50% Off Wood Bird House Kits
Original Birdhouse
Save 50% on all Box For the Birds wood bird house kits while supplies last. Originally $38-$43, these kits are now $19-$23 online and in the shop. Box for the Birds house kits are a great afternoon project. Designed as an interlocking puzzle, the birdhouses are easy to assemble. No glues or fasteners required. Paint it, decorate it as a mixed media college, or leave it natural. Box for the Birds kits are eco-friendly. They are handmade in USA using Baltic plywood and come in low-impact, flat packaging. Designed by Michael Oliveri Studio in Athens,GA.
The “Right” birdhouse, below left, is a nod to the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. What a perfect fit for Lakelanders who reside near Florida Southern College. It’s pretty amazing that our city has an architectural treasure of such significance.
The Original Box for the Birds has a traditional pitched roof, while the third birdhouse kit is shaped like a church. Cute!
Right Birdhouse
Church Birdhouse
Spring Obsession Garden Extravaganza – March 9
Brooke Pottery invites you to attend the 11th Annual Spring Obsession 9am – 4pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013. Spring Obsession is a celebration of garden, art and music in Lakeland’s historic Munn Park that happens just once a year. If your yard is brown, get Downtown! More than 60 local and regional nurseries, landscapers and garden vendors will bring their plants and garden decor to Munn Park, filling downtown with springtime color and energy. Lakeland jazz band Free Time adds to the festive mood with “an eclectic and entertaining blend of musical styles ranging from Miles Davis to Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley.” Throw in free activities for children and half a dozen Gardening Presentations, and you have an irresistible family-friendly event.
How is Brooke Pottery connected to Spring Obsession? Brooke Pottery is both a partner of the event and a participant. Our shop’s founder, Gloria Brooke, was a primary founder of Spring Obsession. Margaret Stephens, a co-owner of Brooke Pottery, helps plan the event, and we contribute a garden-themed gift basket to the auction. The shop also sets up a booth in the park, with a sampling of our sun hats, garden gloves, bird houses and feeders and artful garden stakes. Did we mention that Spring Obsession’s mission is to raise funds form cultural enhancements in Lakeland? Here’s what Gloria had to say last year in an interview with Lakeland Local:
About the origins of Spring Obsession 11 years ago, Gloria recalls, “Marie MaGrath and I were talking and decided Lakeland should have a first class garden event like Selby Gardens in Sarasota – a large plant sale with music and garden and educational workshops. We had no funds, just an idea.” Brooke and McGrath quickly built a volunteer team that made the first year’s event a big success.
One of the goals of this year’s event is to raise money for cultural enhancements in Downtown Lakeland. Event proceeds have furnished park benches in Hollis Garden and supported local initiatives including Common Ground Park, Arts on the Park, BikeLakeland and Campfire Girls. Last year, funds were used to purchase the delightfully artful bike racks outside Polk Museum of Art. “This year we are supporting artistic bike racks for the libraries and the maintenance of Munn Park,” said Brooke.
About five years ago the committee decided to support the Green movement. They added rain barrels for sale and an installation workshop. Many of the vendors offer Earth-friendly clothing and garden maintenance products.
Spring Obsession vendors and presenters have become regulars each season. The Polk County Master Gardeners have presented educational information almost from the beginning of the event. Vendors are quick to rejoin to get a space in the next year’s event. Downtown businesses support Spring Obsession for all the good they do brightening the city.“We are so thankful for all of our sponsors but particularly Magnify Credit Union and Publix Super Markets Charities,” said Brooke. “Our committee for this event has always been entirely volunteers, so all of the net profit goes to support our community. I think all of our sponsors appreciate that.”
