The Bridge | Winter 2022-23

MISSION STATEMENT

The Myriad Gardens Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which manages and operates the Myriad Botanical Gardens by providing capital and operating funding, increasing public awareness and support, and promoting the highest horticultural, educational and administrative standards. We strive to create a world-class botanical gardens and landscapes grounds with a variety of year-round educational, cultural and recreational programming for all ages.

COVER ART

Cover art was done by Oklahoma City artist Kris Kanaly in celebration of the Grand Reopening of the Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory. Posters sizes are 8”x10” ($10) and 16”x20” ($12; and postcards ($2) are available for sale in the Gardens Gift Shop.

The Myriad Gardens Foundation wishes to thank our sustaining partners, leaders in providing major ongoing annual support:

Continental Resources

Devon Energy Corporation

E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation

Inasmuch Foundation

LaDonna and Herman Meinders

Robert H. Meinders

Jean and David McLaughlin

OGE Energy Corp.

Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust Park Robinson LLC

The Chickasaw Nation

The City of Oklahoma City

MYRIAD GARDENS Foundation

EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIRMAN, Larry Nichols

PRESIDENT, Chris Fleming

TREASURER, Lindsey Brock

CHAIR EMERITUS, Jim Tolbert

Governor Bill Anoatubby

Mark Beffort

John Hart

Avis Scaramucci

Councilman Todd Stone

Sean Trauschke

CEO/President Maureen Heffernan

Deputy Director/Secretary Debora Morey

COMMUNITY BOARD

Tony Boghetich

Gerry Bonds

Lindsey Brock

Andy Burnett

Vera Cheek Matt Cole James Everett

Warren Filley

Linda Haneborg

Linda Horn

Gail Huneryager

Michael Laird

Regina Lane

Paul Lefebvre

Jean McLaughlin

Robert Meinders

Dee Morales Musallam

Kent Phillips

James Pickel

Christina Rehkop

Andy Rine

Lynn Robberson

D. Joe Rockett

Avis Scaramucci

Kim Searls

Marsha See Carl Shortt

Sally Starling Roy Williams

The Kirkpatrick Family Fund

Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation

Avis Scaramucci

Tinker Federal Credit Union

301 West Reno

Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 445-7080 myriadgardens.org @myiadgardens

info@myriadgardens.org

Letter from the President and CEO

Dear Members & Gardens Supporters,

After years of planning, we were thrilled to open the Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory again to the public on November 18. Visitors stepped into a completely redesigned Conservatory along with a beautiful new gift shop and family discovery room.

Opening at the Holidays makes it even more special with the Conservatory bright with hundreds of poinsettias and our traditional poinsettia tree. Everything has changed yet the tradition of thousands of people visiting the Bridge over the holidays is even stronger. Along with new plants and planting designs, terraces, flooring, waterfall, reflecting pool and staircases and an elevator for improved accessibility, we now have museum quality interpretation signage and hands-on exhibits to enrich your visits.

These educational elements are designed to spark your curiosity to learn more about the diverse collection of tropical and desert plants. Look for a new spring color show in our new Conservatory to coincide with a new Tulip Festival we are planning to offer in mid-April.

In 2023, we also look forward to finishing more improvements to the outdoor spaces. One is an enhancement project at our south entrance Visitor Lobby plaza area. Thanks to a major gift from Tinker Federal Credit Union, this plaza will be improved with new plantings, seating and better visibility and signage to our Visitor Lobby. Timeline for completion is in late spring.

Thanks to your support, we continually work to make Myriad Botanical Gardens a beautiful place to visit and a destination for all ages to learn, play, relax and make wonderful memories.

In this Holiday Season and New Year, we have much to be grateful for, especially to all of you our members and supporters.

Sincere best wishes for a Happy New Year,

Maureen Heffernan President/CEO

Please use the enclosed envelope or go online to make a gift to our Annual Appeal Fund. Gifts of all sizes are vital to help Myriad Gardens Foundation pay for operational costs including maintaining gardens, grounds, facilities and offer quality programming for all ages.

