Mic Lawson (Planning Commissioner), Senator Anthony Portantino, and David Reyes (Assistant City Manager) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Michelle Matthews (Executive Director) speaks at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Assemblymember Chris Holden, Claire Bogaard, and Bill Bogaard (Former Mayor) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
George Brumder (Board Member) speaks at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Bob Bozzani (Honoree) accepts an award from George Brumder (Board Member) and Michelle Matthews (Executive Director) at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Assemblymember Chris Holden with Ansu Johu (Grow Monrovia) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
City Council Member Steve Madison (Honoree) speaks at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Mayita Dinos (Honoree), Arlington Garden's designer, accepts an award from Michelle Matthews (Executive Director) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Mayita Dinos (Honoree), garden designer, speaks at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]: "I try to raise gardens that are healthy, responsible, happy, nurturing, fun, and independent."
Lynne Sullivan, Melissa Weinberger (Board of Directors), and Tom Corcoran at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Sybil Grant and Iesha Siler (Board of Directors members) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Andy Wilson (Former Vice Mayor) and Councilmember Felicia Williams at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Kim Jacobsen (President, Board of Directors) and Palin Samuelson (Board of Directors) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Brooke Natzke (daughter of founders Betty and Charles McKinney) looks at silent auction items at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Miguel Marquez (City Manager) and Bill Bogaard (Former Mayor) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Staff members Rachel, Capri, Heather, and William at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
David Lessoff and Timothy Eckert at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Roger and Lisa Morrison at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Photay & Carlos Niño & Diego Gaeta before their musical performance at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Brooke Natzke with another McKinney family member and City Council Member Steve Madison (Honoree) at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Honorees Steve Madison (City Council) and Mayita Dinos (Garden Designer) at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Maria and Catherine McKenney at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Claire Bogaard and Steven McKenney at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Larry and Gioia Pastre at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Michelle Matthews (Executive Director) with guests and volunteers at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Levi Brewster (Community Builder) and Steven McKenney at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Mark "Frosty" McNeil performs at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Photay & Carlos Niño & Diego Gaeta perform at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Musicians perform at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Guests watch musical performances at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Amara Barreota (Owner) from Amara Cafe serves empanadas to Noel McCarthy at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Elaine and Jason from Agnes Restaurant serve refreshments at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
Barbara Chung and Lluvia Arras with Dina's Dumpling at the "Autumn in the Garden" fundraiser at Arlington Garden on September 26, 2022. [Shirley Huang / Pasadena Now]
On a beautiful fall afternoon in the olive allee, around 175 people gathered for Arlington Garden’s annual fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 25. The event, billed ‘Autumn in the Garden,’ celebrated the garden’s 17th anniversary.
“We raised $32,000 this year,” Arlington Garden Executive Director Michelle Mathews said.
Funds raised during the event will help keep the garden free and open to the public. They will also help enable the garden to expand its programming and engagement with the community through innovative platforms, including new online activities for visiting families, and virtual guided tours for those unable to drop by in person.
From time to time, Arlington Garden also sponsors public information shows on TV, such as a monthly “Earth Share” show on IGTV; the program showcased the Garden’s horticultural experts as they shared their personal journeys and gardening tips.
The annual fundraiser started with a special VIP reception to honor Pasadena City Councilmember Steve Madison, businessman and philanthropist Bob Bozzani, and garden designer Mayita Dinos.
“Steve Madison was involved in the founding of the garden,” Matthews said. “He worked very closely with Betty and Charles McKenney to help secure the land from Caltrans back in 2005 when the garden was founded. And then Mayita Dinos was the garden designer. She was an early adopter of sustainable gardening practices. And then Bob Bozzani has been a supporter of the garden.”
Those in attendance were treated to musical performances by Photay, Carlos Niño & Diego Gaeta, Barbarelle, and Frosty curated by Floating and dublab.
Other special guests included State Senator Anthony Portantino, Assemblymember Chris Holden, City Manager Miguel Márquez, Assistant City Manager David Reyes, City Councilmembers Felicia Williams, Andy Wilson, the late John Kennedy’s representative Susana Porras, and Claire and Bill Bogaard.
PUSD Board of Education member Elizabeth Pomeroy also was in attendance, as was Leah Thomas, author of “The Intersectional Environmentalist.”
Matthews said some of the donations were provided by Amara Cafe, Agnes Cheesery, the Arlington Board of Directors, Bev Wine, Craftsman Beer, Solminer, Wenzlau, James Naish, Homage, Goldbug, Pasadena Symphony, and Patagonia Pasadena.
“Inspired by Jan Smithen’s book Sun-Drenched Gardens: The Mediterranean Style, Betty and Charles worked with designer Mayita Dinos to create a garden celebrating Southern California’s unique climate. The garden has since evolved to become a regenerative habitat garden, demonstrating how a landscape can be beautiful while increasing resilience to climate change.”
This month, on October 8, Arlington Garden plans to host a networking event organized by Innovate Pasadena on the topic, “Transformation of Place: Arlington Garden in Pasadena.”
To learn more about Arlington Garden, visit www.arlingtongardenpasadena.org.
