Spotlights: Members, Docents, and Staff Archives - Page 3 of 9

Our April Spotlight: Carolyn Bloom

What could be a better omen for being involved with the Friends of Robinson Gardens than the last name of BLOOM? That would be long-time Friends and Benefactors Carolyn and Marty Bloom, who have been such an important part of our beloved Gardens since they moved to Los Angeles in 2003. Carolyn created a stunning Garden at their home on Laurel Way, which she generously opened for Membership events -- where we were serenaded by the player piano! She collaborated with a sculptor who did some amazing installations in her backyard. Large, oversized planters, panels, and fountains – etched to echo the ferns, leaves, and fronds of the greenery – appeared like a modern-age Stonehenge across the property

Spotlight on Candy Beaver

Spotlight on Mary Hampson

Each month we spotlight a volunteer, staff member, docent, donor, or sponsor of the Virginia Robinson Gardens (VRG) -- those that have made an impact on the organization. We want to let you know about these wonderful people and corporations that give so much to the Virginia Robinson Gardens and to the community, and what they do that is so impactful. This month, we spotlight Mary Hampson, a wonderful and dedicated Friend. A member of the Garden Conservancy and the Santa Barbara Garden Club, Mary generously hosted the Fellows in her beautiful garden and home in Montecito on two different occasions. She was a co-chair for the Membership Luncheon in 2019. Always helpful, she assisted in decorating the Christmas trees in the Main House and served on the Garden Tour Committee

Spotlight on Mark Tapio Kines

Spotlight on Lori Gordon

Spotlight on Thomas O’Connor

Each month we spotlight a volunteer, staff member, docent, donor, or sponsor of the Virginia Robinson Gardens (VRG) -- those that have made an impact on the organization. We want to let you know about these wonderful people and corporations that give so much to the Virginia Robinson Gardens and to the community, and what they do that is so impactful. This month, we spotlight Tom O’Connor, a wonderful and dedicated docent who has volunteered at Garden Tour, the Semi-Virtual Children’s Science Program, and the Friends’ Rose Sales, among his many other contributions to VRG, in particular to the Archive Project. According to Archive Chair Patty Elias, Tom’s contribution to the archive has been invaluable. Working weekly for over a year, Tom assisted in the sorting and organizing of over 8,000 documents and 1,000 photos found in the basement of the estate. His recall of local and world history was most helpful in identifying many of the clues found in the undated photographs, helping to provide a clear indication of their era. We asked him these four questions

Spotlight On Kate Oakland

Spotlight on JC Griffith

Each month we spotlight a volunteer, staff member, docent, donor, or sponsor of the Virginia Robinson Gardens (VRG) -- those that have made an impact on the organization. We want to let you know about these wonderful people and corporations that give so much to the Virginia Robinson Gardens and to the community, and what they do that is so impactful. This month, we spotlight JC Griffith, our great IT expert. JC has worked tirelessly for the Friends. He works with our fantastic Patty Elias who has organized and revamped our website with so much flair and style. In addition to working on the Happenings with the editor Linda Meadows, he works with our wonderful President Betty Goldstein, fabulous Jeanne Anderson and amazing Education co-chair Clare Wagner on many emails and invitations. We are so appreciative of JC’s wonderful work and all his efforts for the Happenings, website, and invitations to make them look so professional, polished, and beautiful