Spotlight on Juliana Ricks

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 Juliana Ricks, a dedicated Friends of Robinson Gardens executive board member.

We asked her these four questions:

1. How did you first learn about VRG, and what inspired you to become a Friend?

I first visited VRG to attend a lecture by my dear friend and jewelry designer Daria De Koning and immediately fell in love with the property. I have always been interested in historic homes and am intrigued by the history of Beverly Hills, so I wanted to be involved right away. Daria, who is also a Friend, introduced me to a few other Friends, and I loved the personalities and the coordinated focus of the group to preserve the wonderful estate.

2. What is your role - how do you contribute to VRG?

I work in investments, so I am a numbers person. I started by helping with tax letters and have recently been made Co-Treasurer of the organization. It is a great position to observe all of the effort put into fundraising for the Gardens and then where all of those funds are used to restore the property and offer help to underserved schools in the area. It is very rewarding to see the determination of each and every Friend to continue the legacy of Robinson Gardens.

3. Can you share a favorite VRG memory with us?

The large Garden Tour is spectacular not only because of the access to wonderful local gardens, but also how the estate comes to life for the event. Every room is exploding with flowers, and there are a lot of people on the property enjoying its beauty. That said, I really enjoyed the member’s only Garden Tour this year because I was able to observe the contributions that all of the Friends and Board Members made to make it a success. Board Members were decorating rooms, setting up tables, and serving as docents. It was so nice to see everyone work together; it really is a wonderful group of people.

4. Please add any additional information you would like to share!

The photo above is of me and my pandemic baby, Penny, who was born in March 2020. It was taken by Daria's husband, Theo Avgerinos, a very talented photographer.