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From the Director
The Year of the Hare
Now that most of the winter holidays are past us and we are recovering from them (we are, aren't we?) it's time for another winter celebration that I believe is incredibly interesting: Lunar New Year. Based on a lunar calendar, this New Year celebration shifts annually against the solar calendar and begins this year – the Year of the Hare--at the end of January. An important aspect of the celebration is the decorating of homes with auspicious flowers and plants. Over the years, our Lunar New Year event has focused on selling those flowers and plants. Now with our 12th annual celebration, we have added food, entertainment and activities for the children. New Direction for Lunar New YearBuilding on the past few years of growth under the watchful eye of Event Chair Ernie Ng, our new Co-Chair Eleanor Lew, has brought a new concept to the event. She, along with Ernie and Trustee Eva Monroe have created a true celebration of food and culture that includes more than 50 booths, all indoors or under the eaves of the County Fair Building at the Main Gate of the Botanical Garden. These booths will be populated by some of the best Asian restaurants and food purveyors in San Francisco such as Hodo Soy Beanery, Namu Restaurant, Me Mee Bakery, Pacific Coast Gamers Market, Gourmet Organic Dim Sum, and Vital Tea Leaves. Children can enjoy art and craft activities created especially for the event by the Asian Art Museum and SFBGS's own Education Department. Of course, there will be entertainment, culturally appropriate and fascinating displays, and flowers galore. It's truly a family festival and family-friendly as entrance to the celebration is free. This is a wonderfully collaborative event that encompasses family, community, the best of food, children's activities, and entertainment. This is a chance for families from all over the region to celebrate the city's diversity in the neighborhood setting of the Botanical Garden. Please come and join us for this fun and colorful event that promises to be a great learning experience for children and adults. The event is on Saturday, January 29, 10 am – 4 pm. I hope to see you there! Resolve to Introduce Children to NatureOne New Year's resolution you might consider making (it's not too late!) is to become involved as a volunteer with the Botanical Garden Society. A number of choices abound from working in the nursery to participating in our Youth Education Program as a Children's Docent. We train volunteers who understand that introducing children to nature is good for the kids and good for the planet's future. “We train volunteers who understand that introducing children to nature is good for the kids and good for the planet's future.”
Docent training begins on February 8. It's a great way to make your mark at the Garden – and its future stewards. Without these dedicated docents we simply would not be able to run our programs that touch 10,000 young people every year. To inquire or sign up please contact Tom Laursen at (415) 661-1316 ext. 412 or volunteer@sfbg.org Warm best wishes for great holidays and a fantastic 2011!
Michael McKechnie
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Executive Director Michael McKechnie
