Guests check in at the the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Flower arrangement at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser on September 26, 2021
Sweet orange marmalade made by Arlington Garden on display at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser on September 26, 2021
Cindy Wenzlau (Owner, Wenzlau Vineyard) serves wine to Joni Topper (Chief Financial Officer) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Bill Cockrum, Cindy Wenzlau (Owner, Wenzlau Vineyard), and Rita Whitney at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Darlene Royal (Women & Leadership Vital Voices aka WLVV), John Kennedy, and Elisia Farmer (WLVV) at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Sheryl Scott, Bill Smith, and Cheryl Bode at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
The band Katalyst before their performance at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
John DeWitt (Board Member) and Bonnie DeWitt at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Zach and Vivian from Sqirl serve drinks to guests at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Claire Bogaard and Nancy McIntyre (Board Member) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Diane Nicholson and Kimberly Jacobsen (President of the Board) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Council Member Felicia Williams and Bill Bogaard (Former Mayor) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Joni Topper (Chief Financial Officer) (right) and guests at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Bill Bogaard (Former Mayor) and guests listen to speakers commemorate Arlington Garden's 16th Annirersary on September 26, 2021
George Brumder (Board Member) presents an award created by artist James Nash to Arlington Garden supporters Don and Nancy McIntyre (former Board Members, current Advisory Council Members) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser on September 26, 2021
Nancy McIntyre (Board Member) speaks at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser on September 26, 2021
Don McIntyre speaks at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser on September 26, 2021
Councilmember Steve Madison speaks about how Arlington Garden used to be a "blighted, vacant lot" at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Don McIntyre, Nancy McIntyre (Board Member), Councilmember Felicia Williams, Mayor Victor Gordo, and Council Member Steve Madison at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Mayor Victor Gordo thanks Don and Nancy McIntyre for their support of Arlington Garden at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser on September 26, 2021
John Kennedy (right) presents a certificate to Don and Nancy McIntyre for their support of Arlington Garden at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser on September 26, 2021
Christy Lopez (Office of Senator Anthony Portantino) (right) presents a certificate to Don and Nancy McIntyre for their "gift of nature to the residents of Pasadena" at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser on September 26, 2021
Michelle Matthews (Executive Director), John Kennedy, Don McIntyre, Nancy McIntyre (Board Member), Mayor Victor Gordo, and Kimberly Jacobsen (President of the Board) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser on September 26, 2021
Guests congratulate Don and Nancy McIntyre (Board Member) after they accept an award created by artist James Nash on September 26, 2021
Musician SK Kakraba performs at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Musician SK Kakraba performs at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Brian and Erica (both from Floating) watch live music at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
Michele Matthews (Executive Director) and Jonathan Woodside chat with guests at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2021
A gathering at Pasadena’s only public garden, the botanical and arboreal oasis of native and Mediterranean plantings called Arlington Garden, celebrated the Garden’s 16th birthday and honored former Pasadena City Manager Don McIntyre and his wife, Nancy, with the inaugural McKenney Family Arlington Garden Award.
The current and a former mayor, several city councilmembers — including one of the Garden’s original muses, Councilmember Steve Madison — joined a group of civic luminaries and neighbors for the party.
Arlington Garden founders Betty and Charles McKenney and designer Mayita Dinos were inspired by Jan Smithen’s book “Sun-Drenched Gardens: Mediterranean Style” when they started the Garden in 2005. They wanted to create a water-wise garden that thrives in Southern California’s Mediterranean climate, and to show how beautiful and practical a well-planned, climate-appropriate and community-built garden can be.
As it is now, Arlington Garden is not only friendly to people and pets but also serves as a refuge for Pasadena’s native fauna. Birds, bees and butterflies are particularly abundant and can be seen throughout the year.
“We are proud that instead of a freeway, we built a garden,” said Michelle Matthews, garden executive director. “Fifteen years ago, we were the early adopters of regenerative gardening and we are an excellent example of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers watershed concept of landscape design. We are a landmark of healthy habitat and living soil, grown from a denuded empty lot that sat dormant for almost 45 years.”
In 2019, Arlington Garden, a nonprofit organization, was selected by state Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, as Senate District 25’s Nonprofit of the Year.
The garden is also well known for its sweet orange marmalade, made from Washington navel oranges grown in the garden and canned locally by E. Waldo Ward. The marmalade is sold at area retailers including Armstrong Garden Center, Jones Coffee and Vroman’s Bookstore.