Myriad Gardens Foundation is a 501c 3 nonprofit organization that manages and operates the Myriad Botanical Gardens. All gifts are fully tax-deductible.

Your gift makes a difference. Thank you for your support.

Orchids in October Awardee Inasmuch Foundation

To celebrate the reopening of the Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory, we held a Tropical Splendor in the Gardens gala on October 13 and combine it with our annual Orchids in October event.

Chris Fleming, President of the Community Board of Myriad Gardens Foundation, presented the 2022 James R. Tolbert III Crystal Orchid Award to Bob Ross, President of Inasmuch Foundation, who accepted it on behalf of the Inasmuch Foundation. Having supported the Gardens for many years along with making the lead private gift to our Conservatory Reimagined Capital Campaign, Inasmuch Foundation has been a cornerstone of support for the Gardens.

We are so grateful for their support as well as the tremendous support they offer dozens of organizations throughout the city that all contribute to improving the quality of life in OKC.

Tropical Splendor in the Gardens

After the award presentation, nearly three hundred Splendor in the Gardens guests enjoyed a cocktail reception in the Visitor Lobby, Crystal Bridge and new gift shop followed by a farm-to-table style dinner on our Devon Lawn prepared by chefs Kurt Fleischerfresser and Kamala Gamble.

Over $100,000 was raised which will be used for the capital campaign and operational costs.

We thank all of the generous sponsors and other attendees who helped us celebrate and raise funds for the Gardens.

Pictured: Bob Ross accepts the James R. Tolbert III 2022 Crystal Orchid Award from Chris Fleming, Community Board President.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

ORCHID SPONSORS

Glenna & Richard Tanenbaum

BIRD OF PARADISE SPONSORS

Devon Energy Corp. Lingo Construction Jean & David McLaughlin

Robert H. Meinders

Mercedes-Benz

Midtown Renaissance Polly & Larry Nichols

The Jean I. Everest Foundation

Avis Scaramucci

Painted Door Gift Boutique

George Records Southwestern Stationery & Bank Supply Beth & Jim Tolbert Total Environment

CALLA LILY SPONSORS

American Plant Products BancFirst

The Chickasaw Nation Continental Resources Jil & Tony Boghetich

First National Bank of Oklahoma OG&E

Quail Creek Bank Robinson-Park, LLC

Tiffany Self & Bryan Coon Velocigo

AGAVE SPONSORS

American Fidelity Foundation Cathy & Dr. Stephen Conner

Dean A. McGee Eye Institute

Downtown OKC Partnership Factor 110 Events

HoganTaylor LLP Kent Phillips

GINGER SPONSORS

Anonymous Bank of Oklahoma

BCI - Barkocy Construction Inc. Gerry & Ken Bonds

Crowe & Dunlevy

Karen & Dr. Warren Filley Sue & John Francis Maureen Heffernan

Millie & Johnson Hightower Beth & Steve Kerr Michael Laird James A. Pickel

Metro Mark Real Estate Deb & Ronnie Morey Dee Morales Musallam Mary & Joe Rockett Marsha & Carson See Beth and Carl Shortt

Anne M. & Dr. Gregory L. Skuta Michael Thagard

TABLE ARRANGEMENTS

Pottery Vases by H&M Pottery, OKC

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

Kaitlyn Bacon, Myriad Gardens

GRAND PALM SPONSOR

Chef Kurt Fleischfresser (third from left) and his team prepare the main course.

Rob and Chrissy McLaughlin with Glenna and Richard Tanenbaum.

Jon and Lynn Robberson with Beth and James Tolber and Miles Tolbert

Sally Starling, Susan Foubert and Sara Zedlitz.

Bob Meinders with Don Narcomy and Vicki Van Stavern.

Meg Salyer, Annie Bohannon and Kathy Pendarvis.

