Friends News at the Park
Transcription
Friends News at the Park
Friends News at the Park Vol. 28, No. 1 • Spring 2016 Letter from the Director The mission of the Friends of Tower Grove Park Enable the Park to fully serve its appropriate functions in providing recreational and cultural activities and aesthetic enjoyment, and Preserve and restore the Park’s historic features, including its historic landscape, and Promote greater public understanding and appreciation for the importance of Tower Grove Park as a community treasure & National Historic Landmark. Friends of Tower Grove Park Board of Directors Laurence McCarthy President Janine Lawler 1st Vice President Louis Gerteis, Ph. D. 2nd Vice President William Gilbert II, Ph. D Treasurer Debbie Monterrey Millett Secretary Patricia Midden Assistant Secretary Kristin Byrne Erika Ebsworth-Goold Caroline Ernst Julie Gianino Catherine Gilbert Ella Gross Thom Gross Lee Kling Mike Konzen Kevin McKinney Willie Meadows Debbie Monterrey Nina Murphy Peggy Oates Erika Ottolini Dot Soldavini Nancy Suelflow Jack Swanson Bill Reininger Director Emeritus Lee Berger Donald H. Bergmann Delores Blehm Shelley Donaho Francis Fanara William Schawacker 4256 Magnolia Avenue Saint Louis, Missouri 63110 P: 314-771-4424 E: friends@towergrovepark.org Dear Friends of Tower Grove Park, The Park is enjoying a particularly beautiful spring, with more than 7,000 tulips in full bloom, and flowering trees and annuals giving us their best blossoms following the winter months. I hope you have been able to run, stroll, bike, or play in the Park recently to enjoy this display, as well as to help welcome back the many migrating and nesting birds that take refuge in our trees. Your support has enabled us to accomplish some tremendous goals in the past few months. From the installation of the new savannahs on the northwest side of the Park to the renewal of the Gaddy Bird Garden this spring, we’re moving ahead with ambitious projects that will improve the Park and offer long-term sustainability while preserving its unique character. A recent inventory of each the Park’s 6,900 trees will help us develop a plan to protect and preserve our urban forest. And in the coming weeks, even more activity will be happening to preserve the Park’s Lily Ponds and improve its waterways, offering a better habitat for plants and wildlife. In the coming months, you will see and hear more about our newest endeavor: a Master Plan that will help guide the Park’s future for the next 10 years. Of the utmost importance to the Park Board of Commissioners and staff is the input of our neighbors and the community we serve. I look forward to inviting you to share your thoughts, concerns, and favorite things about Tower Grove Park this summer that will help us have the best Master Plan possible for the next generation of Park visitors. Thank you for your generosity to Tower Grove Park. Your membership supports these important projects and our day-to-day operations that help keep Tower Grove Park a safe, healthy green space for St. Louis. Sincerely, Bill Reininger FREYtography|Kari R. Frey|St. Louis|Photography Give STL Day is May 3! Give STL Day is just around the corner and Tower Grove Park is again joining in on the fun! What is Give STL Day, you may ask? Give STL Day is an online day of giving where nonprofits like ours will be reaching out to our donors—and looking for new ones—as we educate them about our mission and raise funds. Last year, we raised $7,500 and ranked 33 out of 790 nonprofits for number of total gifts! We were able to use the funds to repair and repave the well-used trail that begins at Kingshighway and Magnolia and leads to the Gaddy Bird Garden. We hope to be just as successful this year! You can join the fun by donating online from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3. Simply visit www.givestlday.org and search for Tower Grove Park. Your gift is safe and secure and you will immediately receive a thank you and tax receipt. If you would like to participate but do not have access to a computer, checks and credit card payments will be accepted if received by May 3. If you have any questions, please call the Development Office at 314-771-4484. We hope you will show your love for Tower Grove Park this Give STL Day! Friends of Tower Grove Park Progressive Pavilion Party Flower Power 2016 The Young Friends of Tower Grove Park are