Friends of the Arboretum September Newsletter

Dear Friends,

In my Chair’s Corner from September of 2022, I began my message “If you haven’t stood recently at the east side of Margaret’s Pond and looked to the west and taken in the construction underway for LongHouse—our new visitor’s center—I would invite you to come out!” And, what a difference a year makes!

Over the last couple of weeks, I have had the pleasure of participating in two events celebrating the new LongHouse. The first was FOTA’s annual Membership Appreciation Event where we hosted over 300 guests, and a couple of days later, the City of Overland Park held the official ribbon cutting ceremony. There was so much to celebrate at each of the events!

Ahead of my remarks at the FOTA membership event, I had an opportunity to talk with many of you—thank you for sharing your unique and varied journeys to the gardens! You all spoke of the gardens with so much passion and joy whether you started your time with us twenty years ago or within the last few years.

During my presentation I shared, “’A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit in.’ While I have referenced this quote before in my newsletter, this evening, I find the words very appropriate as we talk about your membership, and the legacy we have been able to accomplish together. This building has now become part of our legacy and celebrated through the naming of the Great Lawn, the green space between the LongHouse and Margaret’s Pond to the east.”

With the opening of LongHouse and the adjoining gardens, the last events of the 2023 season will take advantage of the new spaces and views. Tickets are on now on sale for our annual Botanical Brewfest which will be held on Saturday, October 14. Personally, this has been one of my favorite events with the opportunity to sample beers from across the region, sway to live music, and savor the good eats while taking in fall in the gardens with the cooler temps and vibrant colors.

On October 1, tickets go on sale for our ever-popular Luminary Walk event. You’ll be delighted to find that there are three unique experiences to choose from this year: the traditional festive Luminary Walk, Adults-Only Candlelight Stroll, and new this year, Electric Glow where only the electric lights are displayed. Watch your email for information on purchasing tickets as well as exciting news that will increase your options to come out to the gardens for the holiday spectacular!

 

Come Join Our Team

The Advisory Board is a passionate and diverse team, and we are always looking for new talent to join our ranks. If you like to learn more about the advisory board and how you might be able to get involved in 2024 and beyond, I would like to invite you to reach out to me at fotachair@artsandrec-op.org. I welcome the opportunity to connect and share our story!

In addition, there are numerous opportunities to share your time and talents at the Arboretum. If volunteering is on your “To Do” list, please contact Kim Alvarez kim.alvarez@opkansas.org.

 

News From the Gardens

Have you liked our Facebook page? Are you following us on Instagram? Stay current on the latest Arboretum news by following us on our social media platforms. And don’t forget to share our content so your friends, family and neighbors can hear about ways to enjoy the many aspects of the Arboretum. 

 

 

Let Me Know What’s On Your Mind

As always, I want to hear from you. Please send me an email at fotachair@artsandrec-op.org with your thoughts and ideas about our events and programing and let me know how we are doing.

See you in the gardens!

Carlos E. Corredor

Chair of the FOTA Advisory Board