Listen to an update on the Garden

Rich Fisher with KWGS Radio recently interviewed Executive Director F. Todd Lasseigne about plans for the Garden. CLICK HERE to listen to the interview.

Going tropical, global warming or not

With the constant clamor for landscape color, coupled with a desire for tough, high-performing plants, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that tropical plants are in.

Please click on the link to read a column Dr. F. Todd Lasseigne wrote for NurseryManagementOnline.com before he became Executive Director of the Botanical Garden in April, 2011.

Find Nature, Family Fun At The Garden

The grass may not quite be green yet, but things are already blooming out at the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden. CLICK HERE to read the NEWS ON 6 story.

First Day of the Year at the Garden

The Hurtado family searches for butterflies during the Garden's first open day of the year April 2. The Garden is open, with free admission, from 9 am-4 pm Saturdays through October. Programs are posted on the website calendar. Thank you to Southwood Nursery and Landscape for donating the daffodil and tulip bulbs last year and to the volunteers who planted them.

Find Nature, Family Fun At Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden

The grass may not quite be green yet, but things are already blooming out at the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden. CLICK HERE to read the NEWS ON 6 story.

New Executive Director Announced

Todd Lasseigne, who has a PhD in horticultural science and has been executive director of a botanical garden in North Carolina for six years, is the Garden's new executive director. He will begin April 18, 2011.

Burt B. Holmes, chairman of the board, said "Todd has the knowledge, background, and enthusiasm that is now needed to move the Garden to the next stage of development."

Lasseigne replaces Pat Woodrum, who will remain on the board and continue to be actively involved in the Garden.

"Pat is one of the four visionaries who in 1999 set out to create one of the finest botanical gardens in the United States. She agreed to serve as executive director until we needed someone with horticulture and botanical garden administration experience. We are at that point," Holmes said.

Lasseigne has been executive director of the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, Kernersville, NC, since 2005. Its grand opening will be celebrated in April shortly before he arrives in Tulsa.

The Louisiana native has horticulture degrees from the North Carolina State University, University of Georgia and the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

He has visited more than 175 gardens in the United Kingdom, more than 125 throughout the U. S., about 25 in Japan and 30 in Europe. He has lectured in Japan.

"Todd's excellent relationships with public garden and horticulture professionals throughout the United States, Europe and Japan will be of tremendous importance to us," Holmes said.

Lasseigne was a university instructor and assistant director at the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, before joining the Ciener garden. He is active in the American Public Gardens Association.

Lasseigne said he is excited and honored to join the Tulsa community in building a premier scientific and cultural attraction that will have national prominence.

"The phased implementation of the master plan over several years will create continuing waves of excitement and energy for this visionary and important landmark institution," he said.

The Tulsa Running Club chose the Garden as a beneficiary of its 2010 Post Oak Lodge Challenge, and in January Race Director Johnny Spriggs presented a check for $600 to Garden Development Director Carrie Henderson. Also pictured from left are Wes Hollander of the club, and far right, Kelly Jo Rickman of Post Oak.

The Garden also will be a beneficiary of the 2011 Run Feb. 26 and 27. Part of the Saturday run will be at the Garden property. Details are at www.postoakrun.com.

New Board Members

Gregory Allen Gray, Tulsa attorney, Kara Gae Neal, superintendent of the Tulsa Technology Center, and Hal Salisbury, president of Oklahoma Offset, have joined the Garden's board of directors..

Other members are Chairman Burt B. Holmes, Vice Chairman Joe McGraw, Second Vice Chairman Thomas R. Brett, Secretary Gentner Drummond, Treasurer Pam Carter, Tom Atherton, Jim Barnard, Barry Fugatt, John Nickel, Barbara Sturdivant, Pat Woodrum and Dan Zaloudek.

Jay Walker believes Oklahoma should have a major botanical garden and volunteered in 2006 to be part of its development. He is dedicated to educating the public about the unique ecosystem of the Cross Timbers forest and prairie and to making it accessible to everyone. He and volunteers created the Garden's nature trails, and he collaborated with Dr. Ron Tyrl of Oklahoma State University to prepare a guide of plants along the walking paths.

Jay also represents the Garden in media interviews, leads trail hikes, serves on two committees, recruits volunteers to help build and maintain the trails, and even breaks up rocks on the trails with a sledge hammer. Jay has conducted plant research at the Kew and Edinburg botanical gardens and in Belize, Mexico and more than 20 states. He has a doctorate degree in botany from the University of Wisconsin, is a botany instructor at OSU and an adjunct professor of botany at OSU-Tulsa and the University of Oklahoma.