hosting a spring fundraiser featuring the Park’s iconic pavilions. Modeled after progressive dinner parties, the Progressive Pavilion Party will be held Saturday, April 30 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Attendees will begin at the Turkish Pavilion, progress to the Old Carriage Pavilion, and end at the Music Stand, enjoying food and drinks from local restaurants and bars, as well as live music, at each location. Join us on Thursday, May 5, for Flower Power, a luncheon to support and enhance the living landscape of Tower Grove Park, featuring spectacular floral creations and the Park at its springtime best! The event sold out in rapid time and we are expecting 250 attendees! Schlafly, Winslow’s Home, Shaved Duck, and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company are just a few of the great businesses signed up to participate! A full list of the participating restaurants, bars, and musical guests can be found on our Eventbrite page. Guests will enjoy a delicious, Mexican-themed lunch and hear from author, television host, entrepreneur and conservationist, P. Allen Smith. His nationally syndicated television programs and regular appearances on NBC’s Today show offer fun, practical, and creative ways to select and arrange botanicals into living works of art. His latest book, Seasonal Recipes from the Garden, is a nod to his love for organic, regional cuisine. The event is held at the Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tickets start at just $125. Please contact Brigid Flynn at 314-771-4484 for more information or to purchase your tickets. Picnic in the Park Save the Date! The Friends of Tower Grove Park would like to invite you to their third annual neighborhood “Picnic in the Park” on Sunday, June 12, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Music Stand and Piper Palm House, in the heart of Tower Grove Park. Friends Annual Membership Meeting We have an exciting line-up of activities for community members of all ages including a petting zoo, food trucks, arts and crafts, face painters, food trucks, live music and more! For more information, visit www.towergrovepark.org or call 314-771-4424. The Friends of Tower Grove Park will hold our Annual Membership Meeting on Monday, May 23 in the Piper Palm House from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. President Larry McCarthy will report on the state of the Park and new members will be elected to the Friends Board of Directors. Light refreshments will be served. Martinis at the Mansion The Friends of Tower Grove Park present their 13th Annual Martinis at the Mansion! Save the date for Friday, September 30, 2016 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Join us for a splendid evening of martinis, hors d’oeuvres, and much more! More info to come soon! Park Projects & Improvements Bird Garden Restoration Restoration to the Gaddy Bird Garden (near Kingshighway & Magnolia) was completed in early January. Over the years, the Bird Garden and trail leading to it had become overgrown with grapevine and invasive vegetation, which encroached on the trail and weakened the tree canopy structure—a detriment to both birders and birds. DJM Ecological Services worked hard to restore the woodland area by removing invasive brush, improving the timber stand to refine the canopy structure and removing the debris created by these activities. This spring, the St. Louis Audubon Society and the Webster Groves Nature Study Society will assist with developing a list of native plants that support bird habitat, and will volunteer their time to help our crew install the native shrubs and trees as well as perennials to increase the garden’s overall diversity. Tower Grove Park is a natural refuge for birds and our bird identification life list has well over 200 species. Our exceptional habitat has earned us a designation as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Each year, approximately 4,900 birders visit the Bird Garden as well as other birding areas in the park. Tree Management System The Davey Tree Expert Company has spent the last several weeks in the Park tracking and assessing all of our 6,900+ trees for our new tree management system. This new system will enable us to maintain the health of our diverse urban forest in a timely and efficient manner. Many thanks to the Orthwein Foundation for funding this project! We appreciate