Hello & welcome to our 2nd edition of Tales from the Gardens, a monthly blog by Wild Ivy Norfolk that will keep you up to date, not only with our news but also with all that is happening at Alby Crafts & Gardens. Every month will focus on a different seasonal theme, we will share photos & news from the gardens & throw the spotlight on some of our resident & visiting artists with a 'meet the maker'.
Upcoming Courses & Workshops at Alby Crafts & Gardens:
EVERLASTING FLOWER WORSHOPS
Wild Ivy Norfolk will be running the following workshops throughout summer until the end of September;
- Flower Drying Techniques
- Create an Everlasting Pampas & Rose Hoop
- Dried Flower Art
The workshops are 1.5-2 hours long, £45-£50 per person and include all materials & all day access to the gardens. Spaces are limited to 2 people per workshop & booking is essential. Wild Ivy will also be running some specialist courses in the autumn that will run over several consecutive weeks with 6 spaces available on each course. Entomology- Pinning Butterflies, Resin Beach Art & Creating Dried Flower Glass Domes, details of which will be released nearer the time. To register interest in the specialist courses please email jaide@wildivynorfolk.com
WORKSHOP TICKETS AVAILABLE TO BUY www.widivynorfolk.com/workshops
WILD WOMAN RETREAT - Venue: ALBY Craft and Gardens, Erpingham
When: Saturday 8th July, 6.30-9.30pm
Come unleash your inner wild woman and re-wild as you commune in nature with your sisters.
Re-connect, rejuvenate and re-set. There's nothing like dancing, moving and connecting in nature to refill your soul.
Join Kayla Woo in the most gorgeous private garden.. and when I say garden I mean the most beautiful garden you have ever seen!
With bridges, ponds, a woodland, peacocks, fairy house, willow dens and the most amazing blossoming flowers & trees. Lets dance like no one's watching, roll around on the lush grass, smell the abundance of life bursting all around and share in sisterhood circle together.
There will be time to connect with nature and watch the sunset together.
What to expect
* Wild Woman Dancing in nature
* Nature connection practises
* Sharing sisterhood circle
* Earth Ritual Practises
* Time to rest, relax and reside in nature.
* Refreshments
Come and enjoy the out breath of summer and watch the sunset together.
TICKETS AVAILABLE TO BUY: https://www.kaylawoo.com/event-details-registration/wild-woman-retreat-1
May's Meet the Maker - Studio 9 – Jill M Smith – Bespoke Designer/Dressmaker
Jill came to Alby Crafts some 5 years ago continuing her freelance career of 40+yrs working in London and the S E, cutting and making for both private and commercial clients. Her work has spanned a broad product range with an emphasis on cutting for the individual for both fashion and soft furnishing commissions. In parallel she has some 25 years’ experience as a fashion lecturer – primarily teaching the technical skills for fashion - pattern cutting and garment construction.
At Studio 9, Jill is currently offering a range of ‘Workwear’ cut in classic Indigo Denim and Organic (coloured) Denims with a supporting range of Artisan inspired Aprons in robust Denim & Heavyweight cottons.
The ‘Workwear’ sample range shows the potential designs, which can be interpreted in your choice of ‘in-house’ fabric/s and cut to your individual measurements.
In contrast a selection of origami inspired top/dress & caftan styles is available ‘off the peg’ in either small or medium sizing or free-size (caftan style). This project was initiated while working in India – the initial focus of inspiration being ‘zero waste’, organic fabrics and stimulating work for a specific weaving community. (These styles can also now be made to order in alternative fabrics.) Jills work reflects classic design and careful making that will endure. Studio 9 also offers fabrics & remnants for you to cut and make up yourself, with technical support available; whether you are new to sewing or wish to expand your skills.
You can contact Jill by email or phone.
Email: jillmsmith53@gmail.com Mobile: 07713 300949
May in the Gardens
What a difference a month makes! Whilst some of us may not have been enjoying the recent wet weather, the gardens have been been loving it and have sprung to life. The Rhododendrons are in full bloom, the beds bursting with Forget-Me-Nots & the buddleia and peonies are starting to wake up. The resident Peacocks have been taking advantage of the fresh blooms & can be seen regularly in the gardens snacking on the plants & insects.
Wildflowers in Norfolk
Norfolk is home to a rich variety of wildflowers & whilst the word 'wildflowers' may conjure up images of meadows filled with daisies, poppies, cornflowers & buttercups, the diverse Norfolk terrain provides a home to a much more diverse selection of flora and fauna.
The terrain of the county is made up of different lands types which contain different soils and, depending on location contain varying nutrients & contaminants from environmental factors, meaning that different wildflowers species can be found at each site.
The coast offers a natural, mostly untouched environment and is home to the likes of sea holly, sea lavender, samphire, sea pea, sea beet & the horned yellow poppy. These plants thrive in wet areas and require a high content of salt. Blakeney & Stiffkey marshes offer some beautiful examples of coastal wildflowers which tend to bloom from late spring through to summer.
The heathland that lies across Norfolk has a poor acid soil and is a product of the last ice age. Vibrant yellow Gorse bushes & pink/purple Bell heathers that are both tough and hardy thrive on this type of land. The abundant yellow gorse you see all over Norfolk can survive temperatures of minus 20 and is happy in most soils and loves the sea air. It can easily colonize heathland as one acre of mature gorse releases 50 million seeds annually. There are several rare gorses that are native to Norfolk only.
Arable land is where you will find your wild meadow flowers, these flowers love a nutrient rich churned up soil so across the countryside you will often find fields and road sides filled with poppies, daisies, cornflowers, buttercups & clover.
Flower of the Month
Did you know that as well as birth stones every birth month & every wedding anniversary is represented by a different flower? Birthdays in the month of May are represented by the Lily of the Valley.
We hope you've enjoyed this edition of Tales from the Garden. Next month we will be meeting visiting creative Kayla Woo, Sacred Space Holder, Doula, Nature Connection Guide & Embodied Movement Specialist as part of our meet the maker and we'll be looking at how you can create a cut flower patch, from a window box to a full garden we'll talk about the best plants to grow and when to grow them so that you can enjoy & share cut flowers throughout the year.
We'll also be welcoming midsummers day in June so will be looking at flowers & traditions associated with the summer solstice.
Best Wishes
Jaide
Wild Ivy Norfolk
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