Benefactor Events - The Arboretum
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Benefactor Events

The Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation invites you to become an Arboretum Benefactor and join a membership society that offers special benefits and demonstrates the highest level of commitment in sustaining the Arboretum as an important community resource. All Benefactors are invited to a series of events, lectures and programs annually, all of which include a hosted reception. To join or upgrade your membership, please contact LeAnn Carroll at 626. 821.3237 or leann.carroll@arboretum.org.

The Nature of Sculpture II Artists Reception April 18, 2020

Benefactors will experience art in a botanical environment this spring, as 90 artists, explore the theme of The Arboretum Takes Flight with sculptures that highlight the interaction between art and nature. “The exhibit allows us to step beyond ourselves into the diverse beauty of the various landscapes where both the gardens and the art will resonate in harmony,” said Patricia Ferber, curator of both Nature of Sculpture II and the first exhibit. Benefactors will join artists for live music and wine as they tour the exhibition.

Children’s Learning Patio Dedication March 15, 2020

Benefactors are invited to the dedication of the Children’s Learning Patio, the Arboretum’s newest educational resource. The event allows Benefactors to see how we will engage underserved students through a new science field program, foster creativity and exploration during Arboretum Nature Camp, and be a home for hands-on educational programming. The reception will include live music, science activities, and remarks from Arboretum educators.


 

Moonlight Forest November 8, 2019

Moonlight Forest was a fantasy of light that takes you to new places. Arboretum Benefactors were the first to see the 2019 Moonlight Forest Festival! The festival allowed visitors to dive under the seas with exotic fish and a giant shark in the Ocean Visions exhibit. Then step into a winter wonderland with the Polar Dreams experience featuring playful penguins and cuddly sled dogs.

Redwood Reborn  June 23, 2019

Two years ago, a dawn redwood at the Arboretum, among the first specimens of this living fossil grown in North America, finally succumbed to the record drought. Wood from the the tree was salvaged and meticulously fashioned into a beautiful guitar by luthier Dennis Hays. The amazing story of the redwood and its rebirth as a musical instrument was celebrated with an afternoon of nature, art and music. Harvard University’s Peter Del Tredici, senior scientist at the Arnold Arboretum, shared how the dawn redwood, once thought to be extinct, was discovered and journeyed to North America, to make possible the 12 specimens that thrive at the Arboretum today. Hays discussed the guitar he created for the Forces of Nature I exhibit in 2017 featuring art made of wood from fallen trees  at the Arboretum. Internationally renowned guitarist Laurence Juber performed pop and jazz classics.

Digital Nature Opening Reception February 27, 2019

Nature+Technology=Art: Digital Nature 2019. Guests met and greeted the artists whose work was projected onto the night landscape of the Arboretum.  The exclusive opening night reception featured artist talks, live music with Desert Magic and wine. Inspired by the natural world and technology, the artists explored themes as diverse as butterfly camouflage, bird songs and heavy metal, and digital wildflowers. Some art was interactive, some with sound or live performances, others silent. The exhibit was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and curated by Shirley Alexandra Watts.

Moonlight Forest Launch Party October 25, 2018

The kickoff to our fabulous Moonlight Forest Magical Lantern Art Festival was full of entertainment, food, drink and fun. Benefactors were among the first to preview the glittering festival before its official opening to the public. They enjoyed the dragon in Baldwin Lake, the giant peacock on Bauer Lawn and more!

Experience the Essence of Nature: Forest Bathing July 29, 2018

At a special session of the Japanese-inspired Forest Bathing nature walk, our certified forest therapy guides led Benefactors through the Arboretum to discover their own authentic way of interacting with the natural world. The focus was on connecting with the garden in a way that encouraged participants to slow down, open up their senses and de-stress.

On Location: Tarzan at the Arboretum June, 30, 2018

Baldwin Lake and surrounding environs served as a stand-in for the African Jungle in 12 classic Tarzan films.  Scott Tracy Griffin, director of special projects for Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., presented a talk about the history of the making of classic Tarzan movies at the Arboretum.

Pasadena Symphony and POPS quintet live May 6, 2018

Benefactors and guests joined us for a beautiful spring evening and  entertainment by a brass quintet. They relaxed with a glass of wine as the ensemble performed a mix of classics from Bach to Broadway. Following the concert, Jill Morganelli, Horticultural Supervisor  shared her tips for growing beautiful roses.