The Mayor noted that so many people, especially schoolchildren on field trips, have fond memories of visiting the Crystal Bridge throughout the last nearly 35 years. He said we have an updated Conservatory that will continue to get leafier and lusher as all the new plants grow. Filled with new botanical treasures, it is ready to serve a new generation of all ages to discover and enjoy.

More than 2,000 people visited the Conservatory throughout our opening weekend. Visitors and especially kids enjoyed discovering all the changes as well as special tropical plant potting sessions for all ages to take home a plant to grow.

Local musicians entertained with live harp and cello music that floated beautifully throughout the Crystal Bridge.

The new Gardens Gift Shop opened with a wide selection of garden-based products – from books and tools to more decorative items and new Garden branded merchandise. The shop will have a changing display of seasonal products to celebrate each season and provide information and tools for gardeners along with many other quality gift items.

The Conservatory renovation was a nearly $11million project. It would be not possible without public and private support.

Mayor David Holt helped lead the officiating for the public re-opening of Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory on November 18. 2022.

Harpist Hannah Helbig

Canterbury Youth Choral

Cellist Sam Kahre

Mayor David Holt, (center) with Lisa Wing, Conservatory Specialist (left), Nate Tscheann, Director of Horticulture (right) and Maureen Heffernan, CEO and President, cut the specially made ribbon with Monstera leaves and protea pincushion flowers on a grapevine.

in honor of Bert Cooper

Family Fund

An overview of the misting stone pathway located on the first level.

The Education room with Bradley Flower, Children’s Garden Manager, instructing children on how to plant tropical plants for the home.

The Oculus Room

Poinsettia orbs hang over the new reflection pool.

Crystal Bridge Conservatory

By Nate Tschaenn Director of Horticulture

One of the first things you will see coming into the Conservatory is an island bed full of several varieties of bananas. They have been putting on quite a show flowering and fruiting. Underneath these show stopping plants are the less obvious but equally fascinating pineapple plants. Pineapples are the fruit of a type of bromeliad. Each plant produces a single pineapple fruit, which it holds on a stalk above the center of the spiky whorled leaves.

The tropical fruit section of the Crystal Bridge contains not only common fruits like banana, pineapple and oranges but lesser-known fruits like tamarind, Barbados cherry and jaboticaba, my favorite of the obscure fruit trees.

Jaboticaba’s fruits are grape-like in appearance and taste. They grow directly off of the multi-colored trunks of this multi-trunked small tree, making it highly ornamental.

Located in the fragrant plant section, the banana magnolia shrubs might be overshadowed by the more famous fragrant plants like the Joy perfume tree or Chanel Number 5 tree and the scent canisters for them. But the banana magnolia is almost perpetually in bloom with flowers at nostril level, so as long as you are visiting in the afternoon when the fragrance is strongest you could probably enjoy the mouthwatering fragrance.

When the corpse flower bloomed last spring, thousands of people lined up to see and smell the giant flower. But on the second floor of the dry side is another roadkillscented flower that flowers much more regularly and perhaps smells even worse, though you need to get a bit closer. There are several species of stapelia with hairy flowers the look and likely smell like decaying starfish but can be beautiful in their own way.

Orchids are often thought of as delicate plants that need to be constantly pampered to survive. In fact, orchids have several adaptations that are similar to cacti and succulents that allow them to grow in extreme conditions with inconsistent moisture, like clinging to the side of a tree without any soil exposed to drying winds. A handful of orchids even grow desert conditions. You’ll find the desert orchid on the 2nd floor terrace growing alongside cacti and other succulents.

I always find plants that resemble animals, and are so named, particularly interesting and enjoyable. One of my favorites is the turtleback yam, so named for its woody caudex that remarkably resembles a turtle shell with a vine growing from its center. You can find this whimsical vine on the western side of the second level desert terrace across from another aptly named animal plant, giraffe’s knees.

