Garden party raises funds for Botanical Garden's Plant Propagation Program
The Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden was flocked in white Aug. 9, as guests arrived in their summer best to a Gala Garden Party to kick-off raising funds for the garden’s new Plant Propagation Program.
The Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden was flocked in white Aug. 9, as guests arrived in their summer best to a Gala Garden Party to kick-off raising funds for the garden’s new Plant Propagation Program. Through that, the garden will be better able to grow endangered plant species supporting biodiversity, produce plants for the garden’s annual plant sale, and grow tree species for a planned arboretum. Guests were greeted by Maureen Bodie’s sweet harp music; the Birch Allée, decked in white parasols, led guests into the garden to sample sparkling wine from sponsor Hester Creek Estate Winery. The classy-jazz ballads of Soleil Duo, Nancy Pincombe, and Kenneth Johnson, set the tone. The big tents were adorned in white, with boughs of huckleberry, salal, Oregon grape, and sword fern. The Nomadic Kitchen catered an exquisite dinner while the evening’s emcee Vicki Gabereau and auctioneer Ed Hill provided an entertaining and profitable live auction! Guests responded by bidding generously, and including the live and silent auctions, the garden made $31,000. “There is an increasing demand for native plants that are well-adapted to diverse growing conditions found on the Sunshine Coast. People recognize how beautifully they can be integrated into home gardens and recognize the importance of native plants in preserving and supporting biodiversity in our local ecosystems,” said Jean Bennett, the garden’s board vice president. “Knowing the origin of each plant is significant; adding to the shared knowledge of plants and habitats is a key role for botanical gardens. In developing our own program, we’ll gain important knowledge about what these plants need to germinate, grow, and thrive. And in turn, we will share that knowledge with other botanical gardens.” Board director Rosemary Bates Terry followed by dedicating a legacy gift of her late husband, Bill Terry, a respected plant propagator and one of the garden’s founders, to further support of this new initiative. The event was made possible by sponsors Sunshine Coast Community Forest, O’Reilly Real Estate, Crowe MacKay, and Hear on the Coast. And of course, we are most grateful to all the guests, donors, bidders, volunteers, staff, in-kind sponsors, and community partners who made this evening such a success! – Submitted by Heather Vince / Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden
The Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden was flocked in white Aug. 9, as guests arrived in their summer best to a Gala Garden Party to kick-off raising funds for the garden’s new Plant Propagation Program. Through that, the garden will be better able to grow endangered plant species supporting biodiversity, produce plants for the garden’s annual plant sale, and grow tree species for a planned arboretum.
Guests were greeted by Maureen Bodie’s sweet harp music; the Birch Allée, decked in white parasols, led guests into the garden to sample sparkling wine from sponsor Hester Creek Estate Winery. The classy-jazz ballads of Soleil Duo, Nancy Pincombe, and Kenneth Johnson, set the tone.
The big tents were adorned in white, with boughs of huckleberry, salal, Oregon grape, and sword fern. The Nomadic Kitchen catered an exquisite dinner while the evening’s emcee Vicki Gabereau and auctioneer Ed Hill provided an entertaining and profitable live auction! Guests responded by bidding generously, and including the live and silent auctions, the garden made $31,000.
“There is an increasing demand for native plants that are well-adapted to diverse growing conditions found on the Sunshine Coast. People recognize how beautifully they can be integrated into home gardens and recognize the importance of native plants in preserving and supporting biodiversity in our local ecosystems,” said Jean Bennett, the garden’s board vice president. “Knowing the origin of each plant is significant; adding to the shared knowledge of plants and habitats is a key role for botanical gardens. In developing our own program, we’ll gain important knowledge about what these plants need to germinate, grow, and thrive. And in turn, we will share that knowledge with other botanical gardens.”
Board director Rosemary Bates Terry followed by dedicating a legacy gift of her late husband, Bill Terry, a respected plant propagator and one of the garden’s founders, to further support of this new initiative.
The event was made possible by sponsors Sunshine Coast Community Forest, O’Reilly Real Estate, Crowe MacKay, and Hear on the Coast. And of course, we are most grateful to all the guests, donors, bidders, volunteers, staff, in-kind sponsors, and community partners who made this evening such a success!