Gardening Presentations
Held at the Wakeman’s Parkview Banquet Room – 105 N. Kentucky Avenue (next to Harry’s)
- 9:00 “City of Lakeland Plant Introductions” by Bill Koen, Horticultural Specialist, City of Lakeland
- 10:00 “Basic Orchid Culture – Give Them a Good Start” by Kay Stone, Ridge Orchid Society
- 11:00 “Citrus Greening and Other Issues” by David B. Shibles, Urban Horticulturalist, Polk County Cooperative Extenstion Service
- 12:00 “Butterfly Gardening in Central Florida” by Linda and Buck Cooper
- 1:00 “Worm Farming” by Ginger Hansill
- 2:00 “City of Lakeland Plant Introductions” by Bill Koen, Horticultural Specialist, City of Lakeland
Whimsical Metal Art by Martin Henry Designs
Martin Henry Kampitch has been working in metal for the past 12 years. Once a successful jeweler, Martin became quite disappointed at the influx of mass-produced overseas products. In 1999 he set about exploring other art forms, influenced by theories of Feng Shui.
Martin Henry Designs metal artwork for home and garden using copper and brass. Experimenting with various methods of finishing metal, Martin discovered a method of combining acids and enamels. The acids scar the metal and begin the patina process while the enamels add rich color and various shades. The result is a unique shimmery finish with an aged quality.
See the new designs for yourself at the Brooke Pottery shop or online. The funky chicken and catfish are two of our favorites!
Pi Day Sale This Weekend, March 12-14
Come celebrate the coolest of numbers, pi, and the birthday of one of the world’s most brilliant thinkers, Albert Einstein, with us this weekend. Of course, we all learned in school that pi is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, and that pi = 3.1415 (and so on). Pi Day is celebrated by people who love numbers (such as former math teacher and Brooke Pottery co-owner Margaret Stephens) on March 14 (3/14, get it?). March 14 is also Albert Einstein’s birthday, and we all know who he is. The universe is just bursting with all kinds of mathematical goodness on March 14! So to celebrate, Brooke Pottery will be serving real pie for the extended weekend – Saturday, March 12, through Monday, March 14! Mmm, pi(e).
More pi-related fabulousness: Get 14% off 3 items or fewer during the Pi Day celebration! (Limited to 3 items, but these will be your 3 most expensive items. Valid in-store only March 12 – March 14. No coupon required.)
When you come Downtown to celebrate Pi Day with us, don’t forget to check out Spring Obsession in Munn Park on Saturday, March 12 (9am-4pm). Spring Obsession is a celebration of garden, art, and music featuring local and regional nurseries, garden vendors, and art for and about the garden.
Dog Days of Summer at Brooke Pottery
New Junkyard Dog garden sculptures, wine caddies, and napkins holders by Rich Kolb of Yardbirds take center stage at Brooke Pottery this week for Downtown’s First Friday theme Dog Days of Summer. Register for the Pooch Parade here.
Yardbirds are handcrafted by Rich Kolb in Kentucky. Rich and his father created the first yardbird in 1991 while talking about and tinkering with scrap materials. Yardbirds were an instant hit! Today the Yardbirds menagerie is filled with hundreds of birds, cats, dogs and critters to decorate your home and garden. As an artist, Rich maintains a tradition of creating exciting new designs. He says, “The things in life that bring us the most joy are those which are fun and unexpected, not the mere necessities. I believe we can all benefit from a little more whimsy in our lives!” We agree whole-heartedly. Brooke Pottery has carried Yardbirds and Junkyard Dogs & Cats for more than 10 years, yet we continue to be surprised and delighted by new arrivals.
Also on First Friday, Florida artist Sharon’s Glass will be in the shop with pet-inspired glass jewelry. You may have admired Sharon’s spectacular stained glass windows depicting swans, flowers and aquatic scenes; Friday is your opportunity to meet Sharon and learn more about her work. And for kids who have yet to enter our holiday ornament contest , draw your design in the shop or pick up a form. Not only might your art be selected as our 2010 Holiday Ornament but the top 3 designers will be awarded savings bonds! Deadline is August 13.
Not a dog lover? Then check out the Junkyard Cats and Clippy Crawlies. Some of our new favorites are the skateboarding frogs, pincher crab and scorpion.
Junkyard Cats
Skateboarding Frogs,$44
Clippy Crawlie Crab,$32
Clippy Crawlie Scorpion,$49