their continued support. Wood Chipper Thank you to Gamma Tree Experts for their donation of a wood chipper. This chipper will be a part of the Park’s Wood Waste and Composting Program, which each year converts more than 600 tons of wood waste into usable mulch and compost that helps the park bloom. Thank you! New Park Master Plan Tower Grove Park’s current Master Plan is 30 years old. In order to move forward, this plan requires a comprehensive review and updated approach to help guide the Board of Commissioners and Park Director for the next 10 years. This new plan will provide a visionary road map for future improvements, restoration efforts and maintenance plans that honor the Park’s history while creating a vibrant and relevant urban Park for current and future donors. Thank you to the Crawford Taylor Foundation and the William T. Kemper Foundation for providing the funding for this project. Their generous support allows us to continue to provide recreational, educational and cultural opportunities to our 2.5 million annual visitors. Friends of Tower Grove Park Welcome Brigid Flynn and Andy Berg! Black History Month Tree Planting Tower Grove Park is excited to welcome two new staff members to the team: Brigid Flynn, Development Director, and Andy Berg, Arboriculture Supervisor. Allow them to introduce themselves... In celebration of Black History Month, Tower Grove Park hosted its 25th annual tree planting ceremony on February 16 with students from Shenandoah Elementary School honoring actor and director, LeVar Burton. The students presented a reader’s theatre rendition of Stellaluna and then gathered outside to help with the planting of a Red Maple Tree. Andy Berg Arboriculture Supervisor Brigid Flynn Development Director Brigid Flynn is the Park’s new Development Director, overseeing special events, major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, and more. Brigid most recently served as Director of Institutional Giving at the Saint Louis Art Museum, and previously worked at the New York Foundation for the Arts (New York, NY), the Wexner Center for the Arts (Columbus, OH), and Performing Arts Chicago. She is also the co-founder of Midwest Artist Project Services (MAPS), and serves on the boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) St. Louis, and Creative Reaction Lab. A St. Louis native, Brigid lives in the Tower Grove South neighborhood with her husband, photographer Dave Moore, and is a member of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish. I was born and raised in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago and moved to Carbondale where I received my Forestry degree in 2009. For 2 years after graduation, I did traditional forestry work all over southern Illinois and Missouri which involved timber stand improvement, prescribed burning, tree planting, and invasive species control. I became an ISA Certified Arborist in 2011 and decided to move to St. Louis with my girlfriend (now fiancé) to practice Urban Forestry. I worked for a few different organizations which were all solely involved in the green industry. Prior to working for Tower Grove Park, I was at the Davey Tree Expert Company for just over 3 and a half years where I was in charge of their Plant Health Care department. It was there that I gained an extensive amount of knowledge in caring for individual trees. Tower Grove Park is delighted to bring this program to the community and extends a special thanks to the students at Shenandoah and Principal Sonya Wayne. Horticulture Education Program The 6th grade class from Tower Grove Christian Academy will be visiting the Park every third Tuesday of the month to learn about the Science of Plants and Horticulture in an urban setting! The students will plant vegetable seeds and annuals this spring and will come back in the fall to harvest some of the vegetables. The students will hear about greenhouse and bed maintenance, composting and mulching, and basic fundamentals of horticulture prep. We are excited to work with this great group of students! I look forward to bringing my knowledge and skills to the table here at the park, and I am very excited to expand and evolve the Arboriculture department. Special thanks to our Year End Appeal Donors The 2015 Year End Appeal has raised almost $16,000. These funds will be used to restore and refresh the Park’s Water Lily Ponds, resulting in higher