Summer Projects

Summer Projects

Brighton Gardens                      Arrangement in silicone cupcake liners

Raphael House        The Tall Plants of August, focusing mainly on corn, beans, and sunflowers.    Black-eyed Susan in container with rocks.

 

Our June project at Asbury was Tussie Mussies. 

 We had a plastic tussie mussie holder; added small flowers and herbs.   Embellished with a ribbon.The discussion was the meaning of certain flowers. 

Asbury

Theme/Discussion:  Since the Fair is going on now, we made that our theme.  We had the residents talk about their memories of the fairs they have attended, any 4H

projects they did, etc.   We also asked them about any farm life experiences from their past.

Container:  15 oz. aluminum cans with old timey/vintage labels printed and glued on them

Plant material:  Greens & summer flowers from our yards & many more flowers from the Demo Garden

Picks: A “people’s choice” blue ribbon glued onto a skewer

 

Friends House - Tussey Mussey and the language of flowers. 

Plastic cup, paper plate "collar". Hydrangea, lavender, yarrow, zinnia, rosemary, sage, daisy

                                        Friends House - Butterflies

                                        Plastic cup, zinnias, sage, gomphrena

                                                     Firefly Presentation

Materials needed:

1.              Small containers with oasis

2.              Assorted flowers and greens

3.              Firefly pic with ribbon. Firefly stickers were obtained from Etsy.

           Printed pictures of fireflies obtained from the internet

·      Also known as lightning bugs, fireflies are beetles.

·      Scientifically, fireflies are classified under Lampyridae, a family of insects within the beetle order Coleoptera, or winged beetles.  There are 2400 firefly species in 144 genera described all over the world. 29 different ones in West Va

·    Different species have different names such as: Heebies, big dipper, spring 4 flasher, July comet, Creekside tree blinkers, little greys, Christmas lights and Chinese lanterns and low slow glows

·      They get the names “firefly” and “lightning bug” because of the flashes of light they naturally produce. This phenomenon is called bioluminescence. The bioluminescent organs in fireflies are found on the underside of the abdomen. In special cells they have an enzyme called luciferase that combines with oxygen to breaks down luciferin which emits light. Fireflies mostly use their light to “talk” to other fireflies and find a mate.  

 

                    Pollinators.  Talk on bees and the products they contribute to.

                                            Tussie-Mussies

    Small bouquets were used by Victorian women to ward off unpleasant smells, but also given as gifts   with flowers of a particular meaning. Used flowers and herbs - zinnia, globe amaranth, lavender, marigold, ivy, sunflower, garlic chive, rosemary, sage, artemisia, sunflower, black-eyed Susan.

The container is a paper bowl or plate with a plastic cup inserted into the center.

Friends House, August             Song - Maizey Doats and Dozy Doats...

I know a ditty, nutty as a fruitcake,
Goofy as a goon and silly as a loon.
Some call it pretty, others call it crazy,
But they all sing this tune: 

Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey.
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
Yes!
Mairzy doats and dozy doats
And liddle lamzy divey.
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you? 

If the words sound queer
And funny to your ear,
A little bit jumbled and jivey,
Sing "Mares eat oats.
And does eat oats.
And little lambs eat ivy."