With over 12,000 species and 20 quadrillion individual ants in the world, it’s no surprise that ant would form some interesting, mutualistic relationships with plants, but the ‘ant plants’ take it to the extreme. These small epiphytic plants have enlarged bases and look somewhat like a sprouting potato. If you cut into the potato-like structure, known as a caudex, it looks like the inside of an anthill. This ready-made home attracts ants that protect the plant and provide fertilizer to it through their waste.

Gesneriads are probably my favorite family of plants. The flowers are often fuzzy, spotted, and numerous. There is one particular genus within the family that is better known for its colorful foliage. The flame violets of the genus Episcia, named for the brightlycolored flowers, have shiny variegated foliage patterned in shades of maroon, pink, silver and/or green. They also spread and trail, covering the soil like a beautiful carpet.

By Nate Tschaenn, Director of Horticulture

The Crystal Bridge Conservatory is undeniably a unique structure, and like any unique architectural building, there were some challenging spaces within that needed purpose. We took the opportunity during the renovation process to careful consider these spaces and turn them into opportunities. Along with the new gift shop space and education room, a great example of repurposing space, is our newly designated Discovery Room.

On the second floor of the south side of the conservatory, this space exists as the area below the third floor exhibit but between the elevator and the second floor of the conservatory. Formerly it was essentially an empty room guests using the elevator would

Spring Bulb Planting Time

have to walk through. Now, it is a colorful interpretive exhibit telling stories of animal and plant partnerships. The walls are completely covered in beautiful illustrations resembling the pages of a children’s storybook with portals containing stunning models demonstrating the interactions between the plant and animal characters of these stories. There are five different stories of certain species of insects and plants, or in one case a fungus, that rely on each other to survive and/or reproduce. It’s just a small sample of the many fascinating mutualistic relationships between plants and animals and a great example of how dependent life is on other creatures to survive.

By Matt Janda, Associate Director of Horticulture & Grounds

This fall our horticulture team has planted 32,000 bulbs in the ground. Optimal time to plant bulbs here in Oklahoma is mid-November through December, and when the soil temps are 55 degrees or below. Tulips do their best when they have time to root in over the winter. Ideally, they like at least 3 months in the ground.

I know it may be overwhelming to choose which bulbs work for you, but for us we look at how sturdy the stems are and which flowers will stay intact in during our windy spring. Darwin hybrids and Triumph varieties check both of those boxes.

Please make plans to visit the Gardens to see the 32,000 tulip bulbs in a rainbow of hues.

Thank you to the Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation for making our tulip season possible!

Team horticulture is planting spring bulbs for your spring delight!

SECOND FRIDAY, 1-2PM

LAST SATURDAY, 10-11AM Guided Monthly Tour FREE

Expand your knowledge of Oklahoma plants and find inspiration for your own garden with an educational walking tour, led by one of our knowledgeable horticultural staff. Wheelchair friendly.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 10-11AM

Hygge from our Rainforest to Home M $8; NM $12

Allow the rainforest to guide you as we explore and embrace hygge in our own slice of heaven here at the Myriad, and take away not just a feeling of peace but the confidence and know how for bringing it to life in your own every day as well.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 10–11:30AM

Workshop: Dried Floral Displays M $20; NM $25

Create unique arrangements using dried flowers, leaves, fruits, and more to bring a pop of joy into our homes during the last stretch of winter.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1–3PM

Workshop: Papercrete Planters M $35; NM $40

Learn how to turn paper and cement into sturdy, unique planters suitable for the Oklahoma elements. You will leave with a self-made piece. All supplies included.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 10–11AM

Raised Bed Gardening M $8; NM $12

From home gardens to schoolyards, raised beds are a great way to grow year-round crops and flowers by providing elevation to lessen compaction, easier weed control, and extended growing seasons. Learn strategies, benefits, layouts, and more to get a head start on your spring gardening adventures.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 10AM-NOON Seed Starting and Sharing M $14; NM $19

