Annual Report 2022

LEADERSHIP

Board of Trustees

Gary Pickett, President

Brad Avery

Stacy Cannon

Tim Collins

Dan Daniels

Matt Echeverria

James “Walkie” Ray

Peter Rooney

Board of Governors

Kirstie Acevedo

Brad Avery

Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs

Arthur Carter

Tim Collins

Brandon Goethals

Chet Harrison

Riley Hayes

Karen Jacoby

Gary Pickett

James “Walkie” Ray

Greg Salmeri

Adam Schwerner

Amy Uyemura

Ron Vanderhoff

Staff Leadership

Scott LaFleur, Executive Director

Kyle Cheesborough, Horticulture Director

Catherine Dickinson, Education Director

Beverly Morgan, Communications & Venue Manager

Jill Thrasher, Library Director

Visit us at: 949-673-2261

2647 East Coast Highway

thesherman.org

@theshermangardens

@theshermangardens

@shermangardens

Mission

Sherman Library & Gardens provides inspiration, education, and appreciation of regional history, horticulture, and the arts for all.

Vision

Sherman Library & Gardens endeavors to be the premier resource for ecotonal horticulture and historical collections of the Pacific Southwest, and strives to enrich people’s lives through educational and artistic experiences.

Values

Inclusivity

Creativity

Community

Sustainability

Preservation

Provide equal access and opportunities to horticulture, history, and arts through education and experience.

Cultivate and inspire creativity through engagement of all five senses.

Cultivate a sense of belonging through shared experiences, exploration, and connectivity.

Practice, demonstrate, and encourage environmental stewardship.

Respect and recognize the historical significance of the art, library, and living collections within the unique character of the site and our place in the community.

Growth

Recognition as a premier cultural hub in the community through greater support, participation, and impact.

Message from the Garden

To our Valued Members and Community,

On a warm autumn evening in October 2021, we were beginning to see the light at the end of the "pandemic tunnel". We could sense that something was about to change. Through a partnership with Backhausdance, Sherman Library & Gardens was asked to revive performing arts in Orange County. We were about to lift the curtain on the culmination of a monthlong artistic residency, a one-of-a-kind performance created for and inspired by the beauty of Sherman Library & Gardens. What was unleashed was a magical mix of light, sound, and movement—the perfect harbinger of the year ahead for Sherman!

As soon as the lights went down on the performance, the sun began to shine on the garden. After a nationwide search, Kyle Cheesborough was selected as Sherman Gardens’ new horticulture director. Kyle brought a fresh perspective to the gardens with a background in botanic garden management, a keen sense of design, and a passion for sustainable horticulture. Kyle completed the cast of amazing directors who collectively represent the pillars of our organization: history, horticulture, and arts - all connected through educational opportunities for the community.

We are strongly committed to our mission, vison, and values. They are the framework and foundation for all the programs, events, and offerings we provided throughout the year. As we opened the doors to the community, members and guests filled our campus in record-breaking numbers. Thankfully we have a tremendous group of volunteers and docents who collectively contributed more than 11,700 hours to our organization. We would not have been able to provide the level of service in guest engagement, educational programs, or tours of the library and gardens without their invaluable efforts.

Gardens are not static; they are always in motion responding to wind, water, and sunlight. We expect the same of an organization that strives to serve its community as we do. In the last year, Sherman Library & Gardens has worked to build educational opportunities, bring history to life, and rise to the challenge of making all we do sustainable for our environment and the community. In these efforts, Sherman has become a hub for people to gather for events and celebrations, connecting over the treasures in our garden and library. I am proud of all that has been accomplished this year, and in the countless ways we have advanced our mission to drive inspiration, education, and an appreciation of history, horticulture, and the arts for all.

Please join me in celebrating the work of Sherman’s exemplary staff in the last year, and all we continue to do, to grow our impact in this wonderful community.

Scott LaFleur Executive Director

Table of Contents

Membership & Visitors

Engagement was at an all-time high in 2022 as members and visitors participated in enriching experiences, memorable classes, and immersive environments. The year brought record-breaking attendance and a significant increase in membership!

