April showers didn't spoil the fun!

There was lots of smiling faces at the Gardens during the recent school holidays as children (and mums and dads) enjoyed celebrating the "Year of the Farmer".

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my friends who volunteered to come and help make the activities run so smoothly ...  Nat, Di, Bettina, Carmel, Sue, Joanne, Rosemary, Christine and Yvonne... and also the Gardens Education Officers Gemma, Lee-anne and Paul.

Many people said they really enjoyed themselves ... including one young lady who said "this is the best day of the holidays". 

Here's an update on what we did:

THURSDAY 5 APRIL - Origami Insects

We folded paper to make ladybugs and butterflies, which were attached to gift cards or hung as mobiles.

TUESDAY 10 APRIL - Wacky Windmills

We made paper windmills and decorated them in bright colours

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 14 & 15 APRIL - Fruit and Vegetable Printing

We printed bright designs on cards or paper, using cut apples, carrots, lemons, mandarins, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, cucumbers, celery and capsicums.

All these activities were held in the beautiful setting of the Japanese Garden.

Swishy Swathes

Garlands of flowers and leaves now festoon the shelter shed near the Tropical Dome at the Gardens ... and more are currently under construction for display in other places around the Gardens.

I am really grateful to my cousin Gay McEwan and my friend Joanne Jayne for helping me make such a wide variety of flowers and leaves.

These 'botanical beauties' show some of the techniques I plan to incorporate in my artworks during my residency ... knitting, crochet, felting, applique, embroidery, dyeing, printing and collage.

Margot MacManus (Visitor Services Officer at the Gardens) kindly climbed the ladder to help hang the bunting. I'm very grateful for her help, because I couldn't cope with yet another broken leg or ankle at present!

I hope you think they look great!
Please visit and see them (and me) 'in person' .... and say hello if you're there this week while I'm doing children's school holiday activities (see the details in my previous post).