I don’t know what it is about a garden, but parties in them always seem to be fun! It’s almost like you can’t NOT have a good time when you are gathered for food, drink, and camaraderie in a beautiful outdoor space. It just lets you breathe out a little.
The folks at Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum know how to take advantage of this fact with their signature annual fundraiser, the Green Thumb Gala. Celebrated last month at the 47-acre site of the former Howell Nurseries located just two miles to the east of downtown Knoxville, the party was a delight, as usual.
The event also was significant in that it was a chance to welcome the Botanical Garden’s new executive director, Sharon Moore, who assumed the position in September, replacing Jim Richards, who retired after holding the post and doing an excellent job for eight years.
Moore came to the Botanical Garden from the East Tennessee Foundation, where she was director of advancement for almost two years. More significantly, though, prior to that she was director of development at Zoo Knoxville for more than 11 years. The zoo is noted for its phenomenal success in fundraising, a fact that surely bodes well for the Botanical Garden. Continue reading