Gala in the Gardens 2008

Gala in the Gardens is our biggest fundraiser of the year. And, it’s one of the most enjoyable party experiences in all of San Diego County. Our 2008 Gala, presented by Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and the County of San Diego, did not disappoint! Over $185,000 was raised to benefit Quail Botanical Gardens’ exhibits and programs.

Gala Chairperson René van Rems welcomed over 530 guests into the Open Air Pavilion (a magically transformed parking lot) with champagne and smiles. The Gardens were aglow in beauty – food, floral, people, auction items, wine raffle, lights, and music. Saturday, September 13th was a glorious evening, and the Gardens never looked so spectacular. Our guests are still talking about the uniqueness of this fundraiser – where mingling with friends and exploring the different areas of the Gardens takes precedent over formal sitdown dining. With 24 different restaurants, caterers and specialty drink providers stationed throughout the Gardens, our guests enjoyed an array of tasty tidbits. From sushi near the Rain Forest to duck tacos in the Walled Garden to an amazing display of desserts later in the evening, the party’s savory fare was superb. Pair the delights of the palate with 6 musical groups and 16 professional florists showcasing their individual talents at each food station, and it’s no wonder the party gets top honors for its unique beauty and flair.

The evening’s program showcased the presentation of the Paul Ecke, Jr. Award of Excellence to local Garden enthusiast and past Quail Botanical Gardens’ Trustee, Susi Torre-Bueno. Susi’s acceptance speech was remarkably poignant and beautifully connected her personal ambitions and the future growth of Quail Botanical Gardens. The evening’s program also included a successful live auction led by professional auctioneer Richard Houk and a silent auction with over 180 items – many floral and fauna related! The earth-friendly party theme, Plant it Forward, was incorporated in many ways, from eco-friendly party ware to donations of left-over food to our local Community Resource Center. The theme enabled the Gardens to "plant forward" our fund-raising and friend-raising efforts to benefit our local and global communities.

Quail Botanical Gardens is so thankful for the many donations that contributed to the success of our evening and to the future of the Gardens in general. We especially thank our Presenting Sponsor, Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and the County of San Diego, and our Conservatory Champion sponsor, Olive Hill Greenhouses for their support! All sponsors, restaurants and florists are listed here on our website. We encourage you to patronize their businesses.

We would also like to thank all our volunteers – the successes would not be realized without the tireless behind the scenes work of our volunteers!

Be sure to mark your calendars and plan to stroll through the Gardens at twilight again next year at our 10^th Anniversary Gala in the Gardens scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2009.

For additional Gala information, please contact Cheryl Mergenthaler (760) 436-3036 x. 218 or cmergenthaler@qbgardens.org.
Event Photography by www.eosphoto.com

 

230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas CA | (760) 436-3036 | Fax: (760) 632-0917 | e-mail: info@qbgardens.org | Copyright ©2005