115,000+ Visitors

32% increase from 87,000 in 2021

44% Membership Increase

from 2021

Reciprocal Admissions Program

2,023 Visitors used RAP

A Reciprocal Admissions Program (RAP) through American Horticultural Society allows people to enter with free access from other botanical gardens all across the US.

Learn more about RAP at: https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/rap/

Volunteers & Docents

3,100 Docent Hours

30% increase from 2021

8,628 Volunteer Hours

70% increase from 2021

Thank you to our 120 Volunteers and 50 Docents that have contributed 11,728 hours within the library and gardens during 2022. Their contributions and efforts are critical to advancing Sherman's mission and vision. The Volunteer and Docents’ yearly Summer Garden Party raised enough money to fund the installation of the Bromeliad Garden and a new library server, a pivotal resource in protecting historical books, art, and documents.

98

hours in the library hours helping friends of the garden

1,622

284

hours supporting education

1,162 hours supporting events

2,433 hours to misc. organization needs

1,500

1,529 hours in the garden hours to Sherman’s web garden guide, Fantastic Flora

3,100 hours providing docent tours

Discovery & Enrichment

"Students were exposed to different habitats, were given the opportunity to ask and answer questions, and were provided a hands-on activity. The leaders of the groups were well informed, friendly, and engaging. It was a great educational field trip!"

2nd Grade Teacher from Franklin Elementary SAUSD, Attending a Habitat Explorer’s Field Trip

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Sherman Library & Gardens' educational programs are an integral part of advancing the mission to provide people of all ages and backgrounds with an opportunity to discover and engage with horticulture, regional history, and the arts. This was possible using the expertise of staff, strength of collections and unique campus.

EDUCATION KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

9,018

people participated in 387 education events

2,310

guests took a guided tour

4,033

21 learners participated in a class

schools took a field trip to the gardens

85

2 special events enjoyed by families

interns kickstarted a career in horticulture

22 lectures were attended

This year, as well as a marked increase in attendance at all education programs, there were three key areas of growth:

Significant growth in field trip attendance as the scholarship and bus subsidy program attracted schools from diverse socioeconomic areas within Orange County.

Expansion of Docent-on-Duty program to the research library, staffed through new docent recruitment and training.

Increased diversity among guests, staff, volunteers, and cultural traditions represented through the program.

EDUCATION PROGRAM IMPACT

Thanks to the vital support of our members, donors, and visitors, Sherman Library & Gardens has accomplished the following:

• Taught more than 700 students from 21 schools participating in science-based garden field trips that enhanced their classroom STEM curriculum.

• Hosted 220 classes and lectures about history, horticulture, and arts reaching more than 4,000 diverse participants

• Provided Docent-led tours for community groups, introducing more than 2,300 people to the garden and library.

• Employed two young people in their first jobs in public gardens through the High School Internship program

• Enabled many thousands of visitors to participate in Plant Society Exhibits, demonstrating special areas of interest including begonias, carnivorous plants, ikebana flower arranging, and bonsai technique among many others.

Education is at the heart of Sherman Library & Gardens' mission. Programs are carefully curated to provide opportunities to learn about Sherman's three pillars: history, horticulture, and the arts.

"With my newly acquired knowledge about public gardens, I hope to educate others through a future occupation like landscape architecture or urban planning."

High School Intern, 2022

9,018 people participated in 387 education events

"Great hands-on experience with warm and friendly instructors. I learned so much and I’m looking forward to attending other classes."

Cymbidium Orchids 101 Gardening Class Participant

Historical Connections

ART EXHIBITIONS

The interior of Sherman Library had an art makeover in 2022, during which some works came on display and others had an opportunity for restoration. The library is home to a charming collection of early California Impressionism paintings. While the core of the collection was purchased by Sherman Library & Gardens' founder Arnold Haskell in the 1970s, many works have since been generously donated to its holdings. The library now includes works by Rex Brandt, Joan Irving, Dan Lutz, William Wendt, Edgar Payne, and Phil Dike. The current collection is a testament to the beauty of our community's natural landscapes and a representation of how the region has changed in the last hundred years.