quality water, healthier plants, better habitat for wildlife and a more delightful experience for everyone. Our donors are listed below, and we thank each one of them! Mark and Marilyn Abbott Cindy and Chris Anich Robert and Pauline Ashton Stephanie Atkins Robert and Linda Ballard Mary Frances Balmer Ken Barthels, Jr. E.T. Baur Helen Lee Berger Hugh and Ann Bergman Delores Blehm Rose Ann Bodman Tom and Betsy Bradley Steven Brandes Wes and Marilyn Browning Robert and Sue Bruce Dick Bugg Nathan Burrow Stephen Butler Lori Calcaterra Annette Canale Katherine and Charles Claggett Elizabeth Cohen Dennis and Bonnie Coleman Commerce Bank Ann Corrigan Gary Craig David Crutcher Joe and Beverly Curtis Ronald Danna Roger and Deborah Dennert Doug and Grace Dick Derick and Sally Driemeyer Scott Durden Marshall and Faye Dyer Richard Egan David Ehnes Diane Ellenberger James Epstein Paul Evans and Elinor Harrison Fran and Norma Fanara Grace and Richard Fernandez Ken and Joan Fiala Brian and Michelle Fiedler Virginia Fister Drew Foster Helene Frankel Kari and Richard Frey Bill and Loura Gilbert Thom and Lore Gross Richard and Suzy Grote Charles and Marie Guariglia Leo Hageman Esley Ian Hamilton Suzanne Heckman Harold and Sonya Helmkampf Mark Herbers Hercules Construction Management Company Carl and Jan Hermann Gary Hirshberg Carole Hohlman Nellie Hohnsen Tracy and David Holtzman Jeffrey Huntington Melodie Husted Arnie Jacobson Thelma Jennewein George Kerwin Steve and Nancy Kidwell Frances Kish Ann Lee Konneker Mike and Ann Konzen Doug Krauss and Joe Freaney Susan and Warren Lammert Jerrold Lander Bill Larson Sondra Larson Steven and Janine Lawler Branson Lawrence Daniel Layne David Lazarus Richard Lovelace Jane Luedde Gene and Ann Mackey John Mallon John and Kristin Zapalac Joy Ellen Martin Mike Maskus and Cathy Augustin Larry and Sharon McCarthy David and Virginia McDonald Ken and Mary Mebruer Patty and Paul Midden Howard and Penny Miller McKay and Jason Mills Debbie Monterrey and Steve Millett Anne and Patrick Moore Randall Moskop Charles and Joann Nester Peggy and Francis Oates John O’Brien Gerry and Bob Osborn Tom Ott Pay Payton Joseph and Katrina Pfeiffer Guy Phillips Patricia Pickett Kate and John Pitman Chris and Liz Poelker Sue and Kip Rapp Jim and Mary Roberts Zsolt and Mary Rumy Peter and Alice Sargent Joan Schacht Michael Schmidt Tim Schoemehl William and Kathleen Schoenhard Patti and Matt Sciuto Jerry and Sally Sears Joseph and Mary Anne Sedey Bob and Kirsten Sellers Jim and Michelle Sherman Richard Shinners Anita Siegmund Stephen Sneeringer Sandra Snell Karl Sommerhauser Nancy Suelflow Jane Sueme James and Joan Taylor Kevin and Julia Thorpe Maryjo and George Thornburgh Margaret and Henry Uhlemeyer Christopher Vierrether Benjamin Walczak Bernard and Anita Waxman Carol Wiedl Bill and Regina Wischmeyer Alex Young Francis and Edward Zulauf Welcome to New Members & Renewed Friends (December 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016) Terry Adelman Michael Allen David Anderson Dan Andrews Pamela Aubuchon Ron and Ann Auer Richard Bailey Michelle Balducci-Connelly Jeffrey Bargielski Harriet Baron Lindsay Barth Kevin Bayless and Angela Standish Eric Becker Carmichael Christy Beckmann and Jim Vykopal Pamela Behnen Linda Behrmann Helen Lee Berger Hugh Bergman Barbara Blaes Delores Blehm John Block Nicole Blumner Adam Bockman Daniel Boehmer Alice Boeschenstein Arthur Bourey Paul Bregitzer David Brinker Tom Brinkmann Paul Brockland Ruth Brooks Rosemary Brown Robert and Sue Bruce Mary Bruemmer Kris Bryant Bruce Buckland E. Wardwell Buckner Christine Burghoff Beth Burka Tom Byrne Clarkson and Rita Carpenter Bob Castulik-Byrne Lesley Chaney Allison Cheney Sandra Christie Jan R. Clinite Annalise Coffman Bob Cole Louis Colombo Ben Cooper Josephine Corley Barbara Crabtree George Crump Kerry Crump Mary Diane Cummings Amy Cyr Nancy D’Arcy Ronald Danna Carol Darnall Carolyn Davis Gary Davis Tom Dew Colin Dewling Joseph DiCroce Corinne Didisheim Charles Diemer Larry Doggett Robert and Deborah Dolgin Betty Jane Donahoe Judie Donohue Kevin Doyle Joyce Driemeyer Charlene Dummett David P. Ehnes Janet Eichhorn Colin Eliot Robert F. Epperson Caroline and Harold Ernst Alexandra Etges Monica Farrar Mark Ferris Brian Fiedler Nicholas Filippello Helen Fisher Barry Flachsbart Jim and Pat Fogle George Fonyo Janice Forsyth Lucien and Becky Fouke Sam and Marilyn Fox Eileen