LOOKING BACK ON OUR CHAPTER’S HISTORY—RELATIONSHIP WITH U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM

by Diana Cull, Chapter Historian

As mentioned throughout this edition of our Newsletter our Chapter will conclude its 60th Anniversary

Celebration with a Grand Exhibition and Reception at the U.S. National Arboretum. This is only fitting since

we have had a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the Arboretum.

The Arboretum has hosted a number of our Annual Exhibitions over the years, starting in 1982 through 1989

in the Administration Building Auditorium, and from 1998 to the present in the National Bonsai & Penjing

Museum. (For some years prior to 1982 and in the intervening years, the “Annual Flower Show” was held at

the US Botanic Gardens.)

Ikebana International and Chapter No. 1 members have made a number of gifts to the National Arboretum.

Among these are: In 1968 a stone lantern, red bridge and rocks were presented to the National Arboretum by

Mrs. Wayne Todd, Past President of Chapter No. 1; and in 1979, Chapter No. 1 presented The Mary Cokely

Wood Collection of Rare Ikebana Books to the National Agricultural Library at the U.S. National Arboretum

for research. (You may want to visit our Chapter website at https://iichapter1.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/

nal-visit.pdf for a glimpse into this collection.)

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left to right Representative from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Helen Godbey (Chapter No. 1 Past President), Betty Taylor (Chapter No. 1 President), Dr. John Creech (Director of U.S. National Arboretum), ikebana by Betty Taylor.

The largest and most notable gift was in 1982 when a check for $19,600 was presented to The Friends of

The National Arboretum to construct a Memorial Garden to Ikebana International Founder Ellen Gordon

Allen. The funds came from Ikebana International chapters and members all over the world. The Garden

is located just outside the entrance to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and is marked with a plaque.

Additional funds were used to establish the “Ellen Gordon Allen Memorial Fund”, which continues to this

day.

Our most recent gift was in April 2012 when Chapter No. 1 funded the installation of a cherry tree named

“First Lady” to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the first planting of cherry trees in Washington,

DC. The tree was dedicated in conjunction with the opening of the 2012 Spring Exhibition.

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Ground Breaking for the Ellen Gordon Allen Memorial Garden, March 17, 1982.

Ribbon Cutting for 2012 Spring Exhibition, April 2012 . Left to right Sachiko Furlan, Dr. Colien Hefferan (Director

USNA), Mrs. Sasae (wife of Japanese Ambassador), Tone Olsen (Chapter President), Jane Redmon.