LECTURES AND TOURS

Sherman Library held several lectures and tours to highlight its special collections. Showcasing its unique holdings and history, the lectures focused on Orange County history, Newport Beach’s history, and Sherman Library & Gardens’ unique past. Special library tours were given through the year to showcase Sherman Library & Gardens’ history and to share the library’s unique holdings.

RESEARCH

About 640 reference transactions took place, many focusing on geographical locations such as Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Imperial County. These inquiries circulated over 2,500 items from Sherman Library’s archival holdings. The M. H. Sherman Papers, Phil Brigandi Papers, and Wilber Sawyer Photograph collection were among the most requested collections.

Dan Lutz, The Footbridge, Corona del Mar, 1948 Gift of Peter and Gail Ochs

Joan Irving, Hi Up There, c.1960 Gift of Joan Scarboro and Shelley Walker

Promotional Booklet, circa 1921 Sherman Library Ephemera Collection

LIBRARY & ARTS

1,700 Library Hours completed by Interns, Volunteers and Docents

"Sherman Library’s archives are a pot of gold for historians looking for regional history."

Library Research User

Thriving & Growing

Sherman is proud to have gardens that represent horticulture from around the world.

The Island Ecology Garden, Bromeliad Garden, and efforts to replace turf with drought-tolerant, ecotonal plantings provided new points of engagement between the public and horticulture.

Featuring plants of oceanic islands, the Island Ecology Garden now showcases evolutionary traits seen on plants isolated on islands. The Bromeliad Garden was redesigned to display species within the Bromeliaceae family that are native to Brazil and Mexico. A redesign around the property’s perimeter replaced water-heavy turf with drought-tolerant options featuring a mixture of native trees, shrubs, grasses, perennials, and annuals.

55% Water Reduction

expected to be saved per year with drought tolerant ecotonal planting

ISLAND ECOLOGY GARDEN

Horticulture staff installed the Island Ecology Garden, representing plants from oceanic islands of the world and the interesting adaptations seen in plants in geographically isolated conditions. The landscape features plants from the Channel Islands, Canary Islands, Hawaii, St. Helena Island, and more.

60+ unique taxa represented in the Bromeliad Garden

HORTICULTURE & BOTANICAL GARDENS

BROMELIAD GARDEN

Sherman debuted a new Bromeliad Garden with unique and rare species from Brazil and Mexico, displayed similar to how they exist in the wild. The installation has approximately 60 unique taxa, with some unique to Sherman Library & Gardens’ living collections.

PLANT RECORDS IRISBG DATABASE

Sherman began implementation of IrisBG, a plant record database, led by newly appointed Plant Records Manager Joel Friesen. This initiative began the process of professionalizing and formalizing the Gardens’ collections and has allowed Sherman to connect with the larger organizations. The database has allowed staff to share, exchange, and collaborate with fellow botanical gardens on a greater scale, and to participate in national and global conservation efforts. IrisBG also resulted in the debut of Fantastic Flora, the garden’s publicly accessible what’s-in-bloom portion of the website.

More than 2,500 individual taxa have been logged into IrisBG. This represents a fraction of the collections at-large, and horticulture staff are working to incorporate all garden specimens into the database.

2,500+ individual taxa documented in the IrisBG thus far

Look for these signs in the garden to be connected to newly created Fantastic Flora!

Community & Creativity

Sherman Library & Gardens has successfully positioned itself as the community hub of Corona del Mar. A small sampling of the organizations that host annual meetings and special events at Sherman include the Baroque Music Festival of Corona del Mar, Corona del Mar Residents Association, Corona del Mar Historical Society, Newport Beach Police Foundation, Orange County Historical Society, Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce, and Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Events that Sherman presented to the public in 2022, with the support of the Docents and Volunteers, include plant society shows and sales, Summer Garden Party, Backhausdance Garden Flow, Irina Charny mosaic summer art exhibit, Creatures of the Night, Holiday Gift Faire, and Nights of 1000 Lights.

BACKHAUSDANCE GARDEN FLOW

Thanks to a $20,000 grant from Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, Sherman Library & Gardens was honored to play a role in resuming performing arts in Orange County following the Covid-19 pandemic. The performance was the culmination of a monthlong residency and was experienced by over 1,000 people.