Seed sharing can bring gardeners in the community together and allow you to try new plants for a fraction of the cost of buying individual starter plants. This class provides you with both the knowledge and opportunity to start your own collection of seeds to take home for planting and sharing. Leave with both planted and unplanted seeds.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1-3PM

Workshop: Botanical Cyanotype Prints M $45; NM $50

Learn about the process and the chemistry behind cyanotype before we go out into the Gardens and collect botanical inspiration for our pieces. We will create our own individual artwork on archival paper that can then be taken home, washed, and display ready within 24 hours.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 10–11AM

Growing Your Own Food for Spring M $8; NM $12

Learn about crops that do well in Spring, when to start seeds and starter plants, how to work the soil and ensure your crops survive any surprise cold snaps, and more. As a bonus, get a head start on your summer garden by learning what you can and can’t do earlier to extend your season!

SATURDAYS, JANUARY 28, FEBRUARY 25, MARCH 25, 11AM-NOON

Our Conservatory in Depth

M $8; NM $12 each month

JANUARY 28 FRUIT

FEBRUARY 25 SPICES, FRAGRANCES, AND COMMODITIES

MARCH 25 SEED DISPERSAL

Explore our newly renovated Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory in a fun and unique way by joining us for our series, Our Conservatory in Depth! Hybridizing a tour and class, this monthly, last Saturday class, adventure will provide us an in depth view into the different areas featured in our conservatory and how they provide economic benefit, bring joy to us as humans, and interact within their ecosystems themselves.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1-3PM

DIY Wedding & Prom: Corsages & Boutonnieres

M $30; NM $35

Stun your friends, guests, or family with a corsage and boutonniere set you’ve made as we take you step-by-step through the process, and by the end of this class feel confident with the tools and tricks of the trade to keep making them for seasons on.

Saturday, March 25, 1 – 3 PM

Spring Pruning, Plotting, and Planning!

M $10; NM $15

This class will cover spring pruning and cleaning, identifying problems and points of interest, knowing what to expect as the weather warms up, overseeding, fertilizing, and more. We will cover what we do to keep our grounds grow ready and how we translate that to our own little slices of paradise.

Workshop: Papercrete Planters

SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 9AM–3:45 PM $40 Members; $70 Nonmembers; $25 students with ID Blooms for Birds: Sustainable Gardening for Attracting and Supporting Birds, Bees, and Other Wildlife

Myriad Botanical Gardens’ annual Oklahoma Gardening School is the state’s premier annual horticultural symposium designed for home gardeners and professional horticulturists, garden designers, and landscape architects. The Oklahoma Gardening School showcases local and national plant, gardening and design experts. Their illustrated talks and Q&A discussions help participants learn how to create and maintain more beautiful, sustainable, and successful gardens in Oklahoma.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY

EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING SCHOOL YEAR, 10AM Reading Wednesdays

FREE

Best for Ages 2-5

Books are nature-themed and selected based on the season. We’ll begin with an interactive song and some weeks will include a small craft after the story.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 10-11:30AM

Incredible Ice

Best for Ages 7–12 M $7; NM $10

Celebrate the sparkling world of winter by learning about ice and what makes it so fascinating. We’ll put on our mad scientist hats to do some experiments to discover the incredible ways ice behaves. Then we’ll make a sparkly winter craft and end by making a mystery matter that feels just like snow.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1-2PM Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate!

Best for Ages 6-10 M $12; NM $15

Let’s learn about Theobroma cacao, the chocolate tree, and hunt for our very own growing in our conservatory. Enjoy sipping on hot chocolate while we learn, and by the end of our class we’ll have two jars each of hot chocolate we can take home to bring some warm jungle happiness to the rest of our cold winter days ahead!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 11AM-NOON

Winter Garden Potpourri

- MARCH

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 10-11AM

Love Bugs: Valentine’s Day Fun

YOUTH AND FAMILIES

Best for Ages 6-10 M $8; NM $12

We will supply some staple ingredients from the kitchen and creativity and embark on a nature walk to collect some extra materials to use for our very own garden potpourri mixtures. Each participant will bring home two pint jars full of their creative concoctions.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1-2PM

Every Color Soup!

