The Bridge | Spring 2017

THE BRIDGE

MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS NEWSLETTER | APRIL - JUNE 2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Art of Flowers New Fundraiser, May 11 The Hungry Caterpillar Festival, June 3-11 301 W. RENO | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73102 | MYRIADGARDENS.ORG

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Myriad Gardens Foundation 1

A letter from the Director

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar

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The Art of Flowers Fundraiser

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Horticulture Happenings

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Calendar of Events

13 Education 15

Thank you donors

The Myriad Gardens Foundation wishes to thank our sustaining partners, leaders in providing major ongoing annual support: BancFirst The Chickasaw Nation Continental Resources Devon Energy Corporation Gardner Tannebaum Holdings Herman and LaDonna Meinders Robert H. Meinders Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort OGE Energy Corp.

The Oklahoman Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust The City of Oklahoma City

Executive Board of Directors

Community Board Members

Chairman J. Larry Nichols*

Paul Lefebvre, President

Chair Emeritus James R. Tolbert III* Treasurer Matt Cole* Mark Beffort John Hart Paul Lefebvre* Herman Meinders Gary Pierson David Rainbolt Meg Salyer* Avis Scaramucci* Sean Trauschke Myriad Gardens Foundation Staff Executive Director Maureen Heffernan Chief Financial Officer Chuck Davis Deputy Director Debora Morey *Also a Community Board Member

Avis Scaramucci Join these community leaders as a partner with Myriad Botanical Gardens and you will

Brian Alford Robert L. Allee Tony Boghetich Gerry Bonds Lindsey Brock Bob Calvert Janie Comstock Irma Elliott James Everest Warren V. Filley, MD Chris Fleming Ginny Greenberg Cary Grenrock Linda Haneborg Seyan Hefner Dannie Bea Hightower Linda Horn Gail Huneryager Dixie Jensen Michael Laird Jean McLaughlin Robert H. Meinders James R. Morley Allen Paine Morton Payne Kent Phillips James A. Pickel Christina Rehkop Lynn Robberson D. Joe Rockett Kim Searls Marsha See Carl Shortt Beth Wells Roy H. Williams

be connected to one of Oklahoma’s venerable community resources

VISION STATEMENT

Myriad Botanical Gardens seeks to enhance the quality of life and vibrancy of downtown Oklahoma City by creating and sustaining a world-class public garden and offering yearround horticultural, cultural and recreational programs and events for all.

On the cover: Spring at the Gardens includes the light yellow foliage of Privet (Ligustrum ‘Vicaryi’) and red foliage of Barberry (Berberis vulgaris).

Photo by Leslie A. Spears.

OKC Beautiful Education Award to Maureen Heffernan, Myriad Gardens Oklahoma City Beautiful’s 34th annual Distinguished Service Awards Luncheon was held on Thursday, March 23.

Gardens Executive Director Maureen Heffernan was honored for outstanding efforts put forth to improve Oklahoma City through various beautification education programs at the Gardens.

Upon receiving the award Maureen thanked the education staff: Ann Fleener, Lily Christman and Kodi Clifford.

DEAR MEMBERS & GARDENS FRIENDS

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pring is here at the Gardens in all of its luminous exuberance. Did you have a chance to visit and take in the spring bulbs especially the rainbow of tulips that swept down a long new bed near the Great Lawn? Nate Tschaenn, Director of Horticulture, had the brilliant idea to change out the underwhelming groundcover in this bed last winter and replace it with a stunning promenade of tulips.

Maureen Heffernan

To help us expand spring bulb displays, we are launching a luncheon event on May 11 to raise funds for a matching grant opportunity from the Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation. A lunch by Chef Kamala Gamble will be followed by a floral arranging demonstration by Dundee Butcher, co-owner of the renowned The Russian River Flower School in Napa Valley, California. I hope you will consider attending to support the Gardens.

In other horticultural news, we will be partnering with the City of Oklahoma City’s Water Utility Trust to offer educational programs on water conservation starting with a new “Irrigation School” on April 22 for to learn how basic irrigation systems for turf, garden beds and containers along with selection of drought tolerant plants can save on water and utility bills.

We are very excited to announce that the Gardens will be hosting the OKC Garden Fest on Saturday, May 13. More than 30 vendors will be selling gardening tools and supplies and “a real gardener’s” selection of plants including trees, shrubs, perennials, herbs and annuals and a wide selection of native plants.

In visitor amenity news, we are very excited to welcome Andra and Jacob Conger as our new seasonal food and beverage operator. Operators of the very successful Pitchfork food truck, Pitchfork in the Park is bringing their culinary deliciousness to the Gardens. Located adjacent to the Park House Event Center, they will be opening in early May. Check our website for the opening date and menu to be confirmed soon. Pitchfork in the Park will offer sandwiches, hot dogs, sides, drinks, ice cream, frozen fruit bar treats and more. See page 22 for more.

Do make Pitchfork in the Park your go-to refreshment site to enjoy when you visit the Gardens. Stop by before or after coming to one of your favorite events returning this summer including: Dancing in the Gardens, Mud Day, Sonic Summer Movies, Full Moon Bike Rides, Great Lawn Concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, Twilight Sunday Concerts presented by Oklahoma Arts Council and much more.

See you in the Gardens!

Executive Director

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Childrens’ Garden Festival: The Very Hungry Caterpillar opening June 3-11

Presented by

Inspired by Eric Carle’s book The Hungry Caterpillar Join us in the Gardens as we take a journey through a caterpillar’s transformation into a beautiful butterfly. The Children’s Garden will transform into a colorful and magical place inspired by Eric Carle’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Enjoy crafts, activities and imaginative displays that will capture the essence of one of the most beloved children’s stories.

FREE for members. Cost for nonmembers is $6 per person, $10 per person for Crystal Bridge and The Very Hungry Caterpillar package.

FREE for members of the Gardens and FREE for children 2 and under.

To become a member join online at myriadgardens.org.

Related Events

Check myriadgardens.org for more events to come!

SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 11 AM-1PM Painting in the Gardens: Happy Caterpillar Terrace room M: $20 register by calling (405) 227-0230 NM: $25 online at wineandpallette.com Join Wine and Palette at the Gardens to create a unique piece of art.

We will paint a caterpillar on an 11” by 14” canvas.

SATURDAY JUNE 3 & 10, 1-1:30PM Storytime in the Garden Children’s Garden Porch FREE with admission to The Very Hungry Caterpillar Best for ages 4 to 9

Join us Saturdays during The Very Hungry Caterpillar for an interactive reading of some of Eric Carle’s most beloved colorful nature stories. Audience members will have the chance to participate in the story and be the caterpillar, brown bear and other creatures as we read through these charming stories.

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SATURDAY JUNE 10, 10-11AM The Spectacular Caterpillar Water Plaza Room M $5; NM $7 Best for ages 5 to 10 Register by Tuesday, June 6

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is not the only caterpillar that’s hungry. Did you know caterpillars can eat three times their weight in food every day? In this class, we’ll learn all about the fascinating caterpillar with fun facts, interactive readings, a craft and a game to wrap it all up.

ENJOY DECOR BY THESE LOCAL ARTISTS:

NICK BAYER

KENTON PETERS

CLARISSA SHARP JOE SLACK

SATURDAY JUNE 10, 10AM-5PM Book Exchange & Author Visits The Children’s Garden Porch

Bring your child’s slightly used books and exchange them with other families or donate them to Gardens’ Little FREE library. It will be a day to celebrate reading at the Gardens. We will have local authors from Oklahoma onsite leading story times and other book related activities. Come celebrate the joy of reading with us. All ages welcome!

Calling all volunteers!

Join us as we transform our Children’s Garden into a brightly colored world. We need volunteer help to assist with crafts, activities and imaginative displays. With expectations of over 10,000 visitors, we invite you to come help us help families create memories. Visit myriadgardens.org for more information about how to register to volunteer.