"Everything! It was delightful... the beautiful backdrop of the gardens, the discovery of the dancers in each of the staged areas, how they interpreted the spaces, moved with each other, and wove into and through the audience, their joy in being there and performing for us. It was sublime."

Backhausdance Garden Flow Attendee

COMMUNITY EVENTS

NIGHTS OF 1000 LIGHTS

Sherman Library & Gardens revived its popular holiday event, Nights of 1000 Lights, and in 2022 the garden was set aglow with imaginative and eclectic themed displays such as disco nights, Sherman’s railroad station, and a neonglow take on flora and fauna under the sea. Of course, Sherman’s holiday traditions also made a comeback with Santa’s Workshop and the Wishing Tree.

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

Sherman also put on an elaborate display to celebrate the spooky season with its popular event, Creatures of the Night. The creative attractions included Doctor John’s Bayou Apothecary and mesmerizing assortments of night-blooming plants and carnivorous plants. Sherman was fortunate to partner with local organizations the Santa Ana Zoo, Adventures in Living Science, and Orange County Birds of Prey to create interactive science-based adventures for guests of all ages.

500+

Creatures of the Night attendees per events 10,000

Nights of 1000 Lights attendeess

SUMMER GARDEN PARTY

Sherman Library & Gardens’ Volunteer Association transformed its annual garden tour into a virtual tour accompanied by an overwhelmingly popular Summer Garden Party, complete with an art show, a hat contest, as well as live and silent auctions. The party was planned as an end-ofsummer celebration and fundraiser, which allows the volunteers to sponsor Sherman’s ongoing high school internship and many other projects throughout the Library and Gardens.

"The grounds were beautiful [and] the food fabulous. We will be back next year. My daughter-in-law won the hat contest, so made our day!

...Thank you for a glorious day"

Summer Garden Party Attendee

PLANT SHOWS

Sherman Library & Gardens was proud to offer a venue for volunteer-run plant societies to showcase their specialties and unique specimens. This ongoing partnership allows the societies to display and teach about specific plants such as begonias, bonsai, hibiscus, fuchsias, and carnivorous plants. In turn, every year these societies draw new plant lovers and enthusiasts to Sherman.

hosted each year 12 plant shows

"The Plant-O-Rama plant sale at Sherman Library & Gardens features a wide range of exotic, rare, or just-plain-weird specialty plants for admiration and purchase."

Los Angeles Times

Coming Together

39 Private Events in 2022

More than doubled from 19 events in 2021

Sherman Library & Gardens’ 2.2-acre botanical garden is what establishes the property as a truly special event venue. Guests with a discerning eye recognize this and book early, as the gardens can currently host only one private event per evening. Many of life’s rites of passage take place within the garden gates, such as birthday celebrations, proposals, bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, and celebrations of life.

Special events build awareness and generate revenue for Sherman Library & Gardens. Venue rental fees help sustain the botanical gardens, the library, and the year-round calendar of educational programs, and seasonal exhibits for the community.

“A floral fantasyland!”

"The manicured grounds, tiled fountains, and flower beds that comprise Sherman Library & Gardens take on a new kind of beauty."

Modern Luxury Weddings

MarthaStewart.com

Come enjoy lunch in the gardens!

Located within Sherman Library & Gardens, 608 Dahlia led by Chef Jessica Roy, offers a garden-totable inspired perspective that dramatically grew in popularity throughout 2022. Fresh herbs and edible flowers are picked straight from the gardens to adorn the beautiful culinary offerings. It truly is culinary art working to support Sherman Library & Gardens' mission.

39,140 Fresh Biscuits

served in 2022

In 2022, 608 Dahlia was proud to receive its Level 1 Green Certification from the Green Restaurant Association. This prestigious designation requires strict attention in many areas such as energy, waste, and the use of disposable products.

Impressions

PRESS COVERAGE

Sherman Library & Gardens’ diverse menu of events and community engagement opportunities generates an impressive amount of media attention. Pre-event publicity saves money on advertising, and post-event publicity keeps Sherman Library & Gardens in the community’s consciousness. Gate staff often hear from guests that their visit is a result of reading an article about Sherman in print or online.

Thank you to the local media and press for your support and representation throughout the year.

"O.C.’s best outing for all ages!"