Best for All Ages M $8; NM $12

From colors to counting to botany to nutrition, there’s something for every age as we connect home skills such as reading and following a recipe to simple shapes, colors, and numbers, cutting vegetables and mixing them for our very own “Every Color Soup.” Guests will each enjoy a bowl of soup proudly contributed by our kids, along with warm drinks and maybe even a little sweet to finish it all up.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 10–11AM Groundhog Day Celebration

Best for Ages 3-5

M $8; NM $10

Participants will use a flower’s shadow as a guide to make a colorful canvas painting. As we wait for our creations to dry, friends will learn about the changing seasons and spy an “almost real” groundhog hiding in the Children’s Garden. Will it be six more weeks of winter or an early spring? Only the groundhog knows!

Best for Ages 3-6 M $12; NM $15

Enjoy some Valentine’s Day fun with your little love bug; you and your child will have the opportunity to work together to create a love bug themed rock garden! Sip on pink lemonade and enjoy learning about bugs as you work!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1–2PM

Pompom Wreaths: Valentine’s Day Fun

Best for Ages 6–12 M $15; NM $18

Hearts will flutter for this Valentine’s Day workshop! Create your very own pompom wreath and style it with a variety of botanical accessories. As you work, sip on pink lemonade and enjoy learning about chrysanthemums, a flower resembling a pompom!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 11AM-NOON

Beautiful Beaks: Great Backyard Bird Count

Best for Ages 3-10 M $6; NM $8

From a pelican’s pouched beak to a woodpecker’s strong beak, bird beaks come in all shapes and sizes! We’ll explore beautiful beaks, make a craft and hike the Gardens grounds to spy birds as we participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 10AM-NOON Great Backyard Bird Count: Drop-In Children’s Garden Porch

Best for Ages 4-15

DONATIONS ACCEPTED

Join us at the Children’s Garden porch to become a Great Backyard Bird Count citizen scientist! Spend 5 to 10 minutes observing birds in the garden and recording what you see. We will provide bird count forms and a pencil.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4TH, 10–11AM

Enchanted Fairy Gardens

Best for Ages 5-10

M $15; NM $18

Join us for a magical Saturday as we make fairy gardens! Each enchanted guest will create and take home their very own fairy garden complete with an herb plant, mystical décor, pixie dust and of course, a fairy friend.

SPRING BREAK

MARCH 13-MARCH 17,

Spring Break Drop-ins

Children’s Garden Porch

Best for Ages 3-12

All Ages Welcome

DONATIONS ACCEPTED

10AM

Winter “Can’t Miss” Events

Martin Luther King, Jr Day

Monday, January 16, 10am-1pm Park House and Visitor Lobby

- NOON

Bring the entire family to celebrate the life, legacy, and message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Myriad Gardens’ annual MLK Day Celebration. Join us as we honor Dr. King along with local community leaders like Jabee Williams and Councilwoman Nikki Nice. Society of Urban Poets will perform original poetry readings and DWe Williams and Ebony Voices will share the history of Dr. King and the civil rights movement through song, dance, and skit. Kids will enjoy read-alouds, crafts and activities, and more.

Get outside this Spring Break and join us in the Children’s Garden for this come-andgo experience. We will read stories, make crafts, and go on adventures suited to each day’s theme.

• Monday 13: Butterflies

• Tuesday 14: Flowers

• Wednesday 15: Nature Art

• Thursday 16: Shapes in Nature

• Friday 17: Clovers

FRIDAY, MARCH 17TH, 1-2PM

St. Patrick’s Day Slime Creations

Best for Ages 3-10 M $12; NM $15

It’s slime time! Join us this St. Patrick’s Day as we make festive slime. Each participant will create and take home a container of green aloe slime and a container of leprechaun slime. We will go on a fun scavenger hunt to find a pot of gold glitter and slime charms to add to our creations.