Myriad Gardens Foundation Invites you to attend

The Art of

Flowers

Thursday, May 11 AT 11:30am-1pm park house events center

Dundee Butcher “I opened Russian River Flower School in 2013 after training and working with some of the top floral design houses in London for many years. As well as teaching, I was privileged to create arrangements for a variety of events and occasions, including private parties, intimate dinners, corporate functions, weddings and even a palace!

My vision has been to fuse what I learned working in a more formal style of floristry in Europe with the excitement of the natural beauty and materials found in abundance in Northern California, to teach a form of “unstructured formality”.

It is also to teach people to wander with their eyes open, see differently and enjoy the creative process.”

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oin us for an elegant luncheon to celebrate the art of floral arranging while helping to support Myriad Gardens Foundation. Co-chaired by Annie Bohanon and Dannie Bea Hightower, guests will enjoy a garden-to-table seasonal lunch prepared

by Chef Kamala Gamble.

All guests will receive a special thank you gift of a Kew Royal Botanic Garden rose pot

Dundee Butcher, a master floral arranger and owner of the fashionable Russian River Flower School in Napa Valley, California, will demonstrate how to create gorgeous floral arrangements you can make for special occasions or everyday enjoyment.

A native of Texas, Dundee was trained at the elite McQueens School of Flowers in London. With a style that is a mix of English tradition combined with West Coast casual, her impressive resumé includes creating arrangements for members of the British Royal Family.

Enjoy watching the creation of artful arrangements while being entertained by her stories of making custom arrangements for such famous names and places as Kensington Palace, Victoria and Albert Museum and the celebrated five-star London hotels Claridge’s and Brown’s.

Tickets are $150. Sponsorships are available. Contact Debora Morey at (405) 445-7084 or email dmorey@myriadgardens.org

Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation Challenge Grant

This event serves to raise funds for the Myriad Gardens Foundation, the 501©(3) nonprofit organization that manages Myriad Botanical Gardens. Funds will be used toward meeting a Rapp Foundation challenge grant to establish a permanent endowment for spring bulb displays for the delight and enjoyment of all in our community.

MASTER OF CEREMONIES Linda Cavanaugh Oklahoma’s News Channel 4

A Look Back at the 2017 Tulip Season Thousands of visitors to the Gardens this spring enjoyed the more than 35,000+ colorful tulip, daffodil, hyacinth and scilla blooms.

Our hard working horticulture team led by Nate Tschaenn, Director of Horticulture, carefully planted all of these bulbs last fall.

This season we planted our most diverse array of tulips that included ‘Big Smile’, ‘Salmon Impression’, ‘Leen Van Der Mark’, and ‘King’s Blood’ among the dozens of varieties planted.

Of the thousands of tulips, the most popular seemed to be the stunning double-petaled ‘Monte Carlo’ (photo left with the “Negrita’) and ‘Aveyron’ tulips.

Sincere thanks to the Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation whose matching grant of $200,000 to the Gardens will help us grow a permanent endowment to be used for spring bulb purchases each year.

If you’re on Instagram you’ll find plenty of photos under the hash tag #myriadblooms. Thank you for sharing your photos!

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Horticulture Happenings

OKC Garden Fest Moves to Gardens Saturday, May 13 with more than 40 vendors

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yriad Gardens is the proud new home of the OKC Garden Fest. The third annual event will be held Saturday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Gardens, located at 301 W. Reno

Avenue.

“Last year’s festival at the Farmers Public Market was well attended and our goal is to make this the premier garden festival in Oklahoma City,” said Bill Farris, event organizer and owner of Prairie Wind Nursery in Norman. “We are thrilled to host Garden Fest at Myriad Gardens because we will be in one of the most beautiful and inspiring spots in Oklahoma.”

Timed to coincide with Mother’s Day weekend, the festival will feature herbs, perennials, roses, produce, pottery, jewelry, wineries, food products and food trucks. Activities for children will also be offered and there is no charge for attending.

This year will again feature an area with information for those wanting to start a butterfly garden or Monarch Waystation, an intentionally-managed garden that offers food and habitat for the Monarch butterfly population. Several vendors will offer milkweed for Monarchs along with other pollinator friendly plants.

New this year will be educational talks and demonstrations about gardens and pollinators. For a complete list of vendors, activities and speakers visit facebook.com/okcgardenfest/. See vendors to date on page 20.

Desert Bird of Paradise

By Olivia Tegeler, Horticulture

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re you looking for a plant that can add a splash of color to your garden? Or perhaps one that can tolerate the blistering summer heat and drought? If so, Caesalpinia gilliesii, commonly known as desert bird of paradise, is an excellent choice. It is difficult to choose a favorite plant out of the multitude of options at Myriad Botanical Gardens, but this one definitely deserves the top position on my list of favorites in the Children’s Garden.

A member of the legume family (Fabaceae), this desert beauty has many wonderful characteristics, the most prominent being the exotic clusters of yellow flowers with long, bright red stamens that are displayed throughout the spring and summer months. Furthermore, the delicate, bluish-green feathery foliage makes this plant a sight to behold even without its beautiful blooms.

Once established, it can thrive in full sun, tolerate drought conditions and fix its own nitrogen, which means that it seldom requires fertilizer treatments. It can be watered deeply but infrequently, making it a good candidate for a water-wise garden. The only maintenance that may be necessary includes making sure the soil is well-drained and removing the fuzzy brown pods – which are deer resistant and poisonous if eaten – to encourage the plant to continue flowering.

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In addition to all of these traits, this dainty shrub attracts a variety of bees, butterflies and hummingbirds which can be found buzzing or fluttering among the plethora of brilliant blooms all summer long.

Gardener or not, the desert bird of paradise can be appreciated for its beauty, tolerant nature and its appeal to pollinators.

Desert Bird of Paradise, Caesalpinia gilliesii, grows in the Childrens Garden.

Browse from the Bridge

By Roberta Rowland, Conservatory Specialist

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ave you ever given your cat some catnip or your dog a slice of carrot? Your animals probably don’t need these to survive but they LOVED it right? Most wild animals need a variety of plants to stay healthy physically and mentally.

Birds like to tear apart plants just for exercise. Elephants like to move and ‘play’ with trees and then eat every piece, even the bark.

In zoos they call this type of “food for fun” enrichment or “browse” and it can be something animals eat or play with in their habitats.

Inside the Crystal Bridge we have several large tropical trees that need regular pruning. Rather than disgarding all these leaves and limbs we try to find a better use for them. This year when we pruned our large ficus tree (Ficus maclellandii), we coordinated with Crystal Butler and Nick Newby from the Oklahoma City Zoo and delivered a truck load foilage to them in late January. As you may know, most trees in Oklahoma do not have leaves this time of year, so this was a very special treat for the pachyderms. Ficus was given to the rhinoceroses, elephants and even the giraffes.

Most ficus trees, banana leaves, some palms, willows, cottonwoods and many other plants we grow are not things that you or I would eat but animals at the zoo love them. We enjoyed giving the animals a new healthy snack almost as much as they did.

Pictured above: Elephants Chandra and baby Achara enjoy the clippings from the Crystal Bridge last January. Photo by Nick Newby, OKC Zoo. Below: Team Horticulture prunes the trees inside the Crystal Bridge.

Welcome to the Horticulture Team Kaitlin Bacon, Horticulturist

Jessica Naylor, Horticulturist

Kaitlin moved to the metro area in 2009 from northwest Oklahoma to attend the University of Oklahoma. It was in one of her general biology courses that she discovered her love for botany and plant life. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in plant biology, with an emphasis in ecology. She has experience as an assistant in both the university’s herbarium and greenhouses, and she was the laboratory technician and later manager for the plant ecology lab at the Oklahoma Biological Survey, which specialized in prairie and grasslands ecosystems. Because of her ‘accidental discovery’ in college, Kaitlin is most excited to be a part of the Gardens because of what it is and means to those who, without them, might not have necessarily had the opportunities for such green immersion and discovery.

