Gardens of Gratitude: the Making of Pinewood Estate
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TRACKING FLORIDA’S BIOLOGICAL PLANT HERITAGE • GROW OUTSIDE INITIATIVE LAUNCH The Vol. 3 | Issue 1 | Winter 2011 Gardens of Gratitude: The Making of Pinewood Estate A newsletter from Bok Tower Gardens www.boktowergardens.org FROM THE PRESIDENT The second annual Boktoberfest Plant Sale started the gardening season off with a plant party that drew nearly 8,200 visitors for the one day fundraiser in mid-October. There were 45 plant vendors selling a wide variety of specialty plants as well as many kid-friendly activities. It was nice to see so many families Photos by Eric Farewell and Martin Corbin and children enjoying the Gardens. Sunset & Symphony featuring the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra was attended with close to 2,400. Young children were encouraged to help assist maestro Dirk Meyer in conducting the Harry Potter film score Harry’s Wondrous World. Our Summer Discovery Days were a hit with young children. Many parents also attended the classes and it was hard to tell who enjoyed it more. These family events are so to achieve in our facilities and programs. important to reach out to the next generation. We see children as our future and have recently hired Shannon Burgess to build our The goals work toward preserving the Singing Tower and programming for children from preschoolers to high school age. gardens, enhancing the quality of our horticulture, conservation We have seen our membership program grow to new heights and cultural programming, reaching out to new audiences and surpassing 4,100 households. Family memberships are the fastest gaining financial stability. growing sector of memberships. Read our Long Range Fundamental Plan To prepare for our future we have recently completed a online at boktowergardens.org/about/plan long range plan that identifies our strengths and clarifies I invite you all to visit our website to see the Long Range opportunities that will sustain the institution and keep us Fundamental Plan. It is an exciting plan for the future of the relevant in our changing society while being loyal to our Gardens. We will be sharing more with you as we move to mission. The staff and board of directors crafted the Long Range implement the plan. Fundamental Plan that was recently adopted by our board. We stress the word fundamental in the title because we want to Our mission statement as stated in the 2011-2015 Long Range focus on the original purpose and intent of the Gardens as well Fundamental Plan: To share Edward Bok’s gift of a beautiful and as how to proceed into the future. We want to remain faithful to serene garden with music, architecture and nature so that all the vision of Edward Bok which serves as a touchstone for the who visit will be inspired by his vision: Make you the world a bit plan. better or more beautiful because you have lived in it. Our Long Range Fundamental Plan restates our mission and articulates a vision with goals for our preservation and growth. Many of the ideas in this plan have been discussed at some David Price, President point over the last 40 years as this institution faced changes and challenges. None of the goals in the plan deviate from what we are doing now. They prioritize and set a level of quality we want The David Price President Cassie Jacoby Editor Martin Corbin Graphic Design IN THE MEDIA Editorial Contributors Singing Tower photos to Nick Baker be featured in American Follies by Nic Barlow Jennifer Beam Marjola Burdeshaw Shannon Burgess We’re thrilled to be included in London’s ITV Studios mini-series, Hidden Gardens of the Cindy Campbell World, with production to begin around our peak bloom. More and more international Megan Chambers media are enjoying our “Journalist Passport” invitation. We hosted U.K. travel writers William De Turk Kieran Meekes and Andrew Mossack. Gillian Birch discovered us through the International Sandra Dent Travel Writers Alliance monthly publication. Another U.K. author, Nic Barlow, included Eric Farewell us in the new edition of his book, Follies of America. After Italian journalist Luca Centoni’s Christine Foley visit, he called us “the perfect Central Florida family destination” in his Travelscore Steve Jolley Magazine. Articles for Spanish-speaking audiences have been written by Madrid’s Cesar Cheryl Peterson David Price Gonzalez and on Univision television which highlighted our wedding offerings. Juliet Rynear National articles appeared in National Geographic’s Undiscovered Florida, Better RVing Nicole DeMaris Sharp Magazine, Vietnam Veterans of America’s Veteran Magazine and AirTran’s in-flight Go Joan Thomas Magazine as well as issues of AAA Texas Journey and Alabama Journey Magazines. Viacom’s Cheryl Waters TV network featured our location in an episode of their MTV