January 2024 Member Newsletter

JANUARY 2024

MEMBER NEWSLETTER Dear Members, Happy New Year! I hope you all had a lovely holiday season. There’s nothing better than spending time with loved ones, indulging in delicious food, and enjoying lively conversation during the holidays.

It’s a new year, and I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store. I will soon begin sending out surveys asking for member feedback (these will be attached in our e-newsletters). I want our membership program to be the best. Do you have any current suggestions or ideas? Please

Allison Anderson Membership Specialist

feel free to send them my way. My email is allisona@iastate.edu.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Gardens either through purchasing tickets, a membership, or volunteering to help us during November- December 2023. We couldn’t put on special events such as these without the loyal support of our members.

In this issue: Volunteer Spotlight (p. 2) Member Bus Trip (p. 5)

As for upcoming member-only events, we will be holding the “Orchid Fest: Members-Only” event on Friday, February 9th, 2024. This is your chance to select/purchase a beautiful orchid to take home with you.

The orchids will come in a variety of colors and species. A special member-only link will be sent to your email which will allow you to RSVP soon. Mark your calendars early- you won’t want to miss this. If you have trouble signing up, please email me.

Thank you for reading this month’s member e-newsletter. We are delighted you are a member and feel immense gratitude for your support. Members are truly the pillars of Reiman Gardens.

ISU Swimming and Diving Team Makes a Splash at Winter Wonderscape

This month, we wish to feature and thank all of our volunteers who have helped during Winter Wonderscape event nights. We couldn’t do it without you!

It takes an army of volunteers to run a smooth and successful night at Winter Wonderscape! Volunteers come in waves (pun intended), and are placed in different areas of the gardens to help with crowd control, taking photos, and directing pedestrian traffic flow.

For the last two years, the Iowa State University Swimming and Diving Team has jumped right into the deep end.

“Jasmine Weiland, who at the time was a junior on the team, signed up to become a volunteer, and we started discussing getting the whole team involved,” said Kim Hope, Reiman Gardens Manager of Volunteer Engagement. “They decided to try out a night of Winter Wonderscape, and it was immediately love at first sight for both Reiman staff and the team. They came with such incredible enthusiasm and energy, they were spirited and merry, and they worked hard even though some had just-washed, post-practice, wet hair! The team had guests feeling welcomed and their absolute obsession with the light belts had our staff cracking up all night.”

Since last year's Winter Wonderscape, the team has helped at Rovers at Reiman and Spirits in the Gardens as well.

“I'm so thankful to Jasmine and the entire team for their community spirit and incredible attitudes.” --Kim Hope, Reiman Gardens

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january 2024

UPCOMING

EVENTS The RG Express January 2-20 Don’t miss your final chances to visit the RG Express! Open during normal business hours, 10 AM 4:30 PM through January 20.

Youth Day Camp January 22, 9 AM - 4 PM Designed for children ages 6-10.

Campers will learn about our living landscape and participate in a number of arts and crafts activities related to animal ecosystems and habitats.

All memorial gifts, unless otherwise designated, will support the Gardens’ Fund for Excellence (plants, flowers, and butterflies).

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january 2024

EDUCATIONAL

PROGRAMS Caterpillar Club Thursdays at 10:15 AM: Dress for the weather for this outdoor Early Childhood Development program featuring stories, followed by nature exploration and activities. Best for children ages 2-5 with an adult.

Maker Night January 3, 6-7:30 PM Learn how to make pressed art with dried flowers in small frames, bookmarks, and jars during this fun and hands-on maker night. Register at https://bit.ly/3FfNJ4N

Floral Design January 16, 6-7 PM Our first class of the year will teach you how to cluster and arrange bouquets that you would find in Book Talk: Gardening Can Be Murder

floral shops. Register at October 12: Join bestselling author Marta McDowell for a public https://bit.ly/3Oo3XNj lecture and Q&A on the literary influence of pernicious plants!

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MEMBERS ONLY BUS TRIP FEBRUARY 18-24, 2024

Arizona Desert Adventure Visit sites such as the Desert Botanical Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden, Tohono Chul Gardens, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (they have a hummingbird house!), Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Saguaro National Park, and the Tucson Botanical Garden. We will take a narrated tram tour through the rich flora and fauna of Sabino Canyon, and walk through the amazing Biosphere 2.

Experience delicious Southwest cooking in amazing sites such as Rustler's Roost, situated on top of a bluff; once a hideout for cattle rustlers with the entrance a mine shaft that takes us over a waterfall. For three nights we will be at the Embassy Suites in Tucson, where each room is a deluxe two-room suite.

Spots are limited! Register now at the link below.

REGISTER HERE