ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA ARBORETUM FOUNDATION

MAY 30, 1975

People are relating and eeiuenins to a more natural environment - a fact
borne out by the rapid increase in the attendance at the Los Angeles State and
County Arboretum. No endeavor has ever been more important to the Arboretum's
role of serving the people of Los Angeles County than the chance to fulfill
man's need to understand his own surroundings.

Again, the calendar year was filled with events for the Foundation and
its members.

On Friday evening, August 23rd, the Hugo Reid Roundup, a family party,
was held for members at the Hugo Reid Adobe. A typical early California
dinner was served to four hundred guests. Seventy-five children roasted their
own hot dogs. There were games and entertainment and a Mexican band. Fish-
'ing and the traditional breaking of the pinatas was immensely enjoyed by the
children.

In September, a garden plot was displayed at the Pomona Fair by the
California Arboretum Foundation. Its purpose was for exposure and to acquaint
the general public with the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum an he
Foundation.

November a the first Fota Contest was held entitled "Focus
on the Arboretum". Two hundred contestants entered submitting over six
hundred photographs of pee he taken at the Arboretum. Over half of the
entries were in the amateur division and ninety per cent of those were in
the nature and architecture classification. The response to this contest was
very gratifying.

The fifth annual Baldwin Bonanza was held on April 6th, co-sponsored by
the Las Voluntarias and the California Arboretum Foundation. Inspite of cold
rainy weather, the event proved to be as popular as ever. A special preview
for members and guests was held the Saturday evening before with over one
thousand attending. Over $26,000 was raised for the Arboretun,.

On May 17th and 18th the second annual Spring Extravaganza and Hor
cultural Field Day was held at the Arboretum. This event was held in seer
tion with the many horticultural groups and local garden clubs making
meaningful horticultural and educational experience. Exhibitions were held
by the plant societies with demonstrations on plant care, growing and propa-
gation, demonstrations and lectures on vegetable gardening, and an open house
of the research laboratory, greenhouses, plant science library, and a sale of
Arboretum plant introductions,

he prehistoric jungle is an educational complex designed by illustra-
tions and plant collections to provide a graphic display of how plants
survived or evolved through geological time, and how they have been affected
by changing environmental conditions. The jungle is in the final stages of
development and will be open to the public in mid-July.

The Board of Trustees and Las Voluntarias have been very active in the!
activities of the California Arboretum Foundation. With a membership of
3,100, it takes an effective governing body, and an active volunteer group
in order for the Foundation to function properly. Besides the many volunteer

nuai Report Page 2 May 30, 1975

ours the Board of Trustees has offered this year, they have committed them-
selves to raise $500,000 for the proposed Hail of Environmental Education.
This drive is in the initial stages with much of the preliminary materials
having previously been prepared. Hopefully, the full campaign will be under
way by the middie of September, 1975.

Las Voluntarias functions as a service organization to the Los Angeles
State and County Arboretum. Its 228 dedicated members work in a variety
of areas performing valuable services through their unselfish help. During
the last year they contributed a conservative estimate of 27,372 hours.
The California Arboretum Foundation Gift Shop is staffed by members of Las
Voluntarias on week days. The craft comaittee keeps the Gift Shop supplied
with saleable items. They also stock a popular booth at the Baldwin Bonanza.
Preparing California Arboretum Foundation materials for mailing is ably
expendited by volunteers. They also assist the Foundation staff with typing.
The Information Center and the Volunteer Office are regularly staffed by
volunteers five days a week from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and on some additional
afternoons. Las Voluntarias have a greenhouse of their own where they grow
plants for sale in the Gift Shop and at the Baldwin Bonanza. Auxiliary
help needed in the Arboretum greenhouses is also contributed. Their help is
much appreciated in the Research Division, the Herbarium and the Library.
The Children's Education section was aided by volunteers in preparing and
assembling 969 Arbor Day packets for schoois in fifty-four districts.

One of the most active groups is the History Section. Besides guiding
tours, they are responsible for keeping regular hours at the Depot, doing
research, special cleaning and arranging of flowers in the historical build-
ings for Christmas and hostessing many special groups and events.

Twenty-eight experienced field leaders conduct nature and history tours
for school children. There were a total of 13,613 school children on 678
fieid trips. The School Visitation Program in which four volunteers take the
"Arboretum S;tory" into the classrooms has been highly successful. This pro-
gram reached 557 children.

A program of Foundation-sponsored Sunday Afternoon Lectures and Sunday
Morning Walks has been well received. The Mini Courses for 1974-75 have been
expanded to seventeen.

The Los Angeles State and County Arboretum is a fitting response to the
specific needs of the people in this time of ecological concern. It represents
an ideal opportunity to provide a beautiful experience for the community.
Through its public service programs, it has created an interest in all topical
and botanically related subjects. The California Arboretum Foundation is
pleased by its endeavors in helping to bring this meaningful adventure to the
people.

Cecelia R. Grivich
President