The High Line: Reimagining the Accidental Landscape, October 29, 2017

Rick Darke, accomplished photographer and author, shared his stunning images and the visionary design that led to the transformation of an abandoned elevated freight rail line in Manhattan’s West Side into a bustling city’s green retreat. His presentation explored  the native and exotic plants, drought-tolerant perennials, and grasses that thrive in New York City’s High Line

Laurence Juber performance May 21, 2017

laurence-juber-photo-by-michael-lamont-sm3m0019The Grammy award-winning guitarist presented a special concert for Arboretum Benefactors Sunday, May 21, 4-6pm in the Coach Barn. fusing folk, jazz, blues, pop and classical styles, Laurence Juber is world-renowned for his multi-faceted performances using only one-acoustic guitar. He became internationally known as lead guitarist in Beatle Paul McCartney’s Wings with whom he won his first Grammy. His solo arrangement of “The Pink Panter Theme” earned him a second Grammy. Photo by Michael Lamont

Proud as a Peacock talk by Roslyn Dakin, PhD  March 25, 2017

The Arboretum peacocks have long fascinated visitors with their unique calls and beautiful displays.  Roslyn Dakin PhD shared how her own interest in these magnificent birds led her from Charles Darwin to Patrick Swayze. In her three years researching peacocks at the Arboretum, she can tell you what all the feather shaking and rattling are about.  See her videos used in a New York Times science report.

How Beer Came to the Pueblo: The Long Thirst Ends, December 11, 2016

Charles Perry, food historian and former Los Angeles Times food writer, said that in 1850, Los Angeles was the wine capital of California, but the Americanos who’d started moving here wanted beer. Without cool cellars, though, how could they make lager? Eventually they did and Maier Brewing did and became one of the biggest brewers on the West Coast.

Rose Garden Brunch & Tour, May 21, 2016

Jill MorganelliJill Morganelli, the Arboretum’s Horticultural Supervisor, led a tour of our beautiful collection of roses, which she oversees.  She shared the garden’s history, care and new plantings. It is a place of community where Arboretum volunteers play a vital role in the care and continued vitality of the Rose Garden, which dates back to the 1960s and is a very popular wedding site.

Scott E. Haselton: Succulents, Cacti and the Abbey Garden Press, February 13, 2016

jholada portraitScott E. Haselton was enchanted by the desert and its flora.  In 1929, he founded the Cactus and Succulent Society of America and its long-running journal, which he edited for more than 35 years. He created an imprint called the Abbey Garden Press. In her talk, Jessica Holada, Director of Special Collections and Archives at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, traced the history of the Garden Abbey Press and its relationship with the Abbey San Encino and the early print culture of the Arroyo Seco.

Darwin, Botanical Gardens, and the Case for Evolution, November 1, 2015

Ned Friedman, the new director of Arnold Arboretum. Friedman is Professor in Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, at the University of Colorado presently. Justin Ide/Harvard Staff PhotographerMany of the plants we grow in our gardens are premier examples of the ongoing process of evolution: random mutations that lead, on the rarest of occasions, to novel and desirable biological characteristics.  In his talk, Professor William (Ned) Friedman, the eighth director of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, discussed how horticulture played a central role in laying the foundation for discovering evidence of evolution itself, as well as understanding how evolution works. Photo by Justin Ide/Harvard Staff Photographer.

A Passion for Plumeria Tour, August 29, 2015

Plumeria Jim IMG_5824James E. Henrich, curator of living collections, led Arboretum Benefactors on a walking tour through the plumeria collection on Tallac Knoll.  He explained  the rich history behind our collection and the lively culture associated with these fragrant flowers.  He shared the techniques and methods the Arboretum uses to tend these popular Central American plants.

The Ginkgo in All Its Magnificence, March 8, 2015

Peter Del Tredici photoAt this event for Arboretum Benefactors, Peter Del Tredici, associate professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, presented an in-depth look at one of the most ancient and fascinating trees on the planet. He has been studying the species for the last 25 years and recently traveled to remote areas of China in search of wild ginkgos.

Shakespeare’s Gardens and Green Worlds, November 9, 2014

Pomona Faculty-Campaign Martha Andresen 2014 1Martha Andresen, Professor of English, Emerita Pomona College, explored Shakespeare’s love of nature. From his observations of the minute details of every flower and herb, to his gorgeous lyrics of seasonal flowering, Shakespeare uses gardens and “green worlds” as locales for human enrichment and enlightenment. What enhanced pleasures inspired by Shakespeare’s artistry can we find in our own gardens?
Photo by Carrie Rosema

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© 2023 Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens

Phone: 626.821.3222

301 N. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA, 91007