Orange Coast Magazine

"Looking for ideas? Here’s where to go!"

Los Angeles Times

"Lose yourself among the blooms at the Sherman Library & Gardens, a tranquil 2.2 acre horticultural maze."

Orange Coast Magazine

"Year round mild temps at Sherman Library & Gardens make it a paradise for thousands of global specimens."

Martha Stewart Living Magazine

"A family friendly garden near the coast!"

Newport Beach Independent

"Meander through the buds and butterflies at Sherman Library & Gardens"

Visit Newport Beach

"This botanical garden in Corona del Mar is one for your bucket list."

Orange County Register

"Sherman Library & Gardens is Corona del Mar's unofficial hub"

StuNewsNewport.com

"Stroll through a scented time machine"

Visit California

"A serene retreat like no other"

Spectrum News 1

4.5 stars on TripAdvisor

#1 thing to do in Corona del Mar

TripAdvisor

Spotlight Stories

In 2022, Sherman Library & Gardens drove growth on its social media platforms by partnering with a communications specialist to target industry trends, benchmark Sherman's media against competitors, manage a media schedule, engage community partners, respond to inquiries, and ensure that all channels represent Sherman's dedication to each pillar in its mission: history, horticulture, and the arts. Throughout 2022, this work has resulted in exceptional growth among Sherman's virtual community.

TRANSCRIPTION CHALLENGE

History Spotlight

Top performing post for community engagement!

In 2002, Sherman Library staff debuted a new way to engage Sherman's social media followers in the form of a Transcription Challenge. Participants were tasked with transcribing a letter written in swirly, scrawling handwriting from Sherman's archive of historic correspondence. The challenge was met with overwhelming positivity on Instagram and has resulted in more engagement for Sherman's archival collections.

Original letter from M. H. Sherman Papers, 1871

"Your transcription challenge for a cursive letter was a unique and fun activity."

Instagram Follower

HOYA PLANT

Horticulture Spotlight

The amazing Hoya Hindu Rope plant bloomed in July 2022. Hoya Carnosa Compacta is a draping succulent plant that produces clusters of starshaped, waxy flowers. The Hindu Rope plant is sensational with twisted leaves and porcelainlooking blooms.

Most shares to show others what Sherman Library & Gardens has on display!

Image with the most people reached with highest views and likes!

INSPIRED BY NATURE

Art Spotlight

The gardens hosted "Inspired by Nature" as its much-anticipated art exhibit from June through September 2021. More than 45 original mosaics by internationally renowned artist Irina Charny were displayed throughout the gardens. "As a child growing up in the grey drabness of the Soviet Union in the ‘60s, I was drawn to color. I collected bright treasures - red or orange bits of broken taillight, pieces of green glass washed smooth by the sea, chips of blue plate found on the way to school. I could spend hours arranging them into pictures, but since they were too precious to fix permanently in that form, I’d sweep them up into a pot to be rearranged next time. Now I have almost infinite variety of materials available to me, but I still approach each mosaic with that same excitement and joy."

2022 Financial Report

Throughout the Fiscal Year 2022, Sherman Library & Gardens saw growing interest and engagement as the community re-emerged following the Covid-19 pandemic. Sherman’s programs and events were widely sought after and enjoyed by many new and returning friends of the gardens. The following financial statements have been prepared for the Fiscal Year 2022, commencing October 1, 2021, and concluding September 30, 2022. Sherman Library & Gardens’ revenue and expenditures were managed prudently to not only provide operational maintenance, but to also expand the support to the surrounding communities. Revenue streams saw a steady increase in admissions, memberships, venue rentals, and donations. About 90% of expenses focused on increasing program services, so Sherman Library & Gardens was able to have a stronger impact than ever before!

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Revenue

Admissions

Memberships

Donations

Sherman Foundation support

Shop gross profit

Venue rental

income Other income

Expenses

Program services

Management & professional fees

Fundraising

90% of Sherman’s expenses developed and delivered programs and events that advanced Sherman's mission.

Your Support

Sherman Library & Gardens is grateful for every gift of financial support. The following represents donors who made gifts of $1,000 or more between October 1, 2021 to September 20, 2022.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If you believe we have made an error, please contact us at 949-673-2261.

