THANK YOU!
The Northwest Flower & Garden Show returned to the Washington State Convention Center on February 16, and once again the Arboretum Foundation kicked off the show with its annual Opening Night Party & Auction.
“It was our most successful party to date!”, says Foundation executive director Paige Miller. “Thanks so much to everyone who helped make it happen—our amazing guests, event chairs, donors, volunteers, board of directors, and sponsors!”
A highlight of the evening was the “Make a Difference for the Arboretum,” which raised more than $110,000. This raise-the-paddle event was preceded by an appeal from guest speaker Scott Wyatt, who spoke passionately about the importance of preserving the Arboretum in this time of dramatically increasing density and development in Seattle.
Ciscoe Morris, with (from left to right) his wife Mary, Foundation board member Jason Morse, and garden writer Mary-Kate Mackey.
Foundation board member Skip Vonckx, our display garden intern Katie Tenneson, and Martin Selasco.
As always, guests enjoyed a fabulous evening of delicious food, fine wines, and alluring auctions—and the opportunity to view the beautiful display gardens at the Garden Show the day before it opens to the public.
Celebrating our natural heritage: The National Parks Service turned 100 years old in 2016. To mark the occasion, the Garden Show organizers chose the theme of America the Beautiful for the event. Each of show’s 20 display gardens paid homage to a treasured national park or landmark, including the Arboretum’s award-winning display, “The Hoh: America’s Rain Forest.”
Honorary event chair Ann Pigott Wyckoff during the main presentation.
Our executive director Paige Miller with our display garden designer Bob Lilly.
Celebrating generations of support: Along with celebrating national parks, the party paid homage to the generations of families that have preserved and enhanced Seattle’s most treasure park—Washington Park Arboretum—for the past 80 years. Our honorary co-chair at the event was Ann Pigott Wyckoff, whose family has had deep ties to the Arboretum since the late 1930s.
Auction Highlights
Party guests bid on such items as a week-long beach vacation at the Crane Resort in Barbados, a week’s vacation in Maui at a private home near Keawakapu Beach, and luncheon at Windcliff—the Indianola home of plant guru Dan Hinkley—followed by a tour of the famed Heronswood garden he created.
Guests Mimi Richards, Katie Randall, and Elizabeth Schott enjoying the wine reception in the Exhibit Hall.
Foundation board member Steve Alley, with Marianne Reed, Nobuko Anderson, and board member Jeanne Peterson.
See more photos from the event on our Facebook page.
Volunteering at Opening Night
Seattle’s most elegant garden party could never be a success without the help of our valued and hard-working volunteers! If you’re interested in helping out, please email volunteer@arboretumfoundation.org or call 206-325-4510.
Sponsors
Thanks to our generous sponsors for making the Opening Night Party possible!