Jessica grew up in Colorado, exploring the outdoors and developing her love for the natural world. She moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 2008 to attend Arizona State University where she earned a bachelor of science degree in conservation biology. After graduating, she began volunteering at the Phoenix Zoo in the horticulture department where she eventually secured a full time position as a horticulturist.

Although she had fallen in love with the beauty of the desert, Jessica found herself looking to move to Oklahoma. During a Thanksgiving visit to Oklahoma City, she discovered the splendors of the Gardens, which immediately gave her a sense of belonging; she knew that when she was able to move to Oklahoma City, she definitely would love to be working here. She is very excited to learn more about Oklahoma and to become an integral part of the Gardens team.

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A P R I L 2 017

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SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1-4 PM

Irrigation and Water Conservation School Water Plaza Room & Garden Grounds Members FREE. Nonmembers $25 Register by Tuesday, April 18 Coffee and light snacks will be provided.

Beautiful home landscapes require water. Sometimes a lot of it. Celebrate Earth Day by learning how to conserve water and money through smart irrigation practices.

Join us to learn the ins-and-outs of irrigating your lawn and plants. We’ll discuss how to use this time-saving tool, along with some other smart choices, to save you money and still be good to the earth.

1–2pm: Dr. Lou Anella, professor and Director of The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University, will give us an overview of landscape irrigation – what it is, why it’s helpful and some best practices. He’ll then delve into drip irrigation and how you can automate the irrigation of patio pots, window boxes and hanging baskets, allowing you to grow beautiful flowers, herbs, or even vegetables.

2–3pm: Robert Reaves, Water Conservation Coordinator with the City of Oklahoma City Utilities, will teach you how to program your controller, adjust sprinklers, and how to fix leaks in a sprinkler system. This will be a learning experience where you practice new skills with your own irrigation system.

3–4pm: Myriad Botanical Gardens Horticulturists will take you on a tour of the Gardens, discussing water-wise plants and other practices we use for water conservation, our irrigation system and ways we make it as efficient as possible.

Sponsored by Water Utilities Trust at City of Oklahoma City

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Join online at myriadgardens.org or contact Erin Zerhen at (405) 445-7089 or email emcfall@myriadgardens.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 10:30–11:30AM

Earth Day Nature Walk Adventure South Lobby and Garden Grounds M $3; NM $5 Best for ages 5-9 Tuesday, April 18

Join us on a nature walk adventure to celebrate Earth Day. Turtle Rock Farm’s Pat Hoerth, naturelover and retreat facilitator, will teach us how to use all of our senses. We’ll then explore together and gather seeds to make seed necklaces while we talk seeds’ awesome properties that help them grow into plants. Parents will also get tips on engaging their child with nature for their future adventures.

SATURDAY APRIL 29, 10 – 11:30AM

Meet the Gardener

Children’s Garden FREE Best for children but all ages welcome Walk-ups welcome Join our Children’s Garden Manager Abby Curry anytime from 10 – 11:30 a.m. to get a behind-the-scenes look at what we do in the Children’s Garden.

On April 1 help Abby turn the compost in our large bin and feed the worms in our vermicomposting bin. On April 29, check out our newly planted herbs and help Abby plant some herb containers.

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Ongoing

Every Wednesday, 10am

Reading Wednesdays Crystal Bridge South Lobby FREE Best for ages 2-5 Bring your youngster for story time each Wednesday at 10am. Books are naturethemed and selected based on the season. Children will also enjoy creating a small craft after the story. For groups of 10 or more please call Kodi Clifford at (405) 835-6789. *Note: Starting June 21, we’ll pair up with our Weekly Walk-ups to bring you Reading Wednesday’s from 10am to noon in the Children’s Garden.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 9AM–4PM

Urban Herbs: Herb Sale and Workshops Park House Event Center $15 per Workshop or $60 for an All-Day Pass FREE to shop the Herb Sale on the Park House Patio Register by Tuesday, April 25

Walk-up the day of to enjoy shopping our plant sale and attending one of our herb walks for FREE. Pre-register to attend one, or more, of our workshops. All Day Pass participants get five workshops for the price of four and early entrance into the herb plant sale at 8am.

Join us for a fantastic day filled with delicious, aromatic and healing herbs. All proceeds from this day will benefit the Myriad Gardens Volunteer Program.

8-9am Early Entrance to Plant Sale for All Day Pass Holders 10–11am Workshop 1 Planning Your Herb Garden $15 Learn how to select herbs for your lifestyle and plant them in a productive and useable manner by designing your own herb garden with our help.

11am–Noon Workshop 2 Creating A Window Sill Herb Planter $15 Herbs are powerful plants. Come see how growing just a few in a window sill container can enhance your cooking. You will receive three herb plants to take home to grow and use.

Noon–1pm Workshop 3 Instructional Herb Lunch $15 Don’t miss this opportunity to eat a scrumptious lunch and listen to an Oklahoma City favorite Kamala Gamble as she discusses how she grew, selected and prepared your entrée, a large spring salad with herbs.

1–2pm Workshop 4 Putting Up Your Herbal Harvest $15 Come learn how to preserve your herb harvest and practice making your own bundle to take home and dry.

2–3pm Workshop 5 Lavender & Aromatherapy $15 In this workshop, we’ll discuss the many benefits of essential oils present in herbs and some practical ways to use them.

Each participant will leave with their own personalized herbal sachet.

3–4pm Plant Sale Final Hour

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 9AM-4PM PLANT SALE OPENS TO THE PUBLIC. Come early to find herbs that you won’t see at other nurseries or greenhouses. Select from a wide variety of culinary and medicinal plants.

9:15–9:45AM & 12:15–12:45PM HERB WALK WITH MYRIAD GARDENS HORTICULTURE STAFF Walk with one of the Myriad Gardens horticulture staff as they guide you through some of the beautiful and beneficial herbs planted on our grounds.

Last Saturday of Every Month April 29, May 27 & June 24, 10am

Gardens Walking Tour South Lobby and Garden Grounds FREE Walkups Welcome.

Join us to expand your Oklahoma plant knowledge and get great ideas for your yard. Each month changes as the plants grow through the seasons; in April and June we’ll discuss plants for color and in May we’ll highlight plants for water conservation. Can’t make it for the guided tour?

Pick up a self-guided handout in our South Lobby.

Tuesdays, 5:45pm

Yoga in the Gardens No late arrivals after 5:50pm SPONSORED BY Meet in the South Lobby for check-in M: Suggested $5 donation NM: $10 Must be at least 11 years-old to participate This is a great all-levels class led by Lisa Woodard, class participants should bring a yoga mat and water. Classes will meet in the south lobby for check-in each week. Drop in for a session or two or enjoy the entire series.

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Kids & Families SATURDAY, MAY 6, 10 – 11:30AM

Pond Explorers

Terrace Room and Garden Grounds M $6; NM $8 Best for ages 5 to 9 Register by Tuesday, May 2 Join us for a morning of exploring the plants and creatures that live in our ponds and streams at Myriad Botanical Gardens.

First, we’ll make pond viewers out of recycled material, and then we’ll put them to use as we get an up-close view of underwater wildlife and make observations of what we see in and around the water. We’ll end the class by creating and sharing colorful drawings of what we discovered outside.

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 9AM-4PM

OKC Garden Fest

Pavilion and Pavilion Lawn FREE See page 5 Timed to coincide with Mother’s Day weekend,OKC Garden Fest will feature herbs, perennials, roses, produce, pottery, jewelry, wineries, food products and food trucks. Activities for children will also be offered and there is no charge for attending. Start a butterfly garden or Monarch Waystation, an intentionallymanaged garden that offers food and habitat for the Monarch butterfly population.