Franke Robert Fulstone Francie Futterman Arthur Gale Louis Galli Agnes Garino Jean Gase Richard Gatz Michael Gibbons Kevin Gibson Bill and Loura Gilbert Catherine Gilbert Will Gilbert Pat Giles Mrs. Joseph F. Gleason Leah G. Goessling Shannon Grass Diana L. Gray Megan E. Green Timothy and Kathleen Greenwald John Grone Mary Lee Grone Thom and Lore Gross Charles P. Guariglia John and Laurie Haffenreffer Ruth Hardin Robert Harper Elizabeth Harrison John Headrick Dorothy Heagney Rich Heagney Suzanne Heckman John Hegedus James Heine Nick Heisner Harold Helmkampf Dan Henroid Jason Hensley Stephanie Herbers Gary Hirshberg Edwin Hiss Jason Hochstein Diane Hogan Christy Hooker Bernard Hoover James D. Huber Jan Hulett Kathleen Hull Benjamin Hulsey Joanne Iskiwitch Andrew James Joel James Lonnie and Emily Jaycox Tammy Jenkins David Johnson Leonard Jones Jesse Jost Pat Justis Richard Kacenski George Kafalenos Gene Kain Rita Kazembe Robert and Jane Keel Jeanne Keirle Steve and Nancy Kidwell Deanna Kiel Marshall Kiel John Kilo Steven King Pamela Kinsella Mary Margaret Kleba Ward and Carol Klein Lee Kling Donald Klingsick Thomas Kniest Newell Knight Jane Knobbe Vernon Knobbe Amanda Koehler Stephen Kohlbry Stephen Kotsines Jack Krause Doug Krauss and Joe Freaney James Kriegshauser Jennifer Kubiszewski Emily LaBarge Michael Lamb Susan and Warren Lammert Cliff LaMotte Ann Larson Sondra Larson Thomas Lauher Janine and Steven Lawler Terry Lay Kate Ledden Meagan Lemp Bonnie Lewis Barbara Little James Llufrio George Lodoly Michelle Lonergan Maurice Lonsway Lisa and Chal Luedde Jeff Luna Michael Lunter Donn Lux Paul Lynch Elizabeth Mahony Ruth Malvern Phyllis Maritz Ray Marklin Emily Martin John Martin Art Matia Caroline May David May Steve Mayer Joseph Mazzola Marybeth McBryan Larry and Sharon McCarthy John McGuire John and Constance McPheeters Kenneth Mebruer Marilyn Mechler Lisa Melandri Linda Menard Matt Menietti Patricia Merlo Frank Meyer Midwest BankCentre Peter Michelson Jeffrey Milbrandt Marcella Milcic Bette Miller Judith Miniace Missouri Historical Society Sharon Moran Charlotte Moro Molly Mortland Kristen Morton Randall Moskop Birch Mullins Gale Murphy Joan Murphy Jenny Murren Brooke Myers Gladys Myles Jacquelin Naunheim Harry Neiner Daniel Neman Susan Neuhaus Rose Newport and Darin Robinson John O’Connell Patricia O’Connell Dan O’Connor Timothy O’Leary Terrence O’Toole Eric Otten Brad Patterson Donald Paule Mary Ellen Pearson George Pelican Rob Phillips Nicholas Pisoni John Plag Richard Poeling Chris Poelker Megan Power Rachel Presley Martin Rafanan David Raich Jan and Charlie Raiser Rudyard and Sue Rapp Tim Redmond Susan Reed Joyce Reese Robert Reich Diana Relleke Phillip Renfro Matthew Rigney John Riley Shelley Ripplinger Fredric Rissover Jon Ritter Jim Roberts Carole Roslund Mary Ross David Royce Roy Ruckdeschel Mike Ruddy Zsolt and Mary Rumy Norah Ryan Erika Sams Ronald Sauget Tosca Schaberg Lewis Schaefer Norma Schechter Allan Schnidler Walter and Marie Schmitz Betty Schnorbus Brett Schott Kenneth Schowengerdt Patricia Seagraves Robert and Kirsten Sellers Jen Seright Justine Shamleffer David Sharp Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Assn. Pamela Shephard Michele and Jim Sherman Daniel Siegel Daniel Singer Guy G. Slay Natalie Slymen David Smith Kenneth Smith Mitchel Smith Sandra Snell Adam Sommer Carole Lee Sotir Ted Spaid Claudia S. Spener Thomas Spinner Michael and Nita Spotanski Dorothy Stade Dan Stamborski Maggie Stamm Kevin Steincross Steve Stoltz Emily Straka Mary Strauss John Straw Maurita E. Stueck Anne C. Stupp Helen H. Sturgis Catherine Sullivan Maserati Swanagan Andrea Szerzinski Patricia Taillon-Miller Bonnie Taylor Dennis Taylor Ted Taylor Barbara Thomas Colleen Thomas Lindsay Toler Jen Tomlinson Michael Tompkins Christopher D. Towle J. Ellwood Towle Mariel Tribby Tom Tritschler Keith Turner Erik Van Betuw Seevaram Varadhachary Rebecca Voboril Larry Waeltermann Ed Wakefield Leighton Wassilak Patrick Weber Thomas Weber Webster Groves Garden Club #4 Denny Wedemeyer Pat Weis David Weiss Mary Ann Werner-Hill James Wilhite Jane Winter Bill Wischmeyer Debbie Whittier Rachel Witt Wollenberg Building Conservation LLC Peter Wollenberg Erni Wood Kathleen Wood Ellen Wyman Lisa Zoia Friends of Tower Grove Park Upcoming Events at the Park Tower Grove Farmers’ Market April 16—November 19—West of the Pool Pavilion in the center of