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WELCOME LETTER
Happy Holidays from Holden Forests & Gardens!
We are delighted to provide interim leadership of the organization while a national search is conducted for a new President & CEO.
With the arrival of winter comes crisp invigorating air that reminds us how important it is to head outside and remain connected to nature during the cold winter months. There are no better places to find unexpected seasonal beauty than at the Holden Arboretum and the Cleveland Botanical Garden. This winter season, plan to snowshoe on fresh powder at the Arboretum or go for a walk in the quiet outdoor gardens and woodlands in the heart of University Circle.
This year, we are excited to present the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s winter show, Twinkle in the 216, as we celebrate the historic character of Cleveland’s neighborhoods as they sparkle, shine, and add warmth and joy to the holiday season. Popular traditions return, including dozens of trees decorated by Affiliate Garden Clubs from Northeast Ohio and gingerbread houses assembled by bakers throughout the community. Once again, there will be plenty of photo opportunities for your annual holiday card, and don’t miss out on our Holiday Saturdays with a kids dance party, Krampusnacht for adults and Breakfast with Santa. The winter show runs through Saturday, Dec. 31st.
While we always invite you to visit our campuses, we also bring our gardens to the communities. Through a new partnership with the City of Cleveland’s Estabrook Recreation Center, Tom Masaveg on our education team taught children how to plant, water, weed and more in their own onsite garden at the recreation center. Indoor light carts were purchased so the kids can continue their gardening through the winter months. The program has been well-received by parents and caregivers — so much so, that Tom and his team were invited back for the fall and spring.
Over the past year and a half, a massive regional endeavor officially launched to breed pest-resistant trees for reforestation. Leaders at Holden Forests & Gardens, the U.S. Forest Service and the nonprofit American Forests founded the Great Lakes Basin (GLB) Forest Health Collaborative to lead the way. The Collaborative facilitates sharing resources, workloads, research updates and more between the many organizations across the region working on these forest health efforts. Partners are already hard at work studying every aspect of these trees, their pests and how natural resistance can be bred into trees on a large scale.
Holden Forests & Gardens’ science, conservation and education work is made possible through generous support from members and donors like you. If you are able, please consider an additional year-end contribution to help us connect even more people with the wonder, beauty and value of trees and plants for healthier communities. We are grateful for your support.
Happy Holidays,
KATHLEEN HEFLIN JOEL ALPERN
Co-Interim President and CEO Co-Interim President and CEO