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 11AM – 1PM

Drop-in Seed Bomb Making

FRIDAYS, MAY 5, JUNE 2, JULY 14

Dancing in the Gardens

Dance Lesson, 7-8pm, FREE Dance, 8-10pm Seasonal Plaza FREE, all ages welcome Friday, May 5 – Salsa; Friday, June 2 – Swing; Friday, July 14– Hip Hop We kick the season off with Cinco de Mayo. Join us as we transform the Seasonal Plaza into an urban dance space. Beginning at 7 p.m., instructors Marti

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 11AM-1PM

Painting in the Gardens: “Fancy Flowers” Pavilion Lawn or Terrace Room, weather dependent M: $30 by calling (405) 227-0230 NM: $35 register at wineandpallette.com

Join Wine and Palette at the Gardens to create a unique piece of art. On this day we’ll make “Fancy Flowers” on at 16x20 canvas.

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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 5:30 – 8:30PM

MONDAY, MAY 1, 7-8PM

Community FREE Barre3 in the Gardens Great Lawn and Bandshell Bring yoga mat and water Suggested $5 donation to participate

Guilford Gardens, Nichols Hills, OK $45M; $55NM Register by Friday, Apr 28 Ages 21 and up

Note: Rain date, Thursday, May 25, 5:308:30pm.

Sponsored by

MAY THROUGH OCTOBER

Full Moon Bike Ride and 5K Run

Meet at the Bandshell by the Great Lawn May-August, Run starts at 8pm, Rides at 8:30pm September-October, Run starts at 7pm, Rides at 7:30pm May 10, June 7, July 8, August 7, September 11, October 5. $5 Suggested donation

The Full Moon Run

Your favorite health and wellness activity is back. Join other runners in a 5K, led by Ultramax Sports Oklahoma, through the downtown as the sun sets.

The Full Moon Ride

Guilford Gardens Tour and Dinner

Kamala Gamble and Barbara Mock, chefs and gardeners, run Guilford Gardens, a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Garden that grows delicious and organic produce in the heart of Oklahoma City. Join us for a tour of this beautiful garden followed by an amazing dinner prepared by Kam and Barbara using their own produce.

Barre3 returns to the Gardens for another season of community outdoor fitness. A $5 suggested donation will be requested to continue our growth of the Myriad Gardens. Other dates are: June 5, 7pm; July 3, 7pm; August 7, 7pm; September 4, 6pm; and October 2, 6pm.

Children’s Garden $2 per person Best for ages 5 to 9, all ages welcome

As you walk among all the amazing booths at OKC Garden Fest, drop in to get creative and a little messy. We’ll walk kiddos (or adults!) through making their very own seed bomb to take home. We’ll also talk about all the awesome seeds in the mix - what they’ll grow into and offer to your garden.

Rickman and Kelly Forbes from Hips and Clips Studio will give a dance demonstration followed by a FREE lesson for all. At 8 p.m., DJ Red Handed will crank up the Salsa tunes to get the dancing started. Drink and food specials will be offered to highlight the night.

Bring your bike and meet up for a leisurely one hour ride led

by Schlegel Bicycles. Don’t have a bike? Use Spokie’s Bike Share.

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WEDNESDAYS, 9PM MOVIE STARTS

SONIC Summer Movie Night Great Lawn and Bandshell FREE June 21 June 28 July 5 July 12 July 19 July 26

SING The Karate Kid (1984 version) Star Trek Beyond Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Moonrise Kingdom 42-The Jackie Robinson Story

A much-loved summer tradition is back thanks to our sponsor SONIC, American’s Drive-In. Join us each Wednesday on the Great Lawn for movies, activities, food and lots of fun. Thanks to SONIC these movies are completely free. Come early to get a great seat. Bring a picnic or enjoy food from our line-up of food trucks.

Drop-in activities $2 suggested donation per child

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 11AM-2PM CHILDREN AGES 2-12; 6-8PM ADULTS

International Mud Day

Sponsored by Great Lawn and Bandshell Register by Wednesday, June 28 at noon 11am-2pm Best for ages 2-12, all ages welcome.

6-8pm Best for adults, all ages welcome.

M: $5 per participant, adults accompanying their children are FREE NM: $10 per participant, adults accompanying their children are FREE

Children, 11am-2pm Come experience the magnificence of mud and you’ll see why playing in the dirt is proven to make you happier, healthier and even smarter.

We’ll make mud pies, mud cupcakes, mud creatures and so mud more.

You can even roll in the mud if the spirit moves you. House of Clay is donating clay for some “make and takes” like seed bombs and nature stamps. A rinsing area will be available, but remember to wear your play clothes and shoes. You will get dirty.

Adults/All Ages, 6-8pm The creators of International Mud Day wanted to find a way to help everyone feel closer to the Earth and each other so grab your friends and your grungy clothes and come play in the mud with us. Embrace your inner child making mud pies, mud masks and get close to the Earth. Bring a picnic or enjoy food from our line-up of food trucks.

NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK JUNE 19-25, 2017 Celebrate National Pollinator Week with us as we focus on one of our favorite pollinators, the honey bee. We’ve got a class for kids, a class for adults and honey for all.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2-3:30PM

Buzzing Bees

Terrace Room and Children’s Garden M $7; NM $9 Best for ages 6 to 10 Register by Tuesday, June 13 Young explorers will love this interactive class where we’ll dive into the mind of a bee. We’ll talk about why bees buzz, what attracts them and why they’re so important to us and our world. We’ll visit our pollinator garden and look for bees and wrap up with a honey tasting and beeinspired craft for kids to take home.

SATURDAY JUNE 24, 10:30AM–NOON

Infused Honey’s Workshop

Terrace Room M $12; NM $15 Register by Tuesday, June 20 Buzz in for a unique workshop experience that is sweet. Come prepared to learn about the amazing honeybee and how to infuse fresh herbs, spices and fruits into their golden nectar. Tastings will be conducted. Everyone will leave with their own four-ounce jar of scrumptious infused honey.

Sorry, no groups please. Contact Lily Christman at (405) 445-5162 for educational group activities.

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Education Spotlight Myriad Gardens to be Represented at National Conference this Summer

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t the Gardens one of the organizations we look to most often is the American Public Gardens Association (APGA), which shares exciting new ideas and best practices with Public Gardens across the nation. APGA boasts over 500 member gardens and thousands of individual members. I am excited to be serving a two year term on the Presentation Selection Committee, the committee which reviews and selects all the presentations that will be given at the annual conference each June.

This past October and November I reviewed over 100 presentations submitted for the 2017 conference and worked with the rest of the committee to make the final selections.

This June I’ll begin recruiting individuals to submit presentations for the 2018 conference. This has been a fantastic experience and has given me a great picture of what other Gardens are doing across the U.S. and Canada. I’m excited for another opportunity for the Gardens to expand its reach and name beyond Oklahoma.

At this year’s conference, the Myriad Gardens will be represented by two staff members. Maureen Heffernan, our Executive Director will be giving a

By Dr. Ann Fleener, Director of Education

presentation on what public gardens can learn from public parks. I will also be presenting with several other presenters from gardens across the nation.

We will be giving a talk about Monarch conservation which will give me the chance to talk about the Gardens’ efforts in raising awareness about pollinator conservation. Last year we celebrated “The Year of the Pollinator” with nine pollinatorrelated events that focused on native bees, earth conservation, butterflies – including Monarchs - and gardens that are beneficial for pollinators, such as our prairie garden. This year, we’re continuing to focus on pollinators with educational signage in the Gardens, various pollinator focused events, and participation in a new conservation group, the OKC Metro Monarch Network.

I’m looking forward to sharing these efforts at the conference and coming back with more ideas for conserving these important creatures. After all, every third bite of food we take is thanks to them.

