Greenwood Gardens Seasons Winter 2024

Seasons

giving thanks the greenwood gardens legacy society

Dear Friends of Greenwood,

As the winter whims of Mother Nature run the gamut between icy snowstorms and tantalizing breaths of spring, we can’t help but be grateful for the unwavering support Greenwood Gardens receives from you, our cherished supporters, no matter the weather. Your extraordinary generosity in 2023 – recognized in these pages – both sustained the Grow Greenwood Fund and ensured our annual appeal exceeded expectations. As a result, thousands of visitors experience the revitalizing energy and joy this unique community resource offers. Please accept our sincere thanks!

We are looking forward to the new season with great excitement! In preparation, orders for plants and trees have been placed in time for spring planting. Important repairs are being made to the antique trellis at the 1925 Cottage and the original paver paths. With grants from the E.J. Grassmann Trust and the

FROM OUR CHAIRMAN

Union Foundation, we are adding two composting bins to the existing six that have already improved our sustainable gardening efforts. Also, a robust roster of engaging programs has been scheduled. In addition to a broad range of special garden walks and tours, our MusicandDancein theGardenseries continues, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Stone Mountain Properties. Headlining the series are four returning performers: the AAPI Jazz Collective, Vanessa Perea, Lyrica Chamber Music, and Lori Belilove & The Isadora Duncan Dancers. Finally, The Peter P. BlanchardIIILectureSeries continues with five fascinating presentations emphasizing our themes of nature, beauty, and history. Take time to register now at greenwoodgardens.org/programs.

With the passing of time, the garden evolves. And so do the lives of those about whom we care deeply. Emeritus Trustee Lezette Proud, a founding

Trustee and founder of our volunteer Green Team, passed away last November. This petite woman who was a friend to all had an outsized effect on the lives of many. Another dear friend, Advisory Board member Mary McNett, left us in November. Mary was a gentle soul who, like Lezette, spent years contributing her talent to the community. It was Greenwood’s great fortune to know and work with these two special people. They remain forever in our hearts.

With abiding gratitude,

Abby O’Neill

Dear Friends,

It is heartening to see the growing number of people who, like me, relish supporting Greenwood Gardens, a calm oasis amidst our busy lives. As evidenced by the long lists included in this issue of Seasons, last year was no exception.

You gave generously, and in many forms, through gifts, both financial and in-kind, memberships, and volunteering. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Staff, I extend my sincere thanks for your commitment to helping Greenwood fulfill its mission of connectingpeoplewithnatureinahistoric gardenoasis.

I can’t wait for the new season to start the first weekend of May! One of my favorite things to do when we reopen and throughout the year is to share the majesty of Greenwood with people who might not yet know about it. I love taking a friend for a stroll through our gorgeous garden and

witnessing the wonder they experience during their first visit. Not only does this help expand our reach, introducing new people serves as a (selfish!) reminder of how inspired I was when I first discovered Greenwood.

Spring will be here before we know it and I look forward to seeing you in the garden then!

Sincerely,

Louise Moos

PHOTO BY BARBARA STORMS

Board of Trustees

Kathleen Bourke

Nancy Dougherty

Rex Dyer

Geralyn Hagemann

Cynnie Kellogg

Theodor Kundtz

Lynn Magrane

Louise Moos, Chairman

Greg Outwater

Marilyn Pfaltz

Andrew Permison

Peggy Shilling

Arthur T. Vanderbilt II

Carl R. Woodward III

Founding Chairman

Peter P. Blanchard III (1951 - 2022)

Emeritus Trustees

Elaine Becker

Sofia A. Blanchard, Co-Founder

Tim Hartman

Lezette G.Proud (1927-2023)

Abby O’Neill, Executive Director

Advisory Board

Co-Chairs

Arthur T. Vanderbilt II

Carl R. Woodward III

James E. Barrett, Jr.

Jane Barrett

Ceyan Birney

Ruthi Byrne

Daniel Cannizzo

Judy Cash

Paul Ciraulo

Patti Donovan

Tanya Freeman

Susan Johnson

Peter Kellogg

Scott Lamm

Susan Lowry

Janine Luke

Patti Manzi

Helen McGinley

Pat McGinley

Linda Nortillo

Jeanne Weill

Marcia

A HISTORIC GARDEN OASIS

Introducing the Greenwood Gardens Legacy Society Leave an Enduring Legacy of Nature, Beauty, and History

Have you ever imagined having an impact that extends far beyond your lifetime? If so, consider joining the Greenwood Gardens Legacy Society, an esteemed group of individuals committed to sustaining Greenwood. By establishing a legacy gift, you will be instrumental in helping us achieve our goal to preserve and enhance Greenwood Gardens in perpetuity. Your gift will sustain the operations of this cherished site year-round, including beautifying the gardens, maintaining historical structures, and offering a range of stimulating programs in horticulture, history, and the arts.

Whether you choose to leave a bequest in your will, establish a charitable trust, or name Greenwood as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, you will play a pivotal role in cultivating our garden’s future. Join us in preserving the revitalizing inspiration that Greenwood brings to our community and in the process, leave an enduring legacy of nature, beauty, and history that can be enjoyed by all.

Learn more about the Greenwood Gardens Legacy Society by contacting Abby O’Neill, Executive Director, at aoneill@greenwoodgardens.org or 973-258-4026, ext. 20. If you have already planned a gift to Greenwood, please notify us so we can express our gratitude and welcome you to the Society.

PHOTO BY SONIA UYTERHOEVEN