Gala in the Garden

Sunday, April 28, 2013 – 3:30 PM

 

Gala Update The Gala in the Garden—An Asian Reflection, held on April 28, 2013, is a fond memory now, but the important support that sponsors, guests, auction donors, and volunteers gave helped to raise more than $81,000! The Gala is much more than just an annual garden party. The proceeds support not only vital JC Raulston Arboretum staff positions, but critical unrestricted funds are used for its daily operational expenses and on-going research of new and exciting landscape plants. The Gala proceeds directly help to keep the gates open, the gardens in top shape, and the plant collections and education programs impressive. More than ever, the JC Raulston Arboretum is supporting our state's economy through its green industry partnerships that J. C. forged between the green industry and the Arboretum more than 30 years ago—and this outstanding work continues today. Mark Weathington, JCRA assistant director, is searching the globe for exciting plants suitable for North Carolina garden landscapes, and the new Choice Plants program gives growers a chance to sell a branded, unrestricted plants to independent garden centers. What is the JC Raulston Arboretum? It is an invaluable resource for NC's Green Industry and plant enthusiasts, and it is a leader in plant introductions for the American landscape. It is a tranquil green space in the heart of the city where beauty and extraordinary plant collections combine to provide visitors with an inspirational and educational experience and an opportunity to connect to the natural world. It is an engaging educational resource for students of all ages—offering lectures, workshops, symposia, and numerous learning opportunity about plants, the environment, and how they are connected. It is an excellent venue for daytime business meetings, conferences, with the added bonus of beautiful gardens to stroll and relax during breaks. (Private tours may also be arranged.) It is a perfect venue for weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, or any special occasion. Please re-live the 2013 Gala through these great pictures, and be sure to save-the-date of Sunday, May 4, 2014, for another fabulous garden gala adventure.

Set in the Arboretum's beautiful springtime gardens, The Gala in the Garden—An Asian Reflection, will transport guests to the magic of the Orient. Upon entering the grounds of the Arboretum, guests will wind their way through the new pathways of the Asian Valley, the Japanese Garden, and the Lath House with collections of more than 700 plants, including many newcomers from Asia. From there guests will continue to the Gala's main event area for music, gourmet food and signature drinks, along with the highlight of the event—a silent auction where guests can bid on items from gardening gifts to one-of-a-kind plants.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the JC Raulston Arboretum, a working research and teaching garden, open free to the public, and part of NC State University's Department of Horticultural Science. This event is hosted by the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc. (Tax ID# 56-6049304).

Sponsorship

Honorary Co-chairs Sandi and Mike Worthington Event Chair Sally Linton

Sponsors are vitally important for the success of the Gala in the Garden. This is the Arboretum's main fund-raising event of the year, and the proceeds directly support its daily operations of teaching, research, and public outreach, and garden displays. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to become 2013 sponsor.

2013 Gala Sponsors (as of May 15, 2013)

Diamond
North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc.

Platinum
Bayer Advanced
Pender Nursery, Inc. (Jim and Kathy Deal)

Gold
A. E. Finley Foundation, Inc.
Hoffman Nursery, Inc.
Panther Creek Nursery
Bobby G. Wilder

Silver
Ted and Linda Bilderback
The Brickman Group, Ltd.
Tommy Bunn and Ms. Terry Solovieff
Fair Products (Judi and Frank Grainger)
The Hamlin Companies
Jeanette Hyde
Jerry and Nina Jackson
Arthur Kelley
Frances Jane Meadows
The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc.
North Carolina Farm Bureau
Taylor's Nursery, Inc.
Worthington Farms, Inc.
Jackie and Johnny Wynne

Bronze
The Bell Family Foundation
John Dole and John Buettner
Duke Energy
Rufus L. Edmisten
The Fire Place (Ruby McSwain)
Debbie Hamrick and Ed Gaines
Han-dee Hugo's (Irma and Haddon Clark)
Jere's Landscaping (Jere Stevens)
Johnson Nursery Corporation
Cheryl Doyle Kearns
Melda and Bill Lamm
LanArc, Inc.
Lundy Fetterman Family Foundation
Robert Lyons
Piedmont Carolina Nursery
Plantworks Nursery
Anne M. Porter
Sylvia N. Redwine
Sampson Nursery, Inc.
Rodney Swink and Juanita Shearer-Swink
Anthea and Russell Tate
Kathleen and Walt Thompson
Bill and Libby Wilder
Laura Willer and David Huffstetler

Special Gifts
Clearscapes, PA
Guirlinger Family Fund of Triangle Community Foundation
Robert Hayter
Mary Coker Joslin
Nadine Tope
Dora Zia

The sponsorsship brochure describes all sponsorship levels and benefits. (March 11 is the deadline for sponsor listing on the Gala invitation.)

Silent Auction

A very special feature of the Gala in the Garden is the extraordinary silent auction. Featuring an eclectic array of unique plants and many other distinctive non-botanical items, the retail value of the auction exceeds $40,000!

If you wish to donate an item or gift certificate, please complete the Auction Solicitation Form and bring it by the JCRA, or contact Anne Porter at (919) 513-3826 or anne_porter@ncsu.edu for more information. Your auction item is considered a tax-deductible "in-kind" gift.

Photographs and Press Release

To see photographs of last year's Gala in the Garden, please visit our Web site's Photography section.

A press release for the 2013 Gala in the Garden is available on this site.

Gala Committee

The Gala Planning Committee members are busy planning an exceptional 2013 Gala in the Garden. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to this dedicated and very talented group of volunteers.

Honorary Co-Chairs Sandie and Mike Worthington Worthington Farms, Greenville, NC Event Chair Sally Linton Honorary Members Frank Grainger Nina & Jerry Jackson Susan Woodson Event Coordinator Anne Porter

Event Committee Jill Adams Jennifer Bernabi Ted Bilderback Celeste Brogdon John Buettner Pam Byington Kathy Deal Judi Grainger Larry Hancock Margaret Hoffman Beverly Hurley Jenny Ingraham Cheryl Kearns Barbara Kennedy Charlie Kidder Judy Morgan-Davis Anne Porter Sylvia Redwine Sarah Leach Smith Jere Stevens Mark Weathington Jackie Wynne Helen Yoest

Cost: $90.00 ($30.00 is tax deductible).
Registration: Online registration is easy, fast, and secure. Online registration is open until Friday, April 19, 2013. After this date, you may still register until 12:00 PM on Wednesday, April 24 by calling (919) 513-0264.
Location: JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Directions: Need directions? Click here.
Parking: Free parking is available along Beryl Road. Overflow parking is available at the Brickhaven Building. (Please mind the no parking signs.)
Questions: Please call Anne Porter at (919) 513-3463 or anne_porter@ncsu.edu for more information about this event.

JC Raulston Arboretum
Department of Horticultural Science
NC State University
Campus Box 7522
Raleigh, NC 27695-7522
(919) 515-3132

This Web page was last updated on May 15, 2013.