Kids Can Explore the Gardens with our Adventure Packs!

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Adventure Pack times are Monday-Saturday, 9am4pm and Sunday 11am-4pm in the South Lobby of the Crystal Bridge Conservatory. Best for ages 7-10.

Plan on 30 – 60 minutes to explore with the packs.

Available for free until July 1, 2017 thanks to the Hogan Taylor Foundation.

activities lead children through doing “The Bee Waggle Dance”, identifying some of Oklahoma’s most common birds as they sit in our giant birds nest and turning our compost bin as they learn how composting works.

Unpacking the Adventure Packs

Group Reservations

nteract in the Children’s Garden in a whole new way.

These packs will lead kids on an adventure full of scavenger hunts, games and fun facts. Kids will have so much fun they won’t even realize they’re learning!

Each child will take home three great souvenirs - an Adventure Badge, bookmark and coloring sheet.

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Our Adventure Packs will help bring the Children’s Garden to life for children and adults alike. Each pack comes with a scavenger hunt, coloring sheet, binoculars, and adventure sheets that guide kiddos through the many parts of the garden. The different adventure sheets teach children about the wildlife, plants and interactive areas in the garden, all while kids practice their observing, writing, drawing, acting and exploring skills. Some of our favorite

The Adventure Pack offers a variety of items to help children further explore and educate themselves on garden life.

The Adventure Packs are great for both families and groups. Families are welcome to walkup during business hours and check out a pack (or two or three!) to explore the garden together. We also have enough packs to accommodate larger groups who book in advance, such as school groups, scout troops, day camps and more. Groups of 10 or more must book in advance by calling (405) 835-6789.

Plant it Forward

By Maureen Heffernan, Executive Director

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ur 2017 Oklahoma Gardening School’s theme was “The Layered Garden for Year-Round Beauty and Sustainability.”

Over 275 attendees heard presentations by: Linda Horn of Total Environment landscape company; Mary Bays, Urban Forester with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture; Andrea Delong-Amaya of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Texas; and Kelly D. Norris from Des Moines Botanical Garden in Iowa.

All speakers stressed that great garden design includes planning for varying layers of plant heights, textures and colors and it all starts with selecting and placing trees first. Trees provide invaluable benefits to our landscapes: beauty, shade, wind breaks, food and shelter for wildlife, increased property value, and if you have young children, larger trees are the best

outdoor jungle gym for climbing, playing hiding and dreaming. For all these reasons and for the pride of planting a young tree sapling and watch it grow into a grand tree, this spring, take the time to select and plant a tree or two.

Maybe link it to an occasion like Mother’s Day, a graduation, birthday, wedding or anniversary which will imbue the tree with even more value for you and your family as it grows. Give a tree as a gift. To help you select a tree, I’d like to share a list of some of the recommended trees that speaker Mark Bays shared at the event.

These trees are all Oklahoma tough.

They say that you don’t just plant a tree for yourself but also for your grandchildren or others you will never know but who will enjoy its shady canopy when it matures.

Take this page with you to a garden center and help make OKC more green and leafy.

TREES TO LAYER IN YOUR GARDEN Smaller Trees – 10’-40’ Redbud Cercis canadensis

Sumac Rhus glabra

Chinese Pistache Pistacia chinensis

Golden Raintree Koelreuteria paniculata

Medium Trees – 40’-60’

Chinkapin Oak Live Oak Buckley Oak Lacebark Elm Cedar Elm Hackberry Western Soapberry Shantung Maple Autumn Blaze Maple Loblolly Pine

Quercus muehlenbergii Quercus fusiformus Quercus buckleyi Ulmus parvifolia Ulmus crassifolia Celtis occidentalis Sapindus drummondii Acer truncatum Acer freemanii Pinus taeda

Bald Cypress trees align the Meinders Terrace walkway.

Large Trees – 60’+

Cottonwood

Shumard Oak

Bur Oak

Bald Cypress

Kentucky Coffeetree American Sycamore

Populus deltoids Quercus shumardii Quercus macrocarpa Taxodium distichum ‘Shawnee Brave’ and ‘Frio’ Gymnocladus dioicus Platanus occidentalis or Platanus x acerfolia

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A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Donors!

Listed are financial and in-kind donors to the Myriad Gardens Foundation from January 1, 2016 to February 2017.

$50,000+ The Chickasaw Nation Devon Energy Corporation The Meinders Foundation OGE Energy Corp.

Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation $25,000 - $49,999 The Anschutz Foundation Bancfirst Continental Resources Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings Kirkpatrick Family Fund Mr. Robert Meinders Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort Oklahoma City Community Foundation Parks & Public Spaces Initative Scaramucci Foundation $10,000 - $24,000 Ad Astra Foundation Anonymous Downtown OKC Inc. Express Employment Professionals Mr. and Mrs. David McLaughlin McGee Foundation, Inc OU Physicians SONIC, America’s Drive-In Tinker Federal Credit Union

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$5,000 - $9,999 Arnall Family Foundation Ms. Eloise Bentley Cox Communications E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation Mr. John M. Gordon Amy and Kelly Gray Leslie and Cliff Hudson Nabholz Construction Mr. and Mrs. J. Larry Nichols Records-Johnston Family Foundation Telefora Mr. and Mrs. James R. Tolbert III

$2,500 - $4,999 ADG, PC Delta Dental of Oklahoma Enable Midstream Partners First Mortgage Company Mrs. Henry Freede Holiday Inn Express HoganTaylor LLC Jean I Everest Foundation The Kerr Foundation, Inc. Kids Joining Eternity Manhattan Construction Mason Realty Investors Mattison Law Group Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Morey Mrs. Jeaneen Naifeh Prodigal LLC REHCO Downtown Development, LLC St. Anthony Hospital

$1,000 - $2,499 Allied Arts Foundation American Fidelity Foundation Bank of Oklahoma Van and Pat Barber Barkocy Construction Mr. and Mrs. Dan Batchelor

BC Clark Jewelers Ben E. Keith Bob Moore Land Rover Mr. and Mrs. Tony Boghetich Calvert’s Plant Interiors Mr. and Mrs. Bob Calvert Mr. and Mrs. Richard Champlin Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Coats Crowe & Dunlevy Deep Deuce Grill, LLC Dr. and Mrs. Warren Filley First National Bank of Oklahoma FIS Foundation, Inc Fred Jones Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Bob Greenberg Aimee and David Harlow Ms. Maureen Heffernan Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Jirous Kirkpatrick Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Mark McCubbin Midtown Vets Oklahoma City Dodgers OU Health Sciences Center Mr. and Mrs. Ray Potts Mr. and Mrs. Brian Pugh Mr. and Mrs. Carson See Mr. R.L. Sias Smith & Pickel Construction Total Environment, Inc Williams, Box, Forshee & Bullard, P.C.

