Gatekeepers of the Garden, a group whose contributions to McKee Botanical Garden enable the gates to the living community treasure to remain open for all to enjoy, were feted last Wednesday evening at the annual Gatekeepers of the Garden Celebration to thank them for their generosity and continued support.
Roughly 100 guests were treated to an outdoor cocktail reception in the picturesque Spanish Kitchen and a unique dining experience in the historic Hall of Giants, and were also given a sneak peek at designs for a new Children’s Garden scheduled to open in 2018.
“We welcome this opportunity annually to thank our Gatekeepers of the Garden for their continued support and are delighted to give them a preview of the plans for the Children’s Garden,” said Executive Director Christine Hobart.
This past summer Didier Design Studio, a landscape architectural firm based in Colorado, worked closely with McKee staff and board members to design an enchanted world for the youngest among us. Although unable to attend, Emmanuel Didier implored Gatekeepers for their support of the project through a letter that was read to them.
“Less screen time, more inspired outdoor physical activity and engagement with nature will enable children to develop a deeper understanding of the transformative power of the natural world and to balance the virtual with the real,” he wrote.
Project Manager Will Viitanen walked guests through the design process and explained plans for each area of engagement, including a Lily Pad Water Walk, Karst Hideout, Splash Fountain, canopy bridges and slides, Pirate Shipwreck, Faery House and Forest.
Each area is being designed to provide an environment where children can develop and nurture a powerful bond with nature through play and discovery. The idea is to create a fun and whimsical outdoor destination that will inspire their imagination and curiosity through interaction, education and exploration.
“I hope this has given you all a taste of what’s in store for our Children’s Garden when we open it in 2018 and the images will inspire you to support our campaign to fruition,” said Hobart, officially kicking off the Children’s Garden Campaign.
To complete the project, McKee needs to raise $7.5 million, half of which is required before the spring 2017 groundbreaking. So strong is their belief in the project, one donor has already generously pledged $250,000 to cover half the cost of the Pirate Shipwreck in the Grand Discovery Tree.
“I think it’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to McKee since we opened,” said Alma Lee Loy, one of McKee’s biggest proponents. “To think that we have the possibility to do something like this that will be for the generations to come.”
In the meantime, there are plenty of exhibits and activities to enjoy, beginning with the newly opened Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks exhibition, featuring artist Sean Kenney’s 13 nature-inspired sculptural masterpieces, as well as a LEGO Brick Build Station, on display through May 7, 2017. Future events include Holidays at McKee, Nights of Lights, Motor Car Exhibition, Fairy and Pirate Festival and Waterlily Celebration. For details, visit McKeeGarden.org.