Dear Friend,
We are writing to let you know that after careful consideration, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Board of Directors has decided to postpone the 2020 Antiques at the Gardens show.
Our decision was not an easy one, for several reasons. October would have marked the 15th anniversary of Antiques at the Gardens. The event attracts hundreds of people each year to explore inspiring ways to create a warm and inviting home and garden. The show has become well-known around the region and features professionals in the fields of interior design, landscape design, and architecture as well as antiques dealers and artisans from across the country. We also appreciate that the event is important to and much loved by the Birmingham community, and we know that there will be disappointment among many individuals and organizations—including sponsors, special guests, dealers, volunteers, and staff—that work very hard to make the event a success. Finally, the show provides the largest source of financial support for the Friends organization, generating funds that are critical to our work here at the Gardens.
Yet we could not ignore the present circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and the uncertainties for the months ahead. Our shared concern for the health and safety of everyone led us to conclude that postponement is the prudent choice.
As we look forward, let us take this opportunity to thank the volunteer leadership of the Antiques event for their extraordinary work that began last fall and has continued through this spring. The team has been so capably led by Co-Chairs Shannon Lisenby and Stephanie Lynton, and we are excited and grateful to announce that they have agreed to continue their work and preparations for the show's 15th-anniversary celebration in 2021.
As their dedication affirms, what remains unchanged by COVID-19 is a worthy cause and invaluable community resource in need of your continued support. We hope that you will join us in supporting the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens during this challenging time, which also necessitated the cancellation of our Spring Plant Sale fundraiser in April 2020. Only through your ongoing support of the Friends as members and donors can the Gardens continue to build a better Birmingham by educating thousands of students and visitors each year about the wonders and beauty of the outdoors and the rich history of the Gardens.
We need your support now more than ever, and as we seek to contribute to the recovery and health of our community, we thank you for showing your love for the Gardens and all that it makes possible.
