Gardens Interpretive Volunteer Updates

Interpretive Volunteer Updates

Dear Volunteers,

As we welcome the new year, I'm thrilled to share that we have launched our Garden Guides Spring Training Session Application and I encourage you to spread the word to those who you know are interested in volunteering with children at the Gardens.

This week will be an exciting week as we prepare for the upcoming magnolia trainings: All About Magnolias & Volunteering During Magnolia Season Training, taking place online this Wednesday, January 17, and the Magnificent Magnolia Garden Tour & Interpretation Station Training, taking place in the Botanical Garden on Saturday, January 20.

In addition, we will welcome MISTER G, a Latin GRAMMY Award-winning artist, author, and educator on Saturday. Please let visitors know about this free concert, followed by a book signing, and family-friendly activities in the Celebration Garden.

While the Conservatory of Flowers is closed for its annual maintenance until January 24, we will reopen in late January with two new features to highlight:

In addition, we're delighted to continue the winter light show, Photosynthesis: Love for All Seasons, which begins 30 minutes after sunset every night on the outside of the Conservatory, transforming it into a canvas for colorful light art installed by Lumigeek accompanied by music composed by Tim Digulla. The show will continue to run during the maintenance closure.

We also bid farewell to Eric Imperiale, Nursery Specialist, steward of the Highland Tropics gallery and the Conservatory of Flowers' exceptional Cloud Forest orchid collection. Wishing Eric the best in his retirement after 19 years at the Conservatory.

Conservatory of Flowers:Register to volunteer:

Japanese Tea Garden:Enjoy a tour of the Japanese Tea Garden:

San Francisco Botanical Garden:Register to volunteer:

Magnolia Training Part 1: All About Magnolias & Volunteering During Magnolia SeasonWednesday, January 17, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Zoom event

Join Plant Records Manager Tory Stewart to brush up on your knowledge of Magnificent Magnolias. This training will be recorded but we hope you will join us for this online presentation and Q&A. We will also cover volunteer opportunities and logistics for magnolia season.

Register here >>

Magnolia Training Part 2: Magnificent Magnolia Garden Tour & Interpretation Station TrainingSaturday, January 20, 10:00 am - 1:00 pmMeet at the Bookstore, Botanical Garden

Join the Education team for a training on a new magnolia interpretation station, and take a garden tour to learn about how the iconic magnolias in the Botanical Garden's collection connect to stories of magnolia adaptations, cultivation, and conservation.

Register here >>

Garden Guides Spring Training SessionFive Tuesdays from February 20 - March 19, 9:30 am - 12:30 pmIn-person

Would you like to join our vibrant community of Garden Guides who help welcome and engage with children at the Gardens? This is your chance to join our wonderful community of volunteers focused on working with some of our youngest visitors. The initial round of applications will receive a response by February 1 so we recommend that you complete your application by January 31 for early review.

Register here >>

Developing the Gardens' Interpretive Master PlanWednesday, February 7, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pmZoom event

The Director of Programs and Partnerships, Jamie Chan, and Engagement Manager, Sarah Sawtelle, will lead a presentation about the Gardens' recent Institute of Museum and Library Services grant to develop our Interpretive Master Plan. Join Jamie and Sarah to see what we have learned and hear our plans for the future.

Register here >>

Book Group: Gathering Moss by Robin Wall KimmererThursday, February 8, 10:00 am - 12:00 pmHelen Crocker Russell Library, Botanical Garden

All Gardens volunteers are invited to our next Book Group event. The next book the group will discuss is Gathering Moss: a Natural and Cultural History of Mosses by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Register here >>

Meet-up: Nature JournalingMonday, February 12, 10:00 am - 12:00 pmLibrary Terrace, Botanical Garden

All volunteers are invited to an informal meet-up group focused on nature journaling. Bring a notebook and supplies and join fellow volunteers for this group inspired by Wild Wonder Foundation. To help you prepare, download their Quick Start Guide to Natural Journaling zine.

Register here >>

As we await the first blooms of magnolia season, Engagement Manager Sarah Sawtelle wished to share this article, with a quote from Walter Judd, a botanist at the University of Florida, "If it weren't for flowering plants, we humans wouldn't be here." As one of the most ancient groups of flowering plants on Earth, magnolias allow us to step back in time to learn how life on Earth has evolved.

Best wishes,

Crystal

Crystal Lee Stone | Volunteer Program Manager

Gardens of Golden Gate Park

(415) 661-1316 Ext. 400

clstone@gggp.org

P.S. Did you miss an update? Catch up by viewing past newsletters.