Annual Garden Gala to be held June 8 at Hahn Horticulture Garden
Blacksburg might be known for its laid-back style, but on June 8, garden party attire will be the order of the evening during the ninth annual Garden Gala fundraiser at the Hahn Horticulture Garden on the Virginia Tech campus.
The Hahn Horticulture Garden serves both the campus and the local community by providing seminars and workshops to youth and adults — from teaching sustainable gardening practices to promoting new and underused plants. The gala will help to support the Hahn Horticulture Garden’s mission of education and outreach. The event will run from 5:30 to 9 p.m., rain or shine.
Attendees to the gala can expect fashionable fare as well, including a wide selection of charcuterie and cheeses, food and wine pairing stations, two open bars featuring classic beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as a signature cocktail with a flora theme — sparkling rosewater sangria. Live music from the Bakery Boys Jazz Band and silent and live auctions round out the evening’s entertainment.
The Hahn Horticulture Garden is a self-sustaining entity and raises all of its own operating funds, which are used to employ student workers, provide internships, perform maintenance, acquire plants, and update the garden.
“It is gratifying to know the gardens provide a valuable tool for undergraduate and graduate instruction, bring joy to the lives of young people by helping to develop a lifetime passion for gardening, and connect the resources of the university with the needs of the larger community,” said T. Marshall Hahn, honorary gala chair and president emeritus of Virginia Tech.
Long-time garden volunteers Forrest and Linda Fiedler of Meadows of Dan, Va., will serve as honorary hosts this year.
“We have learned so much about gardening during the past 20 years of coming to Hahn Garden," said Linda Fiedler. "We have seen the garden grow and expand to become an outstanding public garden which is an integral part of the university and of the community. I know that I speak for all of the volunteers when I say that we take a great deal of pride in the garden, and work hard to keep it looking its best. We look forward to seeing everyone at the gala in June, and sharing 'our garden' with you."
Tickets for the event are $70 each and include food and beverages. Order forms are online or call Shendale Simpson of University Development Gift Accounting at 540-231-2889. Gala sponsorships are also available from $300 to $2,000 (includes tickets). Contact Garden Director Holly Scoggins at 430-231-5783 to purchase. Garden party attire is requested.
Written by Amy Loeffler.
