The Montgomery Botanical Gardens began its Fall schedule of classes in the Gardens with the delightful “Pottery in the Gardens” class by Margaret Barber. With the threat of rainy weather gone for the morning, a full class arrived at Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park on Saturday, September 12, at 10:00 am, anticipating the “Pottery in the Gardens – A Family Affair” class in the Wisdom Wood Outdoor Classroom.
Montgomery-based ceramic artist Margaret Barber taught the class and demonstrated how to work with air-dried clay. Margaret has specialized in beautiful handmade crafts in her home studio since 1997. Her pottery, inspired by her love of nature, includes functional dinnerware, decorative vessels, seasonal collections, and other decorative art.
Her past and present participation in art festivals and competitions throughout the Southeast and Midwest regional markets highlights her skills and talents, and her work has been both exhibited and sold. One can also view and purchase her work at the Montgomery Herb Day Society’s annual festival each spring. Margaret welcomes you to her studio for Seasonal Sales. You can find out more at her website www.margaretbarberpottery.com.
For eight consecutive years, Margaret organized and chaired a huge community-wide fundraiser that included pottery bowls created by middle and high school youth for purchase.
The Empty Bowls Project is a community fundraiser that raised money for Montgomery Area Food Bank through the sale of handcrafted ceramic bowls.
The class learned about various types of clay creations and the techniques needed to make them. Students then had the opportunity to create their own clay creations.
Margaret taught each attendee to make a small, shallow bowl shaped like a flower blossom for bees to drink from. She cautioned them to research bee safety if they plan to seal their bowls before placing them outdoors. Margaret showed them how to use natural items to create texture in the pieces.
The outdoor classroom has benches, but some students brought their own folding chairs. Bottled water was provided. There is no admission fee to the gardens, and there was no charge for this class, but we always sincerely appreciate donations to MBG. Signs in the gardens display the MBG QR code, which you can use to donate. Or you may visit the MBG website to donate at www.montgomerybotanicalgardens.com, or mail your donation to Montgomery Botanical Gardens, P.O. Box 344, Montgomery, Alabama 36106.
Before or after the class, attendees took the opportunity to stroll through the Phase I Southern Garden of MBG to enjoy the beautiful fall blooms and observe the busy pollinators at work. Then some visited the Japanese Maple Garden and Hosta Garden of Phase II and observed the construction in progress for the installation of the historic Janney-Crane Fountain. An official ribbon-cutting will be held soon to open the fountain venue.
The MBG October Class in the gardens will be “Japanese Maples in the Landscape,” and Mr. Lee Moore will be the presenter on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Watch for later announcements for this class.