After being held onsite
the last two years, the 13th annual
Spring Benefit on
behalf of Mounts
Botanical Garden returned
to Palm Beach on Sunday, March 27.
More than 250 generous
supporters of Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest
public garden attended the reception and auction at the
beautiful Palm Beach home of Merrilyn
Bardes,
which was designed by John Volk. Guests toured the lush
and topical Mediterranean inspired garden and loggia,
while examining such exotic silent auction items as
tropical orchid arrangements, potted begonias, palms,
fruit trees and more.
This year’s annual Spring
Benefit for Mounts raised nearly $75,000
and was chaired by Palm Beach residents Polly
Reed and Jean
Matthews,
who were ably assisted by several board members from the
Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden, including Leslie
Mann, Barbara Cook, Kathy Vaughan and Sarah
Macintyre Goldstein.
Among those attending the
delightful event were Palm Beach Town Councilman Michael
Pucillo and
his wife Deborah, Palm Beach
County School Board member Jenny
Prior Brown,
TV’s top home improvement expert Bob
Vila,
Mounts Board Chair Michael
Zimmerman and Audrey
R. Norman,
Director of Palm Beach
County Cooperative Extension Service.
“The ambiance and
architectural splendor of Merrilyn’s beautiful
home and garden were an ideal location for our annual
Spring Benefit,” said Mounts Garden Director Allen
Sistrunk. “It
was indeed a
blessed evening.”
About Mounts Botanical
Garden:
Mounts Botanical Garden
is Palm Beach County's oldest and largest public
garden. Mounts displays tropical and subtropical plants
from around the world, including plants native to
Florida, exotic trees, tropical fruit, herbs, citrus,
palms and more. As a component of the Palm Beach County
Cooperative Extension Service, and through its
affiliation with the University of Florida, Mounts is
the place to connect with Extension Horticulturists,
Master Gardeners, the
Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program, and
professional horticultural advisors. Mounts also offers
a variety of horticultural classes, and garden-related
events and workshops.
Located at 531 North
Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Mounts Botanical
Garden is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The suggested donation
for entry
to the Garden is $5 per person. For more information,
please call 561.233.1757 or
visit www.mounts.org.