FROGS Talk
by Aimee Martin, FROGS President
Aimee Martin, FROGS President
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Welcome to the explosion of color and fragrance at Green Spring Gardens. We hope you come soon and often. If you follow us on Facebook you can see frequent pictures of what is blooming.
April 16 – 22 was National Volunteer Week, although I don’t need a special week to remind me of the contributions you make. Let me tell you about some areas where you are making a difference.
YESTERDAY—Our 2022 Annual Appeal was in support of the Historic House and surrounding gardens. You all were very generous, with some donations still coming in. As of the end of March, we had raised $40,655. Thank you! So far, we’re pleased to have been able to refinish all the chairs in the public rooms and give the go-ahead to work on the customized museum display cabinet. There will be a deep house cleaning inside and out and more interpretive signage. The gardens around the house are being refreshed as well, with new plantings and a beautiful arbor. Our Spring Garden Day was a great success. So many of you signed up to help and shopped for treasures. We just couldn’t do it without you. As you know, our spring and fall events are our chief fundraising activities for Green Spring Gardens.
TODAY—We are happily planning for our Summer Concert on June 28. The Summer Concert is our way of giving back to the community and letting more people know about us.
TOMORROW—The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) funds the county parks from a budget approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. That budget, which determines our future, is presented to the public in March and April. The sliver of the budget that supports Parks and Libraries is never adequate, but raising our voices in support of parks helps. This year we again joined seven other parks Friends groups to argue for increased funding. Together our message is stronger. Thank you to all of you who let your representatives know how important parks are to you. Your voices made a difference. The Board of Supervisors added additional funding to the budget for forestry, invasives removal, and a “mobile nature center” to bring parks to those residents who don’t have one nearby.
Looking forward to seeing you around enjoying and contributing to Green Spring Gardens.
