2007 Annual Appeal
October 15, 2007
Dear member,
As 2007 draws to a close, I want to thank you for your support of the JC Raulston Arboretum. I am writing this letter on a glorious mid October afternoon. In spite of the drought conditions of the past summer and this fall, the gardens look great, and I'm reminded again how plants enrich our lives and lift our spirits. My second year as director of the JCRA has been an interesting and rewarding one. The Arboretum offered a great series of educational events and activities in 2007, including an expanded series of Friends of the Arboretum Lectures and workshops, monthly Plantsmen's tours, field trips, and the JCRA Arborfest in September. Mark Weathington, a great plantsman and formerly director of horticulture at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, joined us to assume the position of assistant director and curator of collections.
Your past generosity through membership and special gifts has made it possible for us to make significant progress in the gardens this year. Our Scree Garden, established in 2006, thrived in the heat and drought of 2007. The new Geophyte Border was established this year, and the rooftop gardens were completely renovated and replanted this past spring. Looking ahead to the upcoming year in the garden, plans to renovate the Southwestern Garden are underway. Exciting progress has been made in the Arboretum's Cercis and Buddleja plant breeding efforts, with new cultivars of Buddleja planned for introduction in 2008. Taking over a year to develop, the JCRA master plan was completed in 2007. The master plan will chart the course for future physical development of the Arboretum grounds.
We are excited about the dynamic and positive changes that will occur at the JCRA as implementation of the master plan goes forward. Today, I am asking you to extend your support to help initiate these efforts and to help build our long term endowment fund with a year-end contribution to the JC Raulston Arboretum. This year, your contribution will be divided equally between the JCRA Endowment for Excellence and the JCRA master plan fund. Building the JCRA Endowment for Excellence will provide long-term income to sustain the JCRA in the future, and monies dedicated to the master plan fund will help us move forward in transforming the landscape of the JCRA. With your support, we can build upon the legacy of our first 31 years, and plan for excellence in our future.
I wish you and your family a joyous holiday season.
Sincerely
Dennis Werner
PS. Make your gift today on our secure giving page.