Contributing Members at Garden Leader Level Peter, Hillary, and Rowan Farrell S. Kim and Suzette Hatfield Brian and Allison Pugh

$250 - $999

Accel Financial Staffing Mr. and Mrs. Brian Alford Mr. Robert Allee

American Plant Products Wesley and Serena Anderson Andrews Davis BDK CPA & Advisors Mrs. Gail Beals Mr. and Mrs. William Barnes Beck Associates Architects PLLC Mr. and Mrs. Michael Belanger Mrs. Annie Bohanon Mr. and Mrs. Ken Bonds Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Booker Mr. Lindsey Brock Mr. and Mrs. Robert Browne Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Bryant Mr. and Mrs. Bob Calvert Tatianna Cannon Capital West LLC Ms. Joanna Champlin and Mr. Shawnee Brittan Mr. and Mrs. Jim Clark Colcord Hotel Mr. Matt Cole Sherman Cole and Carolyn Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Bill Comstock Cox Enterprises, LLC Crowe & Dunlevy Cuppies & Joe LLC Mr. Scott Davis Dr. Shirley Dearborn Dobson Technologies Mr. and Mrs. Carl Edwards Ms. Irma B. Elliott Mr. and Mrs. James Everest Ms. Tricia Everest Hillary, Peter & Rowan Farrell Mr. Paul Lefebvre First Liberty Bank Mr. Chris Fleming Fowler Holding Company Frankfurt Short Bruza Ms. Joan Frates Mr. Charles L. Freede Gray, Blodgett and Company PLLC Greenstock Nurseries Mr. and Mrs. David Griffin Hall Estill Ms. Bonnie Hand

Mrs. Linda Haneborg Mrs. Jane Harlow Mr. and Mrs. John Hefner Mrs. Dannie Bea Hightower High Caliper Growing, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hill Ms. Elizabeth Hines Mr. and Mrs. Dale Hume Ms. Gail Huneryager Ms. Dixie Jensen Mr. Shane Jewell Ms. Linda Kissler K & K Nursery and Landscape, Inc Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Laird Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Mavon Linda Rosser McDaniel Mr. and Mrs. Mark McDaniel Mr. and Mrs. Harry Merson Mr. and Mrs. Joe McFall Midtown Renaissance Minick Materials Mock Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Ron Morey Mr. and Mrs. James Morley Mr. and Mrs. David Neff Ms. Karen Nester Oklahoma City Beautiful Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau Oklahoma City University Mr. and Mrs. David Ostrowe Mr. and Mrs. Allen Paine The Painted Door Paycom PB and J Your Way Mr. and Mrs. Richard Parry Mr. and Mrs. Morton Payne Ms. Glenda Payne Mr. Kent Phillips Mr. James Pickel Plant Wisdom Garden Center Precure Nursery & Garden Center Presbyterian Health Foundation Prosperity Bank Roger and Joy Quinn Mr. Gene Rainbolt Mr. Marc Rice Mr. and Mrs. John Robberson Mr. and Mrs. D. Joe Rocket Ms. Meg Salyer Scissortail Salon LLC Mrs. Kim Searls Janice and Lee Segell Mrs. Tiffany Self Mr. and Mrs. Carl Shortt Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Skuta Mr. and Mrs. John Slay Mr. Lee Allan Smith Mr. and Mrs. Roger Spring Mr. and Mrs. Renzi Stone Ms. Ranee Taylor TLC Nursery & Greenhouses UMB Bank Ms. Erin Van Laanen and Mr. John Myles Vicki Vanstavern & Don Narcomey

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wells Mr. and Mrs. Mark West Mr. Dean White Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wiggin Mr. Roy H. Williams Don T. and Carolyn T. Zachritz Mr. Charles Michael Zeek

Contributing Members at the Benefactor Level Dr. Thomas Coniglione Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Hudson Mr. Ronald Javitch Mr. Gene Rainbolt

$1 - $249 Ms. Laura Ainsworth Ms. Judith Fell Austin Dr. Sterling S. Baker Ms. Kelley Barnes Ms.. Karen Beckman Mr. and Mrs. John Biggs Dr. and Mrs. Bob Blackburn Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Blaney Mr. and Mrs. G.T. Blankenship Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Braun Ms. Phyllis L. Brawley Mr. Steve Brown Mr. James Burnett Ms. Sandra Casteel Center for Economic Development Mr. and Mrs. Richard Charnay The Honorable Nancy Coats and Mr. Charlie Ashley Mr. and Mrs. Ted Cox Mr. and Mrs. Greg Crotchett Mr. and Mrs. David Dautenhahn Mr. and Mrs. Charles Davis Mrs. Libbi Davis Mr. and Mrs. Roland Denman Mr. and Mrs. R.T. Devero Dig and Hope Garden Club Mr. Max D’Souza Mr. and Mrs. Carl Edwards Ms. Elizabeth Eickman and Mr. Marvin Quinn Mr. Robert Eskridge Ms. Carol Eyster Mr. and Mrs. Jay Farber Mr. Corey Farmer Mr. Craig Fishbein Mr. and Mrs. Bill Frankfurt Mrs. Nan Frates The Generation Group Ms. Ann Felton Gilliland Mr. Cary Grenrock Mr. and Mrs. Barry Grove Sandra Harrison Dr. and Mrs. Don W. Haskins Ms. Teresa Helt Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Hervey Mr. and Mrs. Larry Herzel Mr. David High Senator and Mrs. David Holt Ms. Linda Horn Ms. Mary Houston Mr. and Mrs. Robert Howard

Ms. Audrey Huffman Ms. Robin Hurley Ms. Nancy Izfar Ms. Dixie Jensen Mrs. Brenda Johnson Mr. Mark Kelly Mr. Dusty Kitchko Mr. and Mrs. Mike Krywucki Ms. Peg Kunneman Mr. and Mrs. Stephen LaFollette Mr. and Mrs. Tim Larason Mr. Paul Lefebvre Mr. and Mrs. James Loftis Mr. Laurence D. Lucas Ms. Linda Manaugh Mr. and Mrs. Richard Marshall Ms. Joy A. McBride Mr. and Mrs. Ronald T. McDaniel Mr. and Mrs. Bruce McDermott Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. McKenzie Mr. and Mrs. John Michalski Mr. and Mrs. James Rocky Moore Mr. Melvin Moran Ms. Joanne Necco Oklahoma School of Science & Mathematics Mr. Charles Oppenheim Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Parker Ms. Phyllis Pennington Mrs. Melissa Pepper-Stevener Mr. James Prock Republic Bank & Trust Mr. and Ms. Mark Reser Ms. Patty Roloff Sherry Rowan Dr. and Mrs. Carl Rubenstein Ms. Belinda Ruffel Mr. Roger Runge Mr. and Mrs. Terry J. Schuur Mr. David Scott Mr. and Mrs. Dean Sergent Mr. and Mrs. David P. Severe Mr. and Mrs. Randel Shadid Mr. and Mrs. Mike Shelby Mr. and Mrs. J. Roy Smith Mr. and Mrs. Neil Stanfield Mrs. Judith Steelman Mr. Allan Storjohann Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Stover Mr. and Mrs. Hatton Sumner Mr. and Mrs. Udho Thadani Ms. Kym Thompson Ms. Gena Timberman Mr. and Mrs. Steve Tippett The Tree Bank Mr. and Mrs. Dan Trigg Ms. Nancy Hill Tucker Ms. Jean Marie Warren Mr. Robert White Councilman and Mrs. Pete White Mrs. Martha V. Williams Mr. and Mrs. Harry Woods Mr. and Mrs. Denver W. Woolsey Mr. and Mrs. James L. Yoch Mr. John Yoeckel Ms. Anne Zachritz Ms. Claranell Zimmerman

Contributing Members at Patron Level Ms. Sharon Beasley Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Bryant Mr. and Mrs. Tom Capucille Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hill Ms. Veena Khanna Dr. T homas Kupiec Mr. and Mrs. David Lam Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Page Mr. and Mrs. William Paulk Mr. Chris Salyer Mr. and Mrs. Roger Stong Ms. Nancy Hill Tucker Mr. and Mrs. Mario Zuniga

In-Kind Adorn Arts Council of Oklahoma City Barre3 Beau’s Wine Shop Boat House District Bricktown Starbucks Colcord Hotel Broadway Wine Merchants Calvert’s Plant Interiors DG Productions Double Shot Bar Service Dust Bowl OKC Earl’s Rib Palace Factor 110 Flint Full Circle Bookstore The General Store Great Plains Coca-Cola The Green House Inc Harkins Theater Heydey Entertainment Homeland Stores iFLY Oklahoma City 405 Magazine Magic Services MidAmerica Roofing New Leaf Florist Oklahoma Banana Olive & Company Ozarka Water & Coffee Service Panera Bread Redbud Floral Roxy’s Ice Cream Social Avis Scaramucci Scissortail Gifts Signs by Tomorrow Southwestern Stationery THG Financial Advisor This Land Yoga TLC Nurseries Topgolf OKC Trader Joe’s Whole Foods Market Wild Birds Unlimited Wilshire Garden Market

Every effort has been made to present a complete and accurate list of donors. We apologize if for any errors or omissions and invite corrections.

