In partnership with the World Central Kitchen, The Gardens proudly served close to 6,000 hot, nutritious meals in 7 days! Thank you to all of our volunteers that came out and made this community service possible! Our hearts continue to go out to all of our friends and neighbors that have experienced loss from back-to-back hurricanes and hope that you may find peace amidst the challenges - we hope that you can join us for some of our wellness offerings this month.
Yoga in the Gardens: Nov 2
Rejuvenate your spirit with a Yoga Sanctuary instructor in this class held near the Butterfly House at 11:30am. Please bring your mat and water bottle. Donation suggested.
Qigong: Nov 3 & 17
Learn this ancient Chinese art that helps to reduce anxiety, increase strength and flexibility, improve balance, and increase energy. Class will be located on the Great Lawn from 9:30-10:30 am. Donation suggested.
Sound Bath: Nov 6
Join us for an immersive Sound Bath experience, blending Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls, and energy work to guide participants into a deeply meditative state. These sessions support relaxation, emotional release, and balancing the energy body, and they are suitable for both beginners and experienced participants. Located on the Great Lawn from 9:30-10:30. Donation suggested.
Kids Art Class: Nov 9
Join us for this children's art class inspired by the art of Charley Harper! All materials are provided. Members $5, Non-members $10. Please pay at the gift shop and meet under the pergola at 10am. Garden Admission is required.
Morning Activation: Nov 14 & 21
This 90-minute session combines elements of Tai Chi, Yoga, Dynamic Stretching, and Body Tapping. These movements energize the body by increasing blood circulation and activating the lymphatic system. Bring a yoga mat, comfortable clothes, and water. This is an intermediate level class. Participants must be able to get up and down from the ground without assistance.The group will meet at the entrance to the Tetrault Building at 9am. Donation suggested.
Painting on the Pergola: Nov 16
Vino's Picasso will guide you through step by step to create this image from 10-Noon. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to explore your artistic side. Tickets: Members - $50 – Non- Members $68 (includes access to The Gardens).
Edible Education: Nov 20
This class will teach you the care, cultivation, and preparation of Brassicas - Collard Greens, Kale, Spinach, and Mustard Greens. Class will be held under the tent on the great lawn from 11-1pm. Tickets $5.
Nature Photography: Nov 22
Grab your phone and join us for a fun and relaxing photography experience - no fancy camera required! Learn the basics of lighting, composition, and perspective as you level up your skills. Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, this session will show you how to use your smartphone and simple editing tools and apps to capture the magic of nature all around you. Group will meet in front of the Tetrault building at 10am. Just bring your phone, comfortable shoes, and a love of nature! Tickets: Members $30 Non-members $40
Guided Meditation "Gratitude": Nov 27
In keeping with the season, this guided meditation will emphasize gratitude. When we consciously focus on gratitude, it can lead to greater emotional well-being, better physical health, and positivity. You may bring a yoga mat, blanket, or if you prefer, chairs are available. Located on the great lawn from 9:30-10:30. Suggested donation.
We'd like to extend a special thank you to Helen Ronco who has worked with us for the past three months to ensure the Food Forest project and program launched successfully. Her salary and the initial $20K in infrastructure was provided by The Cigna Group's Community Ambassador Program.
With Helen's help we have planted,
20 varieties of mango
3 varieties of avocado
70 barbados cherry
30 other varieties of fruit and nut trees
5 varieties of papaya
Lemon grass
peanut
15 varieties of banana
And we are just getting started!
A special thank you to the 60+ donors that have given so generously to our hurricane recovery efforts, our amazing volunteers that have donated so much of their time, our staff that is working tirelessly to fully reopen, and for American Farms and Driftwood Gardens for their vibrant flower and plant donations. Because of the dedication and support of all of you, we are able to begin to rebloom once more!
We have completed some of the electrical work that was disrupted, repaired the elevator, installed new pool and pond pumps/piping, rescreened the Butterfly House, repaired the admissions booth, and rebuilt the propagation houses. We have removed an extensive amount of debris, including large docks that were lodged on our boardwalks, and repaired the washouts in our Food Forest.
Some of the big projects we are still in need of are...gate repair to secure our property ($6K), pump and speaker repairs to Best Friends Sculpture ($2K), pool decontaminating/cleaning ($3K), permanent anchoring of downed trees ($2K), paver repairs ($2K), soil/shell ($3K), and additional electrical work to replace submerged electrical panels and receptacles ($8K).
One generous giver donated a stock transfer. Donating stock to a nonprofit can be a smart, tax-efficient way to support a cause. When you donate appreciated stock that you've held for more than a year, you may avoid paying capital gains tax and potentially reduce your overall tax liability. We encourage you to reach out to your tax advisor to discuss details or connect with our Director of Development to learn more.
