Getting ready for Solstice & Saturday

Saturday Workshop Preparation By Ladan:

Preparing for our Saturday Workshop has been much more than gathering materials and planning an activity, it has been a journey of curiosity, creativity, and quiet wonder. Every step of the process has reminded me that nature is not only something we observe, but something we can create with, learn from, and cherish.

For my contribution to the workshop, I have been exploring the remarkable seed pods of the Royal Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa). At first glance, these delicate shells seem simple and unassuming, yet they hold endless artistic possibilities. I have been experimenting with different ideas, creating samples that transform these natural treasures into painted wall hangings and unique pieces of jewellery. Each seed pod carries its own texture and character, making every creation beautifully one of a kind.

Part of my preparation has involved testing a variety of artistic mediums and paint types. My goal has been to strengthen the fragile shells while preserving their natural beauty, allowing them to withstand more intricate artistic techniques and creative expression. Every experiment has taught me something new, about the materials, about patience, and about the remarkable partnership between nature and art.

Alongside the creative process, I have also been preparing a small booklet filled with fascinating facts about the Royal Empress Tree. This extraordinary tree is admired around the world for its breathtaking lavender blossoms, its astonishing rate of growth, and its ability to regenerate after being cut back. Beyond its botanical wonders, I have been collecting mythical stories and cultural legends that surround the tree, revealing how it has inspired imagination across generations. These stories remind us that trees are more than living organisms, they are symbols of hope, resilience, renewal, and the deep connection between people and the natural world.

As I prepare for Saturday, I feel grateful for the opportunity to share not only an art activity, but also a story. I hope participants will see these humble seed pods not as fallen fragments of a tree, but as tiny vessels of possibility. Through creativity, conversation, and exploration, something once overlooked can become meaningful, beautiful, and lasting.

This workshop celebrates the simple magic that happens when nature meets imagination. I look forward to seeing hands create, minds wonder, and hearts discover that sometimes the smallest gifts from a tree can inspire the greatest moments of creativity.

Solstice Celebration Prep by Kat:

We have also been busy preparing for our Solstice Celebration, which in many ways feels like a love letter to the Orchard Garden. We are excited to share the magic of this place with others and to showcase the many ways the garden can teach us. By designing and organizing activities around materials found in the garden and the processes we have learned over the past several weeks, we hope to demonstrate the incredible learning opportunities that both the Orchard Garden and outdoor education can provide.

Over the past two days, we have worked closely with our Solstice group to finalize activities, gather materials, plan the food, and organize the décor. One of our biggest concerns has been deciding how much food to prepare and what to make, but after talking it through together, we are all feeling much more confident. We are especially excited to share some of the Orchard's seasonal offerings, including raspberries, lemon balm, and autumn olives, just to name a few. Alongside these treats, we are looking forward to serving garden-infused teas made with ingredients such as foraged blackberry leaves.

We have also spent time preparing materials for our activities. We gathered morning glory vines, dried them, and twisted more than two dozen crowns. We identified several areas where we could responsibly forage wildflowers, which will be an important part of other activities as well. Some materials, however, cannot be harvested too early, as they would wilt or spoil before the event. I was able to thrift serving dishes and decorative items, while others in our group created handmade crafts to enhance the celebration.

Reflecting on the past several weeks, I keep returning to the imagination, focus, and presence that the garden inspires. When the outdoors is intentionally designed as a learning environment, it truly becomes another classroom. For example, during our "Coding in the Garden" workshop, I was surprised by how engaged and present I felt. Mathematics is not usually a subject that naturally captures my attention, yet learning it outdoors completely shifted my perspective. Simply discovering that math could be meaningfully taught in a garden challenged my assumptions about what learning in this space could look like. While many of our experiences were rooted in art, we also explored science, movement, and mathematics in authentic and engaging ways.

As we celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, we cannot help but reflect on how far we have come. We are incredibly grateful to Susan and the Orchard Garden for opening our eyes to what is possible, both in outdoor education and in ourselves.

By Ladan & Kat