Myriad Gardens plants first Membership Appreciation Weekend
A coconut tree is springing up right in downtown Oklahoma City.
The iconic palm from the classic children's book “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” will be the centerpiece of the Myriad Botanical Gardens' first Member Appreciation Weekend Friday-Sunday in the Children's Garden.
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the gardens will host the Member Appreciation Weekend in lieu of its annual storybook-theme Children's Garden Festival.
“It's still bringing books to life, and instead of just focusing on one book, we are highlighting several classic garden books for kids,” said Maureen Heffernan, president and CEO of Myriad Gardens Foundation.
“We normally do a big spring festival, and we get all kinds of folks — members, nonmembers. But we're just mindful not to have too many people even though it's outdoors. So, we thought we would create this for our members. We're a nonprofit, and the members really support us.”
`Seeds & Stories'
The theme for the Members Appreciation Weekend will be “Seeds & Stories,” and the decorations will pay homage to classic children's books like “Peter Rabbit,” “Tops & Bottoms,” “Goodnight Moon” and
“Alice in Wonderland.” The entrance to the Children's Garden will pay tribute to “Frog and Toad Are Friends,” the winner of a member's choice vote.
Local artist Jessica Petrus is transforming the treehouse in the middle of the
Children's Garden into the coconut tree from “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” but the Myriad Gardens' horticulture staff is creating most of the storybook adornments.
“They're working so hard in the garage here: They're painting, they're doing structural work, they're cutting out giant leaves, they've made these letters,” said Leslie Spears, Myriad Gardens director of marketing and public relations.
Activities at the Member Appreciation Weekend will include story times, seed growing lessons, takehome seed kit giveaways, unlimited rides on Mo's Carousel, a caricature artist and vendors like Duck Creek Farms, Ice Cube, Oklahoma Kettle Corn and Utopia Gardens. Kid's Kindness Cardio will be offered by Sweet Yield Studios from noon to 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Although admission is free to the members-only event, advanced registration is required as a health precaution. Members can register online at myriadgardens.org/membersappreciation-weekend.
The event will incorporate social distancing measures, and staff and volunteers will be wearing masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Membership privileges
The Myriad Gardens are funded through a publicprivate partnership between the City of Oklahoma City and the nonprofit Myriad Gardens Foundation.
“Our goal is to eventually earn two-thirds of our operating budget through our revenue and our fundraising activities, and the city will support us with about a third of our budget. Now, we're not quite there yet, but we're getting real close to that. We've done really well over the last eight or nine years," Heffernan said.
Although this weekend's festivities are limited only to members, Heffernan said people can buy or renew their memberships online. Memberships can even be purchased onsite by credit card only.
For a limited time, new or renewed memberships will receive $10 off with code GARDEN20 at myriadgardens.org and receive four tickets to the Sky Rink, the new outdoor roller skating rink opening July 1 at Scissortail Park. The ticket package to the new rink in Scissortail Park's large pavilion is a $32 value, she said.