Annual fundraiser set for Tuesday evening, May 14th; Dick and Nancy Trammel named Honorary Chairs
The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks will host the 18th Annual Greening of the Garden on Tuesday, May 14. Gates open at 5 p.m. This year’s theme is “Big in the South,” and the Honorary Chairs are Dick and Nancy Trammel. The annual Greening of the Garden is the nonprofit organization’s signature fundraising event, and this year’s festivities will include dinner by Café Rue Orleans, live music by the Nathan A. Blues Band, both silent and live auctions, and an after-party coffee bar. Two of the region’s favorite radio personalities, Jake and Woody from KIX 104, will serve as event emcees. And, ladies are encouraged to indulge in that great Southern tradition of donning a wide-brimmed hat.
Honorary Chairs Dick and Nancy Trammel laud the Garden “as a great investment for Northwest Arkansas.” They invite everyone to the Greening to “enjoy nature at its best, have fun, make an investment, and grow with the Garden.”
Board member and Greening co-chair Mindy Jackson says, “I am delighted to support the Garden, and I am also thrilled with the new additions to Greening this year, including the live music, the after-party coffee bar, and a pre-event VIP reception for table sponsors.” Co-chair and board member Eleanor Townsley adds, “Before joining BGO I had no idea what kind of economic and educational impact the Garden has made on Northwest Arkansas…I was amazed to learn that more than 10,000 students experience the Garden each year and that the Fayetteville Chamber estimates the Garden’s economic impact at more than $3,000,000 annually.”
This year’s “Big in the South” theme is an invitation to enjoy Southern culture, featuring a Cajun dinner catered by Chef Maudie
Schmitt of Café Rue Orleans and live entertainment by the Nathan A. Blues Band, winner of the Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas’ annual Blues Challenge. The after-party coffee bar is being provided by Arsaga’s, which has developed a signature brew just for the Garden.
Tickets to the 18th Annual Greening of the Garden can be purchased online at www.BGOzarks.org (select the Events tab), or by calling 479.750.2620. Individual tickets are $75, and VIP tables of 10 are available for $900 (which includes the pre-event reception).
About the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
Open to the public since October 2007 and located on the shores of Lake Fayetteville, at 4703 N. Crossover Rd. (Hwy. 265) near the Fayetteville-Springdale line, the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks is the undisputed crown jewel of Northwest Arkansas’ public garden spaces. The Garden currently consists of 10 demonstration gardens showcasing the woody, herbaceous and exotic plant and flower species that thrive in Northwest Arkansas. The Garden is committed to providing educational, entertainment and recreational opportunities for area residents and visitors to increase their appreciation of the native and natural ecosystem of the Ozarks. The Garden hosts thousands of children each year for nature and outdoor education, and has been voted “Best Place to Get Married” four years in a row. Approximately 40,000 visitors from across the country and around the world come to the Garden each year to discover the beauty of the Ozarks. The operations of the Garden are wholly supported by admissions, sponsorships, memberships and donations. To become a member, volunteer or donate, please visit our recently updated website at www.bgozarks.org.