ShamROCK the Gardens

Friday, March 17, 11am-2pm Devon Lawn

Celebrate the annual St. Patrick’s Day in the Gardens. Enjoy delicious eats from your favorite Irish food vendors and hear music by some of Oklahoma’s best Irish bands. Face painters will be on site for the kids (get a shamrock!) and Irish clubs will provide instructional dancing to those who are ready to get into the St. Paddy’s Day spirit.

Lunar New Year Celebration: Year of the Rabbit

Saturday, January 21, 11am-2pm Water Stage, Visitor Lobby, West Plaza

It’s the Year of the Rabbit and what better way to spend Lunar New Year than at Myriad Botanical Gardens! Enjoy performances by the Hung Viet Lion Dancers, Golden Tiger martial arts studio, RACE Dance Collective and more. Learn samurai sword skills and calligraphy, enjoy free crafts, get your face painted and purchase an commemorative Year of the Rabbit t-shirt (supplies limited).

Art in the Gardens

Seeking Works of Art featuring Tulips

Are you an artist? Now’s your chance to have your work hung in the Garden’s Art Gallery! We’re looking for artwork of tulips (any medium or size). Just send an email to efrench@myriadgardens.org and attach an image of your work.

Garden Green Seaform Set with Cherry Lip Wraps, 2001.

This work of art by artist Dale Chihuly is on loan from the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Temporarily located in the Water Lily Pond inside the Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory, Special thank you to Meg Salyer.

Thank you for making our fall events a huge success!

Pumpkinville Breaks Records

Pumpkinville, presented by OG&E, is Myriad Botanical Gardens largest annual festival and a beloved fall tradition for thousands of families. This year’s theme “Witches and Wizards” was brought to life by the Myriad Gardens team’s creative use of more than 30,000 pumpkins and gourds. The Children’s Garden was transformed into a magical space with imaginative displays and interactive elements at every turn. Myriad Gardens is honored to create spaces for families to have fun, enjoy the outdoors, and create core memories. Many thanks to our 472 volunteers, 751 new members, and nearly 32,000 individual visitors who helped us have a record-breaking year - together we raised more than $300,000! These funds help the Gardens provide beautiful spaces and affordable programming to the public throughout the year.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE!

These are trees sold that thrive in Oklahoma climates:

Willow Oak Quercus phellos

Live Oak

Quercus virginiana Cedar Elm

Ulmus Crassifolia

Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor

Black Gum, Black Tupelo Nyssa sylvatica

Fifth Annual Tree For All presented by Cox

Tree For All presented by Cox was Saturday, November 5. It was another fun filled day all about trees! Five varieties of Oklahoma proven trees were sold. More than 500 trees at $20 each are now planted in many homes around the metro. This program is designed to assist homeowners as they promote natural beautification and improvement of the environment through the planting of trees. The goal is to diversify the green canopy in Oklahoma and ensure a sustainable and biodiverse landscape.

Owl mural by Nate Tschaenn

Water Stage Corn mural by Nick Bayer.

Thanks to the Cox volunteers who volunteered.

Sophie Conran Secateurs - $50

Combining designer flair with practicality, these stainless steel garden secateurs are a delight to use. Smaller and lighter than some hand pruners, they offer excellent control and comfort in use. Presented in a beautiful gift box, the Sophie Conran Secateurs make a beautiful and thoughtful gardening gift.

Your shopper guide for 2023

USA State Flowers Puzzle - $16.99

Featuring an illustration by bestselling artist Wendy Gold, USA State Flowers Puzzle is 1000-pieces of floral fun! Galison puzzles are packaged in matte-finish sturdy boxes that are perfect for reusing as gift boxes, storage, and more.

Paper Pot Maker - $20

The Paper Pot Maker by Burgon & Ball allows you to make your own seedling pots from nothing more than recycled newspapers! You can create three different sizes of sturdy but biodegradable pots for seeds, seedlings and young plants. The kit is made in FSC-certified wood, and it’s perfect for any gardener trying to reduce their reliance on plastic in and around the garden.

