August 31 is the last day so make your vote count!
Please vote today for the Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park to win the Lark Label Contest.
RECAP:
We are one of 40+ gardens that submitted applications to the contest. One of nine selected to participate in the public voting portion of the contest. In the second week, we were in the top four in the vote count. We don’t know where we are in the standing now so every vote counts. The winner will be announced on September 9.
As we reflect back on this exciting month, we wanted to share with our friends and supporters the letter we submitted to Lark Label:
It is a distinct honor to submit the Montgomery Botanical Garden in the Lark Label Loves Gardens contest. Since its inception in 2013, the response from the community has been supportive and rewarding.
The mission of the Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park is to develop a stellar botanical garden for inspiration, education, and enrichment. The vision is to provide a Garden that embraces Montgomery’s future as a vibrant, diverse city with an exceptional quality of life for all who live in and visit Montgomery.
Oak Park has a storied history. In September 1958, Federal Court Judge Frank Johnson ruled that the City’s racist recreational policy was unconstitutional. Instead of integrating, officials chose to shut down all of its parks. It was closed January 1959. In February of 1965, the Montgomery City Commission voted unanimously to reopen Oak Park and the several remaining closed neighborhood parks from sunrise to sundown. Mayor Earl James engaged a landscape architect to transform Oak Park into botanical gardens, as its location at the foot of the newly proposed interstate would eventually afford it as a tourist attraction.
The Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park is located in the heart of midtown Montgomery. The garden is a part of revitalizing a significant part of Montgomery’s history. It is located in historic Centennial Hills near Alabama State University and Jackson Hospital just off Interstate 85.
Today, the Montgomery Botanical Gardens provides a soothing environment. It is a place of beauty, holding documented collections of flowers, trees and other living plants for promoting green living, plant and water conservation, scientific research, education and healthy outdoor activity. Additionally, the Garden contributes to the physical and mental well-being of its visitors. Children and adults come to walk, to learn, to think, to work, to paint and to play.
Montgomery’s Botanical Gardens at Oak Park is a member of APGA and is a part of an international network as the 20th Peace Garden in the world. With spaces in Gardens for prayer, reflection and renewal, it is the first Peace Garden designated in the state of Alabama.
Looking at its History and vision for the Future, any and all assistance given to the Montgomery Botanical Garden is an investment in advancing, peace, harmony, education, physical and mental health of all who visit this Garden of Peace.
Mission of the Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park: develop a stellar botanical garden for inspiration, education, and enrichment. Vision is to embrace Montgomery’s future as a vibrant, diverse city with an exceptional quality of life for all who live and visit.
Oak Park has a storied history. In1958, Federal Judge ruled the City’s racist recreational policy was unconstitutional. Instead of integrating, officials chose to close its parks. In1965, the City Commission voted to reopen Oak Park.
Looking at its History and future vision, all assistance given to MBG is an investment in advancing, peace, harmony, education, physical and mental health of all who visit this Garden of Peace.
Thank you for your encouragement and votes this month.
Membership and Donations
It is easy to vote:
1. Go to www.larklabel.com
2. Click on the VOTE NOW on the Be a Hero for a Botanical Garden section
3. Scroll down to the Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park and click the Vote for this Garden button. Gardens are listed alphabetically.
4. Enter your name, email address, and click on the circle by Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park. Click the submit button and you are done for the day.
5. Please vote once a day between August 1 and August 31. Please share with your family, friends, and various clubs and organizations.