the Park—8 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Saturdays only The 11th season will feature close to 60 vendors, free yoga, and live music! Call 314-771-3899 for more info. Progressive Pavilion Party April 30—Tower Grove Park—6:00 to 10:00 p.m. The Young Friends of Tower Grove Park are proud to present their 1st Annual Progressive Pavilion Party in Tower Grove Park! Guests will enjoy a memorable evening of visiting three pavilions in the Park that feature donated food and drink and live music. For more information, call 314-771-4424. Muckerman Fountain and Pop Jets on for season May 1 —Oct. 31—Saturdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday-Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Flower Power May 5—Piper Palm House—11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Luncheon to support and enhance the Park’s living landscape. Call 314-771-4484 for more information. Food Truck Fridays May 13, June 10, July 18, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 7—West End and Gurney Picnic Sites—May—Aug. hours: 4 to 8 p.m., Sept. hours: 4 to 7:30 p.m., Oct. hours: 3:30 to 7 p.m. Sauce Magazine pr esents their 6th a nnu a l Food Tr uck Fridays! Gather for an evening of friends, fun, and plenty of good food! Happy Birthday Jimmy Joe! Compton Heights Memorial Day Concert May 30—Music Stand—3 p.m. Compton Heights will again perform a free concert. 24th Annual Pagan Picnic June 4: 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. & June 5: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.paganpicnic.org Picnic in the Park June 12—Music Stand and Piper Palm House—4 to 7 p.m. The Friends of Tower Grove present their 3rd annual Picnic in the Park. There will be activities for community members of all ages, including live music, food trucks, a petting zoo, face painters, and more! Musical Mondays Mondays in July, August 1, August 8—Music Stand—7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Compton Heights Concert Band of St. Louis presents exciting, old-fashioned Sousa-style band concerts with world class guest artists. These concerts are free and open to the public. Festival of Nations August 27: 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. & August 28: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Join us in Tower Grove Park for the region’s premier multicultural celebration, featuring over 40 ethnic food booths, non-stop dance and music, arts and crafts, and an international bazaar with unique gifts from around the world. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.festivalofnationsstl.org. Our beloved Clydesdale, Jimmy Joe, celebrated his 21st birthday on March 5. Jimmy Joe came to Tower Grove Park in 1999 and began giving carriage rides with our Stable Manager, Jeff Kinman, in 2000. Today, Jimmy and Jeff give over 100 rides a year. Happy Birthday, Jimmy! To view a full calendar of events, visit www.towergrovepark.org. Letter from the President By the time you read this, the first day of Spring with the accompanying snow will be a memory. What a surprise! Mother Nature sure knows how to amaze us. Now we can enjoy the season with all the flowers and trees coming alive. The park seems to look better year after year. And each year there are events to take advantage of in the park. The Friends lecture series concluded in early April. Each lecture had a full house and was delightful in its own way. Thank you to Louis Gerteis for organizing the series again. After the lecture series, the Young Friends of the park are sponsoring the Progressive Pavilion Party on April 30th. This will likely be a sellout and is a new event for the park. Then on May 5th we will have the Flower Power luncheon with feature speaker P. Allen Smith. This event just gets better every year. So please join us for a great afternoon. The Friends will again sponsor the 3rd annual Picnic in the Park on June 12th, so bring the whole family to this wonderful fun event. And for planning purposes, mark your calendars for September 30th when we are again hosting our Martini party for the park. As you can see, 2016 will once again be a busy year in the park. So enjoy this Spring, and join us for one or more of our events. FREYtography|Kari R. Frey|St. Louis|Photography 4256 Magnolia Avenue Saint Louis, Missouri 63110 Larry McCarthy Friends President Non Profit Org US Postage PAID Permit # 4621 St. Louis, MO