AOS Botanical Gardens to Remain Open

Delray Beach, Florida- The American Orchid Society (AOS) Botanical Gardens, which were slated to close at the end of June, were given a new lease on life by the AOS Board of Trustees who voted unanimously on Tuesday (June 2,2009) to keep the gardens open to members and to the public.

President Carlos Fighetti said there were a number of factors that help support the decision. First and foremost was the local support that came forward both in terms of existing members and the general public who did not want to see the gardens closed. Over 10,000 signatures were gathered that urged the Board to look for ways to sustain the gardens during the months when visitors are at low ebb. In addition to this overwhelming interest, a quickly formed pledge drive headed by the South Florida Leadership Council consisting of many local orchid societies secured some $40,000 that will help towards that end and also had many people volunteering their time to maintain the gardens along with American Orchid Society staff. A formal presentation was put together by the AOS Botanical Garden Committee and presented to the Board at their Annual Meeting held in Houston in April. The Board asked to include many of these ideas and events in the annual budget to see the impact keeping the Gardens open would have on the bottom line and the cash needs of the organization.

In commenting on the decision, Fighetti said, “We are very proud of the initiative and the results that were able to be generated by all those who treasure our Tropical Orchid Garden in Delray Beach. We are confident that with this additional funding both in terms of pledges and in terms of volunteers that we can show many more visitors why this is one of the most beautiful horticultural and visitor-attracting assets in southern Florida.”

The American Orchid Society Botanical Gardens, adjacent to the Morikami Museum, are open to the public seven days a week, from 10:00am to 4:30pm. The 3.5 acre site has a magnificent collection of tropical orchids and companion plants in natural settings that complement the mission of the American Orchid Society. For information, please call 561-404-2000.