March 28, 2024

Thank you Newton Arboretum, Project AWAKE supporters

To the editor:

We would like to thank all those “friends” of the Newton Arboretum and Botanical Center who participated in our annual fundraiser plant sale. It was an especially challenging year to find plants above ground and cold rainy weather as the only choice for digging and potting.

“Friends” include many area residents who contributed their gardens’ abundance of divided plants and bulbs, the many volunteers who participated in digging and potting donated plants and who helped customers choose and purchase the plants

The generous merchants who contributed flats of annuals and perennials were Cox’s Greenhouse, Earl May, Hy-Vee and Theisen’s.

As community donations are the only source of income to keep up the gardens, we are totally reliant on residents of Newton and the surrounding area; it’s their sweat equity and local dollars that we need in order to continue providing free public access to this wonderful facility. We invite anyone who wishes to participate to contact the Project AWAKE Board by leaving a message with Newton Parks and Grounds office.

We are extremely grateful to each and every person who contributed, in what ever way they did, to the biggest fundraiser of the year. If you missed this fun time, watch for it next year early May.

Board of Project AWAKE