Executive Director Pat Woodrum reviews 2009

Ten years ago, the idea to develop a world-class botanical garden was born. It has been an incredible journey and today we can look back and see how far we have come.

The last two years have been a time of tremendous activity and the beginning of the first physical development of the Garden.

Burt Holmes, the newly elected Board chairman, has put together an enthusiastic and creative team to plan and implement the next stage of development.

It is time to hire a new executive director, one with a background in horticulture and experience in managing public gardens. A nationwide search will be conducted to find the right individual.

I will remain in my current capacity until a new executive director is hired.

As a board member, I will continue to be actively involved in the development of the Garden.
Following is a list of some of the major activities in 2009.

• Received $325,535 in donations and memberships.
  
• Presented programs to 1,500 individuals.
  
• Hosted 30 open houses, attracting more than 700 visitors from Oklahoma, five other states, and five foreign countries.
• Began offering member discounts at Garden Partner nurseries and florists.
  
• Developed a Strategic Plan.
  
• Named 80 trees for those who contributed $500 or more, bringing our total to 250. The named trees are along the walking trail.
  
• Hosted quarterly programs for members and mailed quarterly newsletters.
  
• Hosted the third annual recognition dinner for donors who have contributed $1,000 and more.
  
• Extended the Cross Timbers walking trail through prairie and a 100-tree Persimmon Grove to create a 1½ mile loop near the temporary Visitor Center.
  
• Created the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden Authority.
  
• Established the Garden office in downtown Tulsa.
  
• Established a core base of 25 volunteers.
  
• Hosted the Garden’s first workshop, “Oklahoma Plants Up Close and Personal.”
  
• Received the annual award for outstanding service to the community from the Harlow Creek Neighborhood Association.
  
• Enjoyed Tulsa Dreams, a poem about Tulsa and the Garden by Tulsan Ivy Dempsey, that appeared in the July/August issue of Oklahoma Today.