"The ashtrays were my doing," class member Margie Gaeta says.

Janet Hamma, Master Gardener and instructor for the center's class of 20 senior adults, initiated the project.

"The class wanted to make a scarecrow out of metal, and they decided to use cans because they were something that would not deteriorate," Hamma says. "Everyone really got into the project and brought things to add. She just evolved over time."

Bruce Battey is quick to point out that even though she looks unusual, the Tin Woman of Willow Glen has all the components of a fully functioning scarecrow.

"She's reflective, has movement and makes sounds," Battey says.

The members of the gardening class have met for two-hour sessions weekly since the end of January. July 26 was their last class.

"The class was originally scheduled through the end of May, but my supervisor suggested we go through the end of summer to harvest the vegetables we grew," Hamma says.

Hamma adds that each week she tried to cover a different aspect of gardening, such as doing away with pests and attracting beneficial insects. And, because she realizes many of her students have minimal space to garden, this year she included the topic of container gardening. Calling the class Salad in a Pot, she demonstrated how to cultivate lettuce in a planter.

"One student was especially interested in this type of gardening," Hamma says. "She was thrilled when she was able to start harvesting her own lettuce."

Hamma also introduced various art and craft projects such as a session in ikebana, which is Japanese flower arranging.

"This is Janet's first year teaching this class," says Pauline Lee, who has been attending gardening classes at the center for four years. "She keeps it entertaining. This year we learned flower arranging and drew flowers, which forced us to notice the different parts."

"Janet has lots of energy and great ideas," Battey adds. "Besides a variety of interesting topics, we took field trips to other community gardens."

So far the garden has yielded an abundance of acorn squash, pole beans and tomatoes with eggplant and potatoes just about ready for harvesting. Vegetables are distributed among the class and then the students often bring the dishes they prepare with the class-grown vegetables for everyone in the group to share.

"The next class session starts Aug. 31, and I plan to focus on winter vegetable gardens," Hamma says. "Students will also learn about plant propagation, which involves taking cuttings from existing plants, rooting them and replanting." Hamma's students will use this technique to ensure the survival of the garden's African blue basil plant.

"The plant is not tolerant of cold weather," Hamma says. "This way we can take the cuttings and protect them from the winter frost and in spring replant them."

Hamma says she has loved watching the class come together as a group.

"Initially, most people didn't know each other," she says, "but over time, they became friends and supported each other."

Future plans for the garden include steppingstones and raised garden beds with benches.

"Some of our older students have a hard time bending over to garden," Hamma says. "The raised beds would allow them to sit and lean forward to tend the plants. We need funding for this project, however."

Seniors interested in signing up for the Aug. 31 class session may do so by contacting the Willows Senior Center at 408.448.6400.