HOTBEDS OF HOPE, GROWTH AND GREEN
At the annual Garden Feast benefiting the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, co-chair Kat Taylor boldly belted out the song “You’ll See” from “Rent,” to which she’d tweaked the lyrics to honor outgoing board chairman Don Baldocchi.
“You’ll see the beauty of informal education take root here / A state-of-the-art learning laboratory / A year-round setting / Where children learn and grow and hear / How ecological health can become a reality / You’ll see, boy / Because we will bid, boy.”
And these 350 arboretum-loving guests did,, raising a very green $550K in support of the garden’s youth education program that serves 13,000 Bay Area children each year.
Essentially a living museum, the 55-acre garden features three distinct climate zones and is abloom with some 8,500 species of plants from around the world, including magnolias, Andean wax palms, California redwoods and Australian fuchsia.
Led by Taylor and co-chair Anki Gelb, this June 14 floral fete in a clear tent atop the sweeping Great Meadow, featured a McCall’s luncheon, live auction and a keynote speech by Dr. Nooshin Razani ,a UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland pediatrician who founded the hospital’s Center for Nature and Health, where she advocates the healing power of nature for patients and families.
And S.F. Recreation & Parks Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg joined the chorus with a mayoral proclamation declaring it “Don Baldocchi Day in San Francisco.”
An EssEff native who remains a garden trustee, Baldocchi knows a thing or two about plants: He’s owner-president of Pacific Nurseries, the oldest continuously operating nursery in California. And his grandfather co-founded the original Podesta Baldocchi floral shop, a beloved Union Square institution made even more famous by Alfred Hitchock in his stylish film “Vertigo.”
Baldocchi delighted guests as he recalled his youth, zipping around the park atop his trusty Stingray — in spite of posted signs against such activity. Yet those early botanical forays inspired a lifelong passion for plants. Botanical Garden executive director Sue Ann
Schiff described her “office” as “an open university of plants.” And said that time spent there inspires visitors with a knowledge of themselves as well as their connection to all living things.
“Every day of the year people, young and old, come to the garden to gather, observe, create and share as citizen scientists, musicians, artists, friends and family; all inspired by the unique and healing power of nature,” she enthused. “Gardens are about growth and change; not just for plants but for people, too.”
Hot house: Even sans star attraction and co-host Sharon Stone (who was nursing a cold), the annual Hotbed gala went off without a hitch. Yet other celebs such as country music star Tanya Tucker, actress Rosanna Arquette and Stone’s sister, Kelly Stone, added sizzle to this fundraiser benefiting the Stone sisters’ Planet Hope foundation. Sporting an “Imperial Dynasty” theme, lion dancers led 600 guests along winding, tree-lined paths at the tony Tiburon estate of work-force housing developer and noted green thumb gardener Maxwell Drever.
Organized by Clif Loftin and Galen Drever, events director for the Drever Family Foundation, this colorful confab also featured an Asian-theme art auction (curated by his sister, artist Lauren Drever), Patron Tequila cocktails paired with dim sum, food truck delicacies followed by a Jake fashion show.
Now in its 25th year, Planet Hope assists homeless, abused and terminally ill children with shelter, medical care and educational opportunities. The organization also provides prom dresses for underserved teens and holiday gifts from Santa that are delivered to homeless shelters.
“We provide tens of thousands of coats in the snow-belt to kids that are freezing in the terrible winters of the East Coast where Sharon and I grew up,” Stone said. “On Halloween, we throw parties for kids in shelters. On Easter, these kids won’t wake up without a basket.
“And because of our relationship with the Drever Family Foundation, we’ve launched some amazing programs this year, including a mentoring program on Skype and a gender-fluid program for homeless kids struggling with their identity.” And guests raised $300K for those efforts. The Drevers’ foundation supports education for disadvantaged youth and senior-related health issues, and sponsors the Hotbed gala.
“Six years ago, our first little event, a garden brunch with 500 people, was totally disorganized,” said Maxwell Drever, with a laugh. “But now Galen and his friends have totally nailed the the details of Hotbed.”
His son jokingly disavowed any involvement with that brunch.
“We’re also working on a Montessori-based pilot program for seniors and children to interact, tying their needs together,” Galen said. “Now that there’s so much more structure to our Hotbed gala, we’re able to really highlight the charity’s purpose.”
Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicle’s society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow