Sardinia, Italy, is one of the world’s five Blue Zones recognized for the longevity and health of its population. Next month, the West Virginia Botanic Garden (WVBG) will pay homage to the island’s culture and diet with this year’s installation of its largest annual fundraiser: the 2024 “Sunflower Serata” Garden Party.
National Geographic journalist Dan Buettner began his research on Blue Zones in 2004, when census records reflected an abnormally high rate of centenarians — people above age 100 — in Sardinia and four other regions.
Although there are a wide variety of suspected reasons for this phenomena, the WVBG’s Garden Party will pull inspiration from the life-lengthening dietary habits of Sardinia.
Whole grains, cheese, fish, fruit and fresh greens make up the typical diet of Sardinians, similar to the popular Mediterranean diet. Italian-inspired cafe Tutto Gelato and renowned chefs Anne Hart of Hart Kitchen and Matt Welsch of Vagabond Kitchen will bring this European cuisine — minus the fish, to accommodate guests with allergies. A vegan and gluten-free dinner option is also available at ticket registration
The Garden Party will be 4-7:30 p.m. Aug. 11, with a 3 p.m. reception hour for sponsors only.
The WVBG’s Garden Party is the garden’s largest fundraiser every year, and it’s unique in the way it is able to fund the garden’s overall operations, instead of being restricted to a specific project like a grant.
“I think the garden has done really a good job in recent years finding grant funding to make improvements, but grants don’t cover most operational expenses,” said WVBG Executive Director Philip Smith. “This makes fundraising events like the Garden Party critically important to maintaining the grounds, programming and other necessary costs.”
For example, the garden’s brand-new Equitrans Midstream Visitors Center, which celebrated its grand opening July 11, or the rows of freshly planted sunflowers blooming just in time for the event.
Not only is the Garden Party the WVBG’s largest annual fundraiser, it is also the garden’s longest-running event. Since 2012, the Garden Party has regularly drawn a sell-out crowd of hundreds of attendees, both those new to the garden’s wonders and those familiar with its winding paths and deeply Appalachian history. The event is largely coordinated by the creative efforts of WVBG Board of Directors vice president Victoria Cather and co-chair Andy Horton.
“Everybody that comes is always astonished that we have this wonderful place in Morgantown,” said Cather. “I think that, for those that are new to the event, they learn more about the garden, and those that are coming again, it’s a different experience every time.”
Each year’s theme is selected to entertain as well as educate, Cather explained, so guests can leave knowing a bit more than they did when they arrived. Last year’s theme was “Circles, Spots and Polka Dots,” inspired by Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama.
The Terrace at Tibbs Run, the garden’s recently established event venue, will be the site of the dinner for a third year. The night will officially begin with music by Jim Truman before dinner, with live and silent auctions throughout the night. Auctions will feature items such as a year’s subscription of fresh bouquets from a local florist, trips to Savannah, Ga., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., a stay at a New River Gorge National Park and Preserve cabin and more. All guests will receive a complimentary souvenir event glass.
This event is made possible by WVBG staff always striving to make the garden a greater experience for its guests, Chef Hart and Chef Welsch, auction prize donors and the garden’s supporters and sponsors.
“While this event is a fundraiser for the WVBG, it feels more like a celebration instead,” said Smith. “Flowers and gardens tend to elevate happiness; it’s just too bad that we can’t increase capacity so that more people are able to experience it!”
Tickets cost $150 and sales end Aug. 1. For more information and registration, visit WVBG.org/sunflower2024.
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