local artists Martel Catalano and Nancy Hicks who are also gardeners in the community gardens.

On August 19th, Saratoga Springs artist and retired teacher Judy Brunner will lead a class on creating huge sunflowers out of paper. They are gorgeous. Children will be able to enter the sunflower house and see how the walls are growing.

Parents are expected to stay during the art classes which will run an hour, and everyone is welcome to remain in the garden after the class to complete their art work or just enjoy the surrounding beauty. Supplies will be provided, but if you would like to bring your own, that’s fine too.

The art created can be entered in the Sept. 16th art show in the Community Gardens.
The show will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Paintings, drawings and photographs are all eligible. To register for the classes or enter the art show contact Natalie Walsh at natalie.walsh@pitneymeadows.org

Class size is limited so early registration is advised.

Adults and children are welcome to come draw, paint or take photographs in the garden anytime from dawn to dusk.

The garden is lovely and the farmland is breathtaking. Sunflowers just started blooming this week and will continue to bloom until fall.

Come see.

First Day of Spring

I drove to Pitney Meadows this morning to greet the first rays of spring sunshine on the trees and snow covered fields.

As I gazed out, I thought of how I don’t know this land yet. And with the snow about a foot deep, introductions will have to wait. Soon (I hope) we will begin the learning process.

What weeds grow here? What is the soil like? What insects will there be? What birds will visit? What critters call this home?

I’m looking forward to all that will come. Just as I am looking forward to the greening of Spring.

 

 

 

Photographing the Special Olympics Zombie Run

I volunteered this morning to shoot photographs for the Special Olympics Run Dead fundraiser in Saratoga Springs, NY.

It was fabulous. There were undead everywhere!

The dead and undead that came out for the event were ready to have a little fun. Some danced in unison to Michael Jackson’s Thriller music. Others practiced avoiding the zombies who were hiding in the woods and  still others hula hooped while doing the zombie walk. For a zombie affair…this was a lively event.

Here are a few of the images.  I hope you enjoy them and support the Special Olympics.