Annual Report 2024
The Garden had Over 130,000 Visitors in 2024
Horticulture Education Center
Event Attendance
The HEC Grand Opening took place on December 18, 2023
2024 Attendance by Event Category
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Holly HanNew Assistant Garden ManagerHolly Han was hired in March of 2024 as our Assistant Garden Manager. She received her bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Sam Houston State in Huntsville, TX, and her master’s degree from OSU working with Dr. Dennis Martin on turfgrass research. Holly is a much needed addition to our garden workforce, and we appreciate her hard work and experience. |
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OG&E Sponsors Utilitree Display at TBGOG&E has sponsored the planting of over 50 trees at TBG that are suitable for planting near utility lines. They are a mix of large shrubs, columnar trees, and short-stature trees, all with a mature height of 30’ or less. We thank OG&E for the idea, the donation, and the volunteers they sent to help plant the trees! We also thank the students in Dr. Shivani Kathi’s Woody Plant Materials class and our garden Ambassadors for their help with planting, and Dr. JoHannah Biang’s Irrigation class for installing drip irrigation. The trees are planted just west of the backyard demonstration greenhouses at the garden. |
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StillWonder - Popups by PartnerStillWonder was founded in 2023 and plans to bring a brick and mortar children’s museum back to Stillwater, OK. The Botanic Garden formed a partnership with StillWonder in 2024, allowing them to offer popup events at the Horticulture Education Center. They offered six events in 2024 serving over 600 people and helped us with our Mud Kitchen at the Herb and Succulent Festival and GardenFest. StillWonder refers to the garden as their “cornerstone partner,” and we look forward to greater collaboration in theyear ahead. |
We Thank the Following for their Support!
- Garden Benefactor
- Marsha and Bob Adams
- Linda and Donald Allen
- Lou and Shelley Anella
- Margaret Ewing
- Halligan Family
- Sara Brown and Matt Jeffery
- Jan and Rick McSwain
- Jim and Ann Mitchell
- Doug and Jackie Needham
- OG&E
- Barbara K. Pass Endowment
- Donna and Russ Rhinehart
- Annawyn Shamas
- Laura and Michael Shaw
- Carl and LaJean Whitcomb
- Tabitha Doescher and Josh Wiener
- Garden Sponsor
- John and Nancy Allford
- Jeneane Campbell
- In Memory of Margaret Ewing-Holly Ewing
- Tom and Krystal Hennessey
- Judy Hull
- Jimmy’s Excavation
- Katherine Kocan
- Kay County Master Gardeners
- Janet and Rex Largent
- Dr. Diana Watson-Maile and Mr. Craig Maile
- Lynn and Elena Miler
- Blaine Strausser
- Heidi and Elliot Williams
-
Garden Patron
- Dana and Barry Bessinger
- Karen and Tommy Edgar
- Debra and David Engle
- Deborah Francisco
- Gerald Klingaman (class of 1969)
- Anne and Leonard McMurtry
- Norma L. Payne
- Bonnie Petty
- Donna Smith
- Beth Thornton
- Elizabeth and Wesley Watkins
- Sustaining
- Drew and Aerial Anthony
- Calvin and Linda Anthony
- Carole and Roy Bays
- Cindy Beckman
- Jennifer and Teil Blackshare
- Sheralyn and Richard Bowersock
- Kyndal and Robert Campbell
- Jane and Gary Clark
- Linda and Peter Clark
- Christina Climer
- Les and Barbara Connor
- Linda Davis
- Damona Doye
- Tony and Alice Echelle
- Elliot Family
- Penny Franks
- Lynae Greely
- Marie and Steven Guard
- Fred and Linda Guthery
- Fred and Nancy Helms
- Larry and Judy Hoberock
- Michael and Kimberly Holmes
- Priscilla and Howard Iba
- Larry and Kayo Jones
- Meg and Darrel Kletke
- Kristin Korte
- Elizabeth Williams and Robert Mayer
- Mitchell McCollom
- Jean and Paul McMullen
- Terry Melendez
- In Loving Memory of Lynne Miller
- Barbara and John Mintmire
- Kaye and Paul Rogers
- Sandy and John Rooney
- Connie and Lanny Sells
- Brenda and Craig Spaulding
- Kim and Mark Strom
- Celeste and Al Taber
- Liz and Ron Tarbutton
- Nancy Ussery
- George Watkins
- Dolores and Keith Willett
- Contributing
- Gladeen Allred
Kristy Andrew
Shawna and Jacob Astley
Clint Barnes
Jeanne Beliveau
Dennis and Loreta Bertholf
Tricia and Steven Carpenter
Susan and David Chastain
Tien-Min Chou
Sandra and Bill Clemons
Sandy Cohlmia
Dawn and Carl Driskill
Carolyn Gang and Ed Noltensmeyer
Valinda Goeppinger
Angie and Roger Gribble
Leslie Griffith
Jessica Henson
Joyce and Brad Hise
Ryan Hoecker
Maxine and Ford Lasher
Stacy Leming
Elizabeth Lohrman
Seana and Joe Ogle
Gerri and Scott Petty
Gail Phillips
Carol Ann Powell
Jim Rutledge
Teresa and Victor Schutte
Monica Whitham
Constance and Drew Williamson
Eleanor and Robert Wright
Cristi and Thomas Wuller
- Gladeen Allred
- Event Sponsors
Platinum
BluePeak
Gold
- Allergy Partners of Oklahoma
- Bancfirst
- Jim and Ann Berry
- Eyelove Vision
- Roger Gose P.E.
- Ann Halligan
- Henneberry Orthodontics
- Hideaway Pizza
- John Houck
- Martin Jean & Jackson
- OSU Office of the President
- Real Estate Professionals
Silver
- B & L Heat and Air Conditioning
- Daddy O's Music
- Henneberry Orthodontics
- Kicker
- Lost Creek Self Storage
- Simmons Bank
The Following Endowed Funds Support Student Internships
- Chelsea Flower Show Travel Scholarship
- Charlie Gray Experience Fund
- Bobby and Claranne Hayes Family Experience Fund
- Carl and LaJean Whitcomb Experience Fund
We Also Thank
The Ferguson College of Agriculture, OSU Extension, Oklahoma Gardening, their staff and sponsors
Our Ambassadors (volunteers), who have provided so much to us for 30+ years!
- David Hillock for leading tours
- Shelley Mitchell for leading educational programming
- Nimalka Weerasuriya for managing our plant collection database
- Shelby Mendoza for managing the Horticulture Education Center and our social media
Our wonderful students
Trinity Baird, Mez Barth, Shayli Bias, Haley Brooks, Jack Halley, Megan Henderson,
Tanner Kyler, Jacy Landers, Conner Lowery, Gabby Ratzlaff, Kim Rodriguez, and Hailey
White
We celebrated the following anniversaries of Ambassadors volunteering
- 25 year - Ray Campbell
- 20 year - Jeneane Campbell and Melanie Oliver
- 15 year - Ann McMurtry, Ann Mitchell, Marvie Rotter, Eloise Triplett, Nancy Ussery
- 10 year - Mary Davey, Lynn Miler, Wanda White
- 5 year - Dana Bessinger, Mary Barbara Lewis, Theresa January
- 1 year - Marie Guard, Elizabeth Lohrman