Dear Friends, Each month—particularly as we move from Spring to Summer—there is no lack of news for me to share about our deep roster of summertime events; and what an awesome event list it is! Even with the breadth of ‘ticketed’ events that allow you to celebrate the Gardens, I invite you to come … Read More

Dear Friends, There are so many wonderful events and programs taking place at the Arboretum during the summer months and Stems: A Garden Soirée on June 24th is no exception. The Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park is the host of Stems, one of our signature events and an important fundraiser for the Foundation’s … Read More

Dear Friends, National Volunteer Appreciation week is April 16 – 23! Each day, countless volunteers make their way to the gardens to give their time and talent. In 2022, close to 800 of you gave us over 20,000 hours of your time; you planted, trimmed, weeded, mulched, worked events, greeted guests, led tours, and so … Read More

Dear Friends, Like me, I suspect that many of you are excited to see signs all around that winter has begun to yield to spring! As the time change provides us with later sunsets, days that are becoming more consistently warm, and the earliest of spring blooms are beginning to show themselves, I have seen … Read More

Dear Friends, Congratulations to our Chiefs on a year well-played! This summer, Johnson County will play host to the International Master Gardeners Conference from June 18-22— this 5-day event is expected to bring together approximately 1000 guests from across the globe to our area! The Overland Park Convention Center will be the hub for this … Read More

Dear Friends, With the changing of the calendar to 2023 comes exciting changes to the Advisory Board with the addition of 5 new Advisory Board members and a wonderful line-up of events for children, families, and a date night or two! Before we tease what is coming up, we ended 2022 in a wonderful financial … Read More

Dear Friends,  “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit in.” While we don’t know the author, nor perhaps the true intent of these thoughtful words, I am reminded of the countless volunteers who give of their time and talents to support our mission. While their efforts … Read More

Dear Friends,  In recent days, my inbox, social media feeds, and local gardening publications have all started to come alive with the latest news about the awakening of spring. There is no shortage of inspiring quotes, garden prep ideas, products that the gardener cannot live without, and stunning photos of the earliest spring flowers making … Read More

  Chair’s Corner Dear Friends, It’s a cold and snowy day as I pen my February Chair’s Corner message—makes for a nice break from shoveling the driveway. Last fall, with the goal of enjoying some early spring color, I started the process of forcing bulbs to bloom in the house. To start, I placed a couple of pots … Read More