By Earl Cormney

I am pleased to announce that Mary Madison will be visiting our club for a one day demonstration and workshop Sunday August 22nd. We are excited she will bring plant material for sale and for our use in the workshop during the afternoon session. Mary will be bringing a selection of plant material including bald cypress, buttonwood, ficus and anything else she can find room for into her trailer.

If you have never met Mary, you are in for a treat. Mary lives in Homestead Florida, which is just before venturing into the Keys. As a noted artist she has given lectures and demonstrations throughout the country on tropical material. Mary is a featured artist at many national and world conventions and a real treat to get for our club. Named the “Buttonwood Queen” by fellow artist Ben Oki, Mary works on a number of tropical plants but is most known for her buttonwoods and cypress creations. She is a fascinating speaker and wonderful instructor for all those interested in taking the workshop. Not only does Mary do a great deal of guest lectures she also spends much of her time collecting trees. Much of her collecting trips take her to swamps infested with snakes and alligators. A true collector would never let something as trivial as a reptile come between them and a prized tree. Fortunately Mary has beaten the swamps to find these gems in the rough for us. I never grow tired of her talks about collecting.

Workshop participation will be limited to 12 people. Price for the workshop will be nominal to cover some of the clubs cost. Workshop participants will have first choice of plant material Mary brings for sale. Mary always brings excellent material. Plants frequently demonstrate deadwood for carving, thick trunks and sometimes other interesting features such as aerial roots. All additional plant material will be sold. She hopes not to carry any of the plants back to Florida. You may either bring your own tree to work on or purchase one from Mary the day of the demonstration/ workshop. Plant material from Mary will range from $50 and up. Anyone interested in additional information or to sign up call Earl Cormney at 452-6280.

We are also looking for someone to sponsor the demonstration tree that Mary will be styling. Cost for the demo tree will be $200 and will also need a pot. Anyone interested in sponsoring the demonstration tree should contact Earl Cormney at 452-6280.