Botanic Garden annual meeting wrap-up

Members of San Diego Botanic Garden gathered recently for the Garden’s Annual Meeting. Outgoing Board of Trustees Chairman Tom Applegate shared the highlights of 2015 before passing the baton to Sharon Lowe, who spoke of her primary connection to the Garden – the fact that plants and nature are healing and do wondrous things for people’s wellbeing, mental health and stress levels.

Jim Farley provided a campaign update, which included the announcement of a $100,000 pledge by Price Philanthropies and a check presentation by Martin and Carol Dickinson (see photo and caption above). Farley’s keynote presentation on “The Agricultural Future of our Neighborhood” was delivered from the dual perspective of President and CEO of The Leichtag Foundation and Chairman for the Come Grow with Us! campaign for the Dickinson Family Education Conservatory. Farley encouraged attendees to consider the “big idea” of creating a biotech campus focused on food science on the former Ecke Ranch property adjacent to the Garden.

Julian Duval then shared updates on the capital projects currently underway and their expected impact on the visitor experience and the community at large in the coming two years. In addition to the Dickinson Conservatory, the Garden is creating a new horticultural staff complex and renovating the Lawn House and the historic Larabee House, thanks to $2 million from the County of San Diego, as made possible by Supervisor Dave Roberts.

Duval thanked the Garden’s members, donors and volunteers for another successful year, and promised that there will be many exciting opportunities for people of all ages to connect with plants and nature in the years to come.