$25,000 AND ABOVE

Louise Brigham

Judie and Woody Dike

H. V. Nootbaar Fund

Orange County Community Foundation

Carol and John Richards

$10,000 - $24,999

Kay Azuma and Robert Chavez

Barbara Belveal

Julia Banning

Susan Colombo and Debbie Schuck

Josephine Herbert Gleis Foundation

$5,000 - $9,999

Hyla and Richard Bertea

Joan Carter

Terry Causey

Min Hee Chang

Becky and Bill Halladay

Patricia Hathaway

Herbert Family Foundation

Janet and James “Walkie” Ray

The Samueli Foundation

Virginia Templeton

Amy and Gary Uyemura

Tae Yoo

$2,500 - $4,999

Donna and Arthur Carter

Sara Bancroft Clair and Pierson Clair IV

William Corkett

Johann Jonas

Mary Lyons

$1,000 - $2,499

Laura and Bron Allen

Betty and Alan Andrews

Argyros Foundation

Julia and Brad Avery

Diane and Dennis Baker

Amanda and Adam Barker

Joan and Donald Beall

Robert Boyd

Kristine and Stephen Callister

Diane and Richard Cannon

Joann Data and Herman Cantrell

Sarah Han and Andrew Chu

Christine and Colin Chu

Donna Clark

Natalia Cobar

Valeria and Keith Conti

Bobbi Cox

Deanna Doerr and James Cole

Bruce Crary

Linda and Andrew Crean

Judy and Dan T. Daniels

Barbara and Thomas Davis

Sandra and Sydney Dawson

Andrea Schug and Cameron Djokovich

Clara and Richard Doering

Gail Dufour

Diane and Colin Forkner

Michelle Olea and Cherie Fort

William Gillespie Foundation

Adam and Craig Goldberg

Gretchen and James Gorman

Judy Greenspon

Yesenia Deras and Aaron Halstead

Harold Koopowitz and Stephen Hampson

Maralou and Jerry Harrington

Sandra and Richard Haskell

Robert Haskell

Connie and Joe Hernandez

Michael Ho

Laura Im

Karen and Jim Jacoby

Alicia and Jason Jonas

Cristan and Stephan Jonas

Joanne and Dennis Keith

Kay and R. “Kelly” Kelly

Jenny and Bill Klein

Sharon and Richard Kobayashi

Katherine Lam

Diane and Brent Liljestrom

Katie Burnett and James Loss

Tamara and Brent Lowensohn

Greg and Barbara MacGillivray

Jacqueline Murphy and Ross Madick

Janine McClintock

Karen and Jonathan McCulley

Marilyn and Robert McIntyre

Patricia and Robert McLaughlin

Jessica Mika

Pamela and Alex Munro

Pamela and James Muzzy

Dani Newess

Karen Noonan

Gail and Peter Ochs

Elizabeth Olson

Mark Perkowski

Sidney Petersen

Nancy and Gary Pickett

Patricia and Bill Podlich

Fernand Poitras

Rita and Michael Purcell

Aoife Quinn

Dorothy Ray

Caity Cobb and Kyle Regan

Margaret “Mimi” and Richard “Dick” Riley

Jennifer Rosales and Chris Roberts

Aria Roller

Peter Rooney

Desiree and Victoria Rosselli

Betty Saidel

Dorothy Lippman Salovesh

Anne Samuelson

Linda and Robert San Miguel

Donna Marie and Walter Sebring

Jennifer and Anton Segerstrom

Joel Sheiner

Jeanne Siegel

Pauline and Michael Smith

Kent Snyder

Elizabeth Stahr

Lynn and Arsen Stepanian

Nicole and Joshua Strathman

Alexandria and Peter Strelow

Patricia Swan

Erica and David Timmering

Jessica Tran

Ann Van Ausdeln

Maureen Daly and Jose Valencia

Paige Sparks and Joshua Valenzuela

Sara VandenBroek

Amber Snijdewind and Sean Vaquer

William Vargo

Sage Overoye and Nicholas Vermillon

Caroline and Jon Watanabe

Ashley Galvan and Talen Wilkinson

Rob and Gayle Yraceburu