Waterfall Watering Can - $56

Give your plants a good drink with ease when you use the Waterfall Watering Can! This 5-litre watering can is made of galvanized steel and boasts a rich green color. The single-handed design eliminates back twisting, while gravity helps the handle slip gently through the fingers - the emptier the can gets, the more it tips.

Floral Twill Arm Saver Gloves - $36

Give the gift of gardening with fashionable and functional accessories like the Floral Twill Arm Saver Gloves. These cotton gloves from Womanswork boast a faux leather palm and extra-long cuffs for added protection.

Complete Gardeners Guide

A one-stop treasure trove from the Royal Horticulture Society that covers every aspect of gardening, from planning and planting to growing and care. Choose plants that will thrive in your space.

$30

Written by Royal Horticulture Society

Tulips: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden

From the tulip fields of Netherlands to your garden flower patch, tulips are loved the world over. Jane Eastoe’s passion for gardening and Rachel Werne’s spectacular photography combine to showcase these gorgeous bulbs and show that anyone can grow and enjoy tulips at home. Tulips have more than 3,000 variations and their diverse textures mean that they can work anywhere, from vases to garden plots, from romantic bouquets to wedding boutonnieres.

$24.99

Garden Allies

The Insects, Birds, and Other Animals That Keep Your Garden Beautiful and Thriving

The birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects that inhabit our yards and gardens are overwhelmingly on our side—they are not our enemies, but instead our allies. They pollinate our flowers and vegetable crops, and they keep pests in check.

$24.95

Written by Frederique Lavoipierre

Planting for Garden Birds: A Grower’s Guide to Creating a Bird-Friendly Habitat

In Planting for Garden Birds find straightforward ideas and easy to achieve plans that will make your garden irresistible to birds. Packed with interesting facts, environmental and habitat information as well as easy to achieve planting ideas, this is a practical, illustrated guide for people wanting to encourage more birdlife to their outdoor space.

$16.99

Written by Jane Moore

Written

by Jane Eastoe Rachel Warne (Photographs)

The Little Gardener: Inspire Children to Connect with the Natural World

Help your children connect with the natural world with The Little Gardener. This book is a detailed guide for parents, grandparents, caregivers and educators. It is full of detailed instructions, tips, anecdotes and seasonal activities that will connect gardeners to natural systems.

$24.95

Written by Julie A. Cerny This book is beautifully illustrated by Ysemay Dercon.

Become a Docent For New School and Adult Group Tours Program

Tour requests are pouring in One of our most important missions here at the Gardens is to increase guests’ appreciation and under-standing of the natural world. The Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory affords us the rare opportunity to expand this passion beyond our own prairies and into the tropics and deserts as well!

Since the Conservatory’s reopening in November, requests for group and school tours have increased. We require your aid. Within our Partner Volunteer group, we are establishing a docent program that will be responsible for leading tours and school group programming throughout our conservatory. School tours return in March with adult tours starting in January.

Next training is Tuesday, January 24, 9am-11am.

Learn more about our new docent program, please contact: Kaitlin Bacon Director of

Now booking Gardens Rentals for Warmer Months

Schedule your birthday party, wedding, or corporate event with our team

Whether it is a wedding ceremony, reception, corporate party, proposal, birthday party or baby shower, Myriad Botanical Gardens is ready to host your special event.

The newly redesigned Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory makes the perfect tropical backdrop for your intimate event to your larger event.

Thinking of an outdoor setting? There are many beautiful locations around the 15-acre gardens that will make your special day memorable.

For more information or to book your event, contact the rentals department, email rentals@myriadgardens.org or call (405) 445-7092

Children’s birthday parties are playful and fun on the Children‘s Garden Porch. The theme options are endless.

The new Conservatory will be ready for rentals including weddings, corporate parties and more beginning in January 2023.

301 West Reno

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

445-7080

Please

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