MARCH – A Trip to Ireland

Materials

• Green plastic bowls (opening 6” x 1.2”) – Party Stores

• Oasis (1/6 block +)

• Potting soil ( approx. 1/4c per bowl); Stones (two 1” and several smaller)

• Glue gun, scissors, knife for cutting oasis, wax or tissue paper for pattern

• 5/8” rainbow ribbon (A.C. Moore – 9ft reel makes 8 rainbows, approximately 13” each)

• Fabric stiffener

• Floral picks

• Embellishments: gold coins, ribbon, shamrocks

• Paper plate, can (coffee can or similar), wax paper, tape, and stick for horizontal support

• Plant Material: green chrysanthemums, flowering Pieris japonica, miniature daffodils and minor bulbs;

other materials as suggested below.

Preparation

Container –

1. Cut oasis – ~9”x 4”x 3” block yields 6 pieces ~ 3” x 4” x 1.5”

2. Trace circular pattern on one side, cut on angle to create a flat circular bottom and flared sides

3. Using glue gun attach oasis to bottom

4. Add potting soil on one side to create “The Burren”

Rainbow ─

1. Remove both ends of a can and cover with wax paper

2. Thread stick through can and suspend between two stable objects

3. Cut ribbon into 13” lengths

4. Pour fabric stiffener onto paper plate

5. Coat both sides of ribbon in stiffener; drape over the can to dry

6. When dry, attach each end of the ribbon to a small floral pick

7. Add a dab of hot glue to secure and glue on embellishments

Other –

• Pictures of the Burren, Wicklow Mountains, Torc Waterfall

• Songs, Legends and Irish Blessing

During the Program Participants Will Create Ireland:

1. The Burren – the potting soil area is planted sparcely with very small plant materials including Sedums,

Lysimachia, Chinondoxa, Vinca, Forsythia, Epimedium; MGs help the participants place these small

pieces; stones are added to create the effect of the rocky limestone area.

2. The Wicklow Mountain is created next (if available use 4-5 green chrysanthemums for the mountain)

with plant stems cut at various lengths to help make the Ʌ-overall shape .

3. Torc Waterfall is placed near the Mountain – it’s created with flowering Pieris japonica.

4. Other plant materials (will vary based on weather conditions): e.g., Chaemaecyparis, Acuba, Abelia,

Pachysandra, Spirea ‘Ogon’, Holly, mini Daffodils, are distributed to participants to fill-in and enhance

their arrangements. All materials are cut short to maintain a “landscape” lower than our Mountain.

5. As the last step, participants add the rainbows.

Discussion:

1. Introduction of the theme: “Today we going on a trip to Ireland. Are you ready to use your

imaginations? We are going to make 3 stops: starting in the west – The Burren in County Clare; next

we’ll go across the county to the east and visit the Wicklow Mountains; and then we’ll go southwest

and stop in Killarney at the Torc Waterfall. (Show the pictures of each area – many are available at

Google/Images) Here we go, pretending that this green bowl is Ireland….”

2. Discuss the plant materials as they are used in the program;

3. Talk about the legend of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, leprechauns and little people ;

4. Finish up with an Irish Blessing and group-sing of “Molly Malone” or other traditional Irish tune.

Therapeutic Horticulture Project: Julia Horman, Cynthia Kaufmann, Pat Thomas