A letter from the Director

A letter from the Director

The Very Hungry Caterpillar The Art of Flowers Fundraiser

Horticulture Happenings Calendar of Events

Education

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 Avis Scaramucci

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

Executive Board of Directors

Chairman J. Larry Nichols*

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

Community Board Members

Paul Lefebvre, President

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

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

Spring 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.

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!

Maureen Heffernan