national reality series, Made. The Sebring teenager being made into a beauty pageant winner has a Dutch heritage and Mission was inspired by Edward Bok’s legacy. Special thanks to Brian Satchfield for producing high definition video requested by the Weather Channel in Canada. AAA Southern Traveler To share Edward Bok’s gift of a beautiful and Midwest Traveler and AAA have a prominent features in the spring issue distributed to one serene garden with music, million members. architecture and nature, so that all who visit will be Statewide, we were featured in a 10-page photo essay along with the cover of the inaugural inspired by his vision: issue of Florida’s new Weddings Illustrated Magazine; Orlando’s Playground Magazine and “Make you the world a bit Jacksonville Home Magazine featured Christmas at Pinewood; Orlando’s Where Magazine better or more beautiful because is featuring us in issues located in area hotels, Westgate Resorts promotes us to their you have lived in it.” time-share guests and in I Love Orlando Magazine, Orlando Sentinel garden writer Tom MacCubbin continues offering weekly family four-packs of passes on his Better Homes and Bok Tower Gardens, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is supported by tax-exempt Gardens network of 21 radio stations statewide; Bay News 9 anchor Bill Murphy profiled gifts and contributions and is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of Bill De Turk in his new TV series, Murphy’s Journal, and Miami travel writer Charles State, Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment Greenfield is promoting us in his travel blog and NPR radio program on WLRN. for the Arts. ST/5.5M/1210 Mark your calendars Founder’s Room tours continue to be one MEMBERSHIP of the most popular benefits of Sustainer and above membership. The spring tour dates are scheduled for February 19 and March 19. Watch for your invitation and remember to sign up quickly. Join Nick Baker, our director of horticulture, for a delicious breakfast and behind-the-scenes tour of our greenhouse for sponsor level members and above in April. Upgrade your membership today to experience this exclusive member benefit. Contact Marjola Burdeshaw at Private Tower tours are now available for 863.734.1212 or by email at Bok Tower Club and above members, a [email protected] with questions about your membership. wonderful way to introduce new friends to the timeless treasure that is Bok Tower We’re proud to announce that our membership has grown to include more than Gardens. 4,100 member households and we expect to welcome many more throughout the Sponsor thank yous year. We appreciate the support of our Thanks to additional gifts from our members, we will be able to “Share the Gift” dedicated summer and fall sponsors who have enabled the Gardens to present with more than 100 local families in need through partnerships with the Lake quality cultural and special events, and Wales Literacy Council and the Florida Chapter of National Alliance on Mental to underwrite repair work on Pinewood Illness. Estate’s Steinway piano. More ways to stay in touch in 2011 Steinway Piano at Pinewood Estate: Charitable contributions by Mary Beery, Stop by the membership table in the Visitor Center for the latest in membership Gordon Henderson, Marian Meditch, news and events. Our membership associates will be on hand to help you make Marilyn Newell and Pirjo Restina. the most of your membership. In addition to encouraging new memberships, Live at the Gardens Summer Concert they can upgrade your own membership, or provide gift memberships for Series: Allen & Co., Apothecary Shop, Dr. & Mrs. Roy Braunstein, Chalet Suzanne, friends and family. Circle of Friends, Crazy Fish Restaurant, Florida’s Natural Growers, Lake Wales Be on the lookout for the new membership tent at our special events. Visit Veterinary Hospital, Terrie Lobb Catering throughout the year for a special gift of gratitude just for being a member. While and Urban Trust Bank. you’re there, make sure to update your contact information so we can ensure you Boktoberfest: Allen & Co., Alliance Capital, Bob Evans of Lake Wales, Family are receiving all the news about what’s happening at the Gardens. of Mary Combs, The Lake Wales News, Lanier Upshaw, Met West Capital and As part of the Gardens’ going “green” initiatives, members will have more Progress Energy. opportunities to interact with us online. Not only will it reduce waste and save Sunset & Symphony: Florida Refuse, a tree or two, it will make renewing your membership and registering for events Lake Wales Medical Center, Ledger Media quick and easy. Group, Peterson & Myers, P.A., WEDU and WUSF From all of us at the Gardens, thank you for your membership and best wishes for the New Year! Christmas at Pinewood: AT&T, Cap Trust Advisors, Ledger Media Group, WEDU and Winter Haven Hospital.