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Member Spotlight The Hernandez Family

Gardens has become so much more than a backdrop for your family photo

By Erin Zerhan, Membership Manager and Development Associate Jorge, Emiliano, Adamari and Brenda pose for their family Christmas card photo.

The Gardens to them is a great family photo backdrop and so much more!

B

renda and Jorge Hernandez take a break from their fastpaced life to enjoy the beauty of nature and community in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. From Pumpkinville to Dancing in the Gardens the Hernandez family enjoys the entire year at Myriad Botanical Gardens. In their own words they share some of their favorite aspects of being members of the Gardens.

What made you decide to become a member of Myriad Gardens?

We love to attend all of the special events held throughout the year at the Gardens, especially at the Children’s Garden, so it made perfect sense for us to become members to not only support the Gardens but also to save money on the different events.

What was your first impression of the Gardens, and how has that opinion changed through the years?

I would say my first impression of the Gardens was that it was just a beautiful location for family pictures, but throughout the years the Gardens have become one of our favorite places to go and enjoy as a family, especially with all Jorge and Brenda hosting Dancing in the of the family entertainment Gardens for their second year in a row. that has been added in They’ll be back for the third year on May 5. recent years. This is the place we go to play and make lasting memories with our little ones.

How many children do you have, and what are their ages?

What are their favorite parts about the Myriad Gardens and membership?

We have two children. My daughter Adamari is 9 years old and my son Emiliano is 5 years old. Being members allows us to come as often as we’d like, with free admission to the majority of the events held at the Gardens, or at a discounted price. My kids love to go to the Gardens in the fall for Pumpkinville. It’s become an annual family tradition for us. The pumpkins, activities and all

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the fall decorations really create a fun atmosphere for the kids and it’s a great way to welcome the fall season. They also love to come and play in the Thunder Fountain during the summer and ice skate at the Devon Ice Rink during the winter season.

How often do you visit the Gardens?

My children and I visit the Gardens on a regular basis, especially since it’s so close to their school, John Rex Elementary. It’s the perfect place for walks after school and play dates with friends.

What is the best part of being a member of the Gardens?

The best part of being a member is having a place that plans fun-filled monthly events for our family. There is always something exciting going on, something new. Our children look forward to their many adventures at the Gardens each month.

What event would you bring them to?

One of our favorite events that I would love for them to enjoy is Dancing in the Gardens. This family-friendly event takes place during the warm summer months and brings everyone together for a fun night of dancing outdoors in the beautiful Gardens. Salsa dancing with downtown Oklahoma City as the background makes for an unforgettable evening with family and friends.

Any final thoughts about the Gardens or membership you would like to share?

We are so grateful to the Gardens for providing this beautiful space for our community to enjoy. We hope more families will come out to the Gardens and see firsthand all that it has to offer.

Adamari, Brenda and Emiliano enjoying the Devon Ice Rink after school at John Rex Elmentary.

Sponsor Spotlight Oklahoma City-based Smart Pots joins Gardening School 2017 as new sponsor

H

igh Caliper Growing in Oklahoma City jumped at the chance to participate in Gardening School 2017 as a firsttime sponsor. The company has been a pioneer in both the tree nursery and container gardening industries since 1980 by introducing soft-sided fabric grow containers to the horticulturist around the world.

Ralph Reiger originally invented the Root Control Bag at his tree farm in Guthrie, Oklahoma and targeted tree farmers who are still current customers of the Root Control Bag. His son and current owner, Kurt Reiger, helped his father improve the product and took it one step further by introducing the Smart Pot which has been embraced by master and hobbyist gardeners throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Root Control Bags and Smart Pots are completely free of BPA contaminants and are manufactured in Oklahoma City. High Caliper Growing holds numerous patents and continues its product enhancements with patents pending.

“High Caliper Growing has always had a passion to help educate fellow growers,” said Karen Murphy, marketing director. “Whether it’s educating them on the benefits of using a fabric grow container, working with schools on gardening projects for the children, or collaborating with organizations who construct urban community gardens.

Because of this passion, High Caliper Growing is honored to be a sponsor of the Myriad Botanical Garden’s Oklahoma Gardening School.”

Smart Pots are available at your local Grow store, Hydro shop, Organic Garden store and Garden Centers. For more information visit their website at smartpots.com.

Plenty of Smart Pots were on hand for Gardening School attendees to not only see but to take home as well. The fabric material used in the

American Plant Products supports a love of learning and gardening

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“I want to support initiatives like Gardening School that teach people about planting the right plants in the right spots because in this part of the country, we deal with the full weather rodeo.”

or Rodd Moesel, a love of plants and public spaces inspires his longtime dedication to Myriad Botanical Gardens. First as an officer of the Myriad Gardens Conservancy and now as a corporate sponsor, Moesel, says teaching Oklahomans about gardening is what appeals to him about the Gardens in general, and Gardening School in particular.

Growing up on a truck farm in Pauls Valley he watched his parents use any extra funds they had to buy green houses. So, when the family relocated to Oklahoma City, Moesel joined the local 4-H club that at the time met at the Oklahoma governor’s mansion.

“I want to support initiatives like Gardening School that teach people Rodd Moesel about planting the right plants in the right spots because in this part of the country, we deal with the full weather rodeo,” Moesel said. “If people are successful at gardening, they will keep doing it. And we want them to keep doing that and support that effort.”

After graduating from Oklahoma State University, for which he paid his tuition by building and selling terrariums, Moesel opened American Plant Products.

As the owner and operator of American Plant Products, Moesel and his wife Dona design and build research greenhouses for research universities and teaching facilities across the country.

Located in Oklahoma City, the business also designs and builds commercial greenhouses for agricultural as well as ornamental crops. The 35-year-old wholesale company specializes in quality horticultural equipment, supplies and services to commercial growers, schools and universities, research facilities, retail garden centers and conservatories.

“I was an introverted little kid, and 4-H encourages people to reach out and make presentations and get involved,” he said.

“I had grown up helping people and telling them how to grow things and I guess people were fascinated by a little kid who could tell them how to grow things.”

Among the many greenhouses the company has designed, of note is the Noble Foundation facility in Ardmore. Founded by Lloyd Noble, the Sam Roberts Noble Foundation is the largest independent agricultural research institution in the United States.

In 2014, Moesel was honored for his longtime work and dedication to agriculture with the Governor’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture.

“I love and support public spaces, like Myriad Botanical Gardens, that inspire learning and teach people how to garden,” Moesel said. “Gardening School is the perfect way to do just that.”

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Poetry at the Gardens this Spring

By Maureen Heffernan, Executive Director “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

–Mary Oliver

W

hat better month than April to honor poetry when there is so much to observe and appreciate in nature as it stretches and wakes up from the winter? Every April, I seem to see and hear about more activities devoted to national poetry month.

Perhaps the need to slow down, observe, feel and think deeply by reading or writing poetry, is catching on as a much-needed balance to our rattled and fragmented attention spans as screens compete with the natural world for our close attention.

The practice of reading poetry can then serve as a kind of speed bump for our too hectic lives, slowing us down to not miss the passing scenery.

Thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, we are excited to offer an exhibit of the poetry of Mary Oliver this spring in our gardens. Oliver brilliantly writes about plants gardens and the natural world with exceptional devotion, appreciation, tenderness and affection for it. Her poems often capture a quiet moment observing nature but the end effect is like a thunderclap startling you to not take the beauty of the world or your brief time in it for granted. A Pulitzer prize-winning poet and prose writer, Oliver is described as an “indefatigable guide to the natural world.” I hope you enjoy experiencing her poems in the Gardens.

