February 2025 Happenings
A Message from Presidents Betty Goldstein and Lynn Whitaker
Our Dear Friends,
As I walked along the beach, I saw a ribbon of a million glittering reflections on the water as the sun started to set. The sun was a bright orange-pink colored ball with the few clouds surrounding the sun repeating the orange-pink color. I stopped and allowed myself to take in this moment of joy, to remind myself that the world still held wonderful experiences in which to enrich our souls. I too, had to evacuate. I was one of the lucky ones — I had a home to which I could return.
Lynn Whitaker and I and all the members of the Friends organization, with heavy hearts, send our sympathies to all those affected by the fires, whether in the Pacific Palisades or Altadena in Eaton Canyon. To lose one’s home is one of the ultimate heartbreaks. A great sadness.
One of the most cherished historical homes, the Will Rogers State Historic Park was lost in the Palisades Fire, and the Zane Grey Estate which is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Andrew McNally House were lost in the Altadena/Eaton Fire. These losses accentuate the importance of preserving our remaining historical structures and cherishing a place like The Virginia Robinson Gardens. This estate and garden help us maintain our roots in our city, give us a sense of belonging, and a sense of the richness of the history of Los Angeles.
Lynn has been very busy and of great assistance helping the many families that have been displaced and in need of a place to settle. Our wonderful Lynn has still found the time to support the Gardens by accepting the Presidency for another year. As our new membership year starts, both Lynn and I will share the job of Co-Presidents of the Friends of Robinson Gardens. If you are able, we would encourage you to go online and join or renew your membership now. Your membership is very important to us, especially at this time.
We offer many classes that may bring you a feeling of calmness. Let The Virginia Robinson Gardens be your place of comfort, your haven, the place to go when you need that moment to enrich your soul. We are here for you.
With heartful gratitude,
Betty Goldstein and Lynn Whitaker
Co-Presidents of the Friends of Robinson Gardens
Spotlight on Pamela Davis-Burns
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 Pamela Davis-Burns, a terrific and dedicated Recreation Service Leader at VRG. She is always so enthusiastic and kind. Eager to help in any way she can, Pamela is a sheer delight to work with!
Friend Robin Blake Back at the Gardens!
The inaugural event for the Friends’ Education lectures, “Welcome to the Wonderful World of Auction!” was a fabulous and well-attended event at The Virginia Robinson Gardens on November 19, 2024, thanks to our terrific co-chairs Susan Finkelman and Andrea Layne. The charming and vivacious Doyle Auctions’ Senior Vice Presidents Emily Marchick, Director of West Coast Operations and Nan Summerfield, California Senior Jewelry specialist, enthralled the audience with their fascinating anecdotes.
Family-owned and women-run, Doyle Auctioneering and Appraisers has been on the Upper East Side of Manhattan for 65+ years. The Beverly Hills branch is on Camden Drive, which is considered “Auction Drive West,” with Sotheby’s and Christie’s located on the same street. Doyle hosts monthly previews of jewelry, watches, sterling silver, and art with the actual auctions taking place in New York City.
In Case You Missed It...
As Friends of Robinson Gardens, we are fortunate to encounter many wonderful “artists” with impressive talents such as established horticulturists, florists, designers, historians, architects and more, who come to share their knowledge with us and our guests. We get to hear their stories, and some stories make us feel very humbled.
This is a story of one young man who came to work for the County at The Virginia Robinson Gardens. We had a botanical art workshop one day, and Justus Ross came in to help set up. We discovered that he had an art degree, so we started asking questions, and he helped us with the complicated foreshortening aspects of painting flowers. Our curiosity as to why he was working at the Gardens opened our eyes and ears to quite a story of how remarkable this young man was.
To see what the Friends of Robinson Gardens have been up to, please visit our Archive.