Creating a garden haven

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church's monthly workshop series on connecting with God continues in December with landscape artist Julia Shutt. On Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-noon, learn to take a portion of your yard and make it a place to rest and observe nature. By creating a space to just be and not do, we also allow a connection with God and nature. It is through this divine connection that the creative power of the universe will bless us. Gardening is really learning how to co-create with love. A $10 donation is appreciated but not required.

Bay Village resident Julia Shutt has art in her blood. She was born into a family where both of her parents were professional artists. She attended her first art class at the age of four. Julia has always worked as a creative artist and her career began in advertising as a photo-stylist doing hair, make-up and wardrobe. Over the years her work turned to film spots and working on notable celebrities like President Barack Obama, the Duchess of York, John Glenn, Al Gore and Donny Osmond.

Julia’s love of gardening and knowledge of art opened doors to an additional career as a garden design consultant and landscape designer. Gardening and understanding how plants grow has always been an innate passion of hers. Envisioning a new landscape as a composition waiting to be created is what makes this field a kick for her! She has joined talents with her husband, Byron Shutt of Maple Leaf Landscaping, and they work together as a dynamic design team. Julia has won numerous awards for commercial and residential landscape design on Cleveland’s west side, along with honors for container designs at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.

Byron and Julia’s personal gardens made the cover of Fine Gardening Magazine when her article about designing with annuals was the featured story. She also writes for the Westlake | Bay Village Observer and speaks at OSU’s Master Gardener symposiums and for garden groups throughout Northeastern Ohio. You can see Julia and Byron’s work on their website, maple-leaf-landscaping.com, or on Facebook. Her latest endeavor is as an urban beekeeper!

Please register for the workshop by phoning the church, 440-871-6200. St. Barnabas is located at 468 Bradley Road.