It’s time for a garden party

Everything about artist Kay O’Rourke revolves around the land.

“My creative process is totally intertwined with my garden, the soil and the earth,” says O’Rourke, known for her colorful and fanciful art.

Born into a farming family, she learned early to care for the land.

“Being the oldest child, I spent a lot of time with my father doing chores on the farm,” she recalls.

“The love for the earth, what goes into it and everything that comes from it – even the narratives of my artwork – are things my father gave to me.”

Her dad, James McKay, was born 89 years ago on the family homestead near Almira, Wash. His sister, Eileen McKay Millikan, still lives in the original white wood-framed farmhouse.

“It was a great way to grow up,” says the unassuming McKay. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Today both O’Rourke and McKay share a passion for gardening.

“Dad is always bringing plants over,” says O’Rourke. “Like me, he grows most of his own vegetables.”

O’Rourke’s sister, clay artist Gina Freuen, also maintains a large garden stocked with flowers, vegetables and berries.

Many of the raspberry bushes in O’Rourke’s garden were shoots from her sister’s patch.

“We always encourage each other, and share plants and information about our gardens,” says O’Rourke.

About seven years ago, shortly after the artist moved into her new home in the West Hills neighborhood, O’Rourke and her father started talking about collaborating on an art and garden sale.

“Dad was volunteering with the Gardeners of Spokane, and I loved the fact that the group grows and sells plants so they can give back to the community,” says O’Rourke.

When the gardeners agreed to participate in the project, O’Rourke started organizing her first Art in the Garden show in 2002.

Almost every year since, a slew of artists and gardeners has scattered around O’Rourke’s lawn between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on the last Saturday in May.

There will be hand-crafted items by two dozen area artists, including Freuen and O’Rourke’s mother, DeDe McKay.

The Gardeners of Spokane will be bringing perennials, annuals, herbs and vegetable plantings.

“We try to price them about 15 percent below retail in order to give people an extra incentive to buy from us,” says McKay.

All the money raised from selling plants supports the group’s community service activities, including beautification projects for the Hutton Settlement and other nonprofit organizations.

“People can come and purchase original artwork direct from the artist or buy a plant for a dollar,” says O’Rourke. “They can go away feeling like they have something special and at the same time be contributing to a good cause.”