Cloudscape Haikus and Rain Poems on display

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nother poetry exhibit at the Gardens is paired with Cloudscape, an art exhibit by Oklahoma City artist Marc Baker. Located in the south lobby of the Crystal Bridge through May 14, Baker’s moody and atmospheric cloud paintings are paired with haiku cloud poems. Big billowing clouds and the delicacy of the haikus enrich enjoyment of each.

This spring, April showers will also bring poetry “flowers” as Downtown OKC ‘plants’ rain poems throughout downtown. Written by Oklahomans, these poems are only visible when the sidewalk is wet.

Two will be located at the Gardens near our northeast and southeast corners. So when it rains and the world is “mud luscious and puddle wonderful” as the poet e. e. cummings famously wrote, grab your umbrella and wander out to discover these ephemeral literary blooms.

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Issa (1763-1828)

Seeking Volunteers at the Gardens Interested in volunteering yourself or your company at the Gardens? We offer two options: Partner Volunteers and Occasional Volunteers. Partner volunteers make a commitment, and in return receive a wonderful list of benefits for their time and effort. Occasional volunteers participate when they are available or when an activity or event of interest to them is going on. If you are looking for a great place to give back, please consider joining us!

Partner Volunteers: Requirements • Must agree to volunteer a minimum of 36 hours per year (or 3 hours/month) • Must be 18 years of age or older • $25 processing fee • Complete a simple application Benefits • Receive a free parking pass to use while volunteering at the Gardens • $20 off Myriad Botanical Gardens Family Membership • Reduced/Complimentary access to various Myriad Botanical Gardens’ special events, including all education programs at Partner Volunteer price • Receive free, instructional orientation and trainings • Receive free admission plus 10 free passes to our spring and fall festivals to share with your family and friends • Invitation to our Annual Appreciation Banquet and Holiday Party • Opportunities to guide indoor and outdoor garden tours

Opportunities for Occasional Volunteers With so much going on at the Gardens we always need and appreciate the help that our Occasional Volunteers provide. Due to a variety of reasons, these volunteers cannot commit to being a Partner Volunteer. However, they come help whenever we have special activities and events.

Find a great variety of garden plants & more!

FREE ADMISSION. CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES. SHOP FOR MOTHERS DAY, (SUNDAY, MAY 14).

VENDORS INCLUDE 360 Farms CD3 Farm/ Tap your Health Source Duck Creek Farms Garden Anywhere Box Grahams Jewelrey Box Jo’s Garden Shop Lost Creek Mushroom Farm K&K Nursery and Landscape Laughing Rabbit Soap Co. Mustang Creek Alpacas Nature Conservancy Peppers and More Plant Wisdom Garden Center Prairie Wind Nursery R&E Plants “The Herb Place” Roses Inc. Green Country Skyridge Farm Southern Plant Farm Tall Grass Prairie Soap Tinroof Studios Utopia Gardens White Dog Chiles Wild Horse Canyon Farms Wild Things Nursery

Wine and Palette

For more information email Ann Fleener at afleener@ myriadgardens.org

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Community Partner Events at the Gardens Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park launches its 33rd season.

Gardens’ members receive two, nontransferrable tickets to each performance listed below. Show your membership card at the ticket table at the Myriad Gardens’ Water Stage. Nonmembers tickets are $20.

The Taming of the Shrew By William Shakespeare June 1-24 (June 1-3, June 8, June 15-17, June 22-24 Hamlet By William Shakespeare September 14-30 (September 1416, 21-23, 28-30 For more information on Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park visit okshakespeare.com

deadCENTER Film Festival June 8-10

deadCenter Film Festival for more than 100 independent films from filmmakers across the globe. Films are screened in a total of seven downtown Oklahoma City locations.

Visit their website for dates, titles & times deadcenterfilm.org

Sunday Twilight Concerts Sundays, June-August, 7pm

Book the Park House Events Center for Your Next Event With beautifully landscaped acres of formal and natural gardens, the Myriad Botanical Gardens offers you a choice of so many striking places to gather for your next happening.

The Park House Event Center is new in the line-up to rent for your special occasion. It’s perfect for corporate events, weddings, wedding receptions, networking events, birthday celebrations and more. With its natural light and striking panoramic views of the Gardens, breathtaking sunsets and nighttime glow of the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, the Events Center will make your next gathering a truly special occasion. The Events Center holds 120 people for a ceremony, 120 guests for dinner and 200 for a standing reception. Prices vary depending on day of the week and more.

Contact Goldie Jackson, (405) 208-0000 gjackson@myriadgardens.org

Arts Council of Oklahoma City’s Sunday Twilight Concert Series returns to the Gardens on June 11.

Enjoy a variety of bands. Bring a picnic lunch. Bring a chair or blanket.

Names will be announced in May. For more information visitartscouncilokc.com

Love, Peace and Goodwill Festival Sunday, June 4, 10am-9pm

Inspired by our community and a collective desire to postively impact our city, the Peace Love & Goodwill Festival is designed to provide a one-of-a-kind extra-sensory experience for the entire family.

Listen, Eat, Shop and Explore the very best Oklahoma has to offer during this one day event.

For more information visit peacelovegoodwill.org

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Amenities

Pitchfork in the Park to open at Gardens Opening mid May at Seasonal Plaza

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he Myriad Gardens is pleased to announce Pitchfork in the Park as a new amenity to visitors of the Gardens.

Andra and Jacob Conger, operators of the very successful Pitchfork food truck, will bring their culinary deliciousness to the Gardens. Located adjacent to the Park House Event Center, they will be opening in early May. From The Oklahoman, Steve Lackmeyer: Pitchfork Kitchen & Bakery in September 2015. But in that short time, the couple drew a loyal following with an array of local menu items including cinnamon rolls, unique sandwich offerings and old family recipes.

Hunter Wheat, owner of the city’s leading food truck park, Bleu Garten, ranks Pitchfork among the top three operators among 76 that visited last season in terms of popularity.

“There isn’t a truck that does better than Pitchfork,” Wheat said.

“They’ve got a good system. They serve a lot of food, they do it fast, and it’s great. And they’re creative — they have a bacon chocolate chip cookie that is out of this world.”

Check the Gardens website myriadgardens.org for the opening date and confirmed menu very soon. Pitchfork in the Park will offer sandwiches, hot dogs, sides, drinks, ice cream, frozen fruit bar treats and more!

Hours will be 11 a.m. through 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

With expanded hours during summer weekends, special events in the Gardens, and Thunder games.

Shop Scissortail Gifts at Myriad Gardens Scissortail Gifts serves as the in-house gift store at the Myriad Botanical Gardens and has expanded its selection to include garden inspired gifts. The gift store features Made in Oklahoma products, Oklahoma-inspired gifts, and a new selection of garden & botanical books, gifts, and Myriad Botanical Garden branded items.

Scissortail’s brand will become synonymous with this unique, iconic Oklahoma City attraction.

Visitors can shop good while doing good. A portion of sales go towards helping to support Myriad Botanical Gardens. Gardens members receive 10 percent off discount.

Oklahoma-Shaped Cutting and Serving Board. $20

Modern Sprout Eco Planter Herb Kit. $30 Avis Scaramucci pictured second to the left enjoys iced tea with staff Deborah Morey, Maureen Heffernan, Kerry Rapp, Jessi Reisenberg, Tatianna Cannon, Erin McPhall

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301 WEST RENO OKL AHOMA CIT Y, OK 73102 myriadgardens.org

Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Okla. City, OK Permit No. 100

CRYSTAL BRIDGE

TROPICAL CONSERVATORY

OPEN DAILY: MON-SAT 9AM-5PM, SUN 11AM-5PM $8 Adults; $7 Seniors (62+), Active Military, Students (13-19); $5 Children 4-12; FREE for Members & Children Under 4