Margy Conners and Kris Bathe met through their kids at school. Both women were involved in a volunteer program to assist teachers. Ms. Conners is an artist and loves to paint. Ms. Bathe has an interest in growing and cooking with herbs.

        The friends decided to merge their hobbies. With the blessing and help of their children's teacher, they planted seeds, painted flower pots and made recipes with fresh herbs.

INFORMATION

Gifts, tools, planters, statuary and gardening crafts workshops are offered at Right Thyme Gardenware, 415 Wards Corner Road, Loveland; 248-8500; www.icandigit.net.

        What started as a volunteer program in an elementary school began to blossom. The women had requests from others wanting to know how to make hand-painted floor mats, glassware and bird houses, mosaic stepping stones and hypertufa (trough) planters.

        They imagined a place where gardeners — who are naturally creative — could make things to enhance their homes and gardens. In 1996, the women established Right Thyme Gardenware in Loveland.

        After considering how gardening satisfies all the senses, not just sight, Ms. Conners and Ms. Bathe decided to develop a garden for the 2001 Cincinnati Flower Show that emphasizes the four senses other than sight. Flower show visitors will be able to interact with the garden, using touch, smell, taste and sound.

        The exhibit became a community project involving donations and advice from Etera, Loveland Greenhouse, Foliage Farm, Beckett Co., Scotts-Hyponex and Wholesale Stone Co. Aiken High School donated the use of a greenhouse and the Warren County Correctional Institute helped with props and growing some of the plants.

        After the flower show, the garden will be donated to the Clovernook Center for the Blind. It will be maintained by the Federated Garden Club.

       For a complete list of local classes, workshops or gardening events,subscribe to Gardener's Network, a 28-page publication for Tristate gardeners. 542-2466; www.gardenersnetwork.org.
       
       

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