Myriad Gardens

[kevinpate]

Yes, saw them today. Not sure how to tell how they're doing.

moving around = doing good.
sunning their lil' bellies = dead rite thar.

[shawnw]

ah, then yes, they were good

[HOT ROD]

ah, good to hear. Thanks guys.

Thanks for keeping us expats up-to-date. Continue the Renaissance!

[Praedura]

Beautiful pic of the gardens from their fb page:



Photo by Carl Shortt Jr.

Obviously not taken this year, but it will be that green and leafy very soon.

[TAlan CB]

Yes, saw them today. Not sure how to tell how they're doing.

I remember that more than 25 or so years ago when the grounds first open. After a few years we had a 'fish problem'. The pond - which was much bigger (upper pond included) and deeper in those days had been stocked initially with Golden Orfes (yes I know ha-ha) and large goldfish - but not koi, they would come later. The problem was after a couple of years the ponds were stuffed with bass and perch. Some said that they'd been tossed in by construction workers, probably because if they had come in with wading birds it would have taken much longer to build up the stock. Anyways, the perch and bass were causing problems with eating young goldfish, etc. So, it was decided to get rid of them - how? Fishing. Though not technically legal, we got an exception so that the ponds could be returned to the wanted greater ratio of ornamental fish. Since these fish were plentiful, and hungry, we brought in boy scout troups, special ed. youth groups, etc. and spent weeks fishing the ponds in the morning before the grounds were officially open. Every morning we did this we would haul away (since this was the purpose) literally 55 gallon barrels stuffed with fish to be either transplanted (sometimes we would just take them down to the river) or taken home for meals. Usually, the people fishing would just select a few for themselves, and the rest taken to the river. We had to do this for a couple of Summers before the population was radically reduced. This fish would sometimes bite an un-baited hook - never been fished. In the years following, the populations of goldfish and introduced koi increased - the golden orfes never increased in numbers, but were always visible because of their size.

[traxx]

Beautiful pic of the gardens from their fb page:



Photo by Carl Shortt Jr.

Obviously not taken this year, but it will be that green and leafy very soon.

Nice pic of you and the wife.

[Praedura]

Nice pic of you and the wife.

Wished I were that young!

[Praedura]

The gardens has posted a Spring newsletter:

http://www.myriadgardens.org/assets/...Newsletter.pdf

There's an item about a $400,000 grant from Herman and LaDonna Meinders for a new terrace area.

The Myriad Gardens Foundation is thrilled and delighted to report a major
grant award of $400,000 from Herman and LaDonna Meinders/Meinders Foundation.

Funds will be used to complete the planting plan for the Meinders Garden,
which occupies the northeast corner of the Myriad Botanical Gardens, and serves
as an entrance to the Gardens from the intersection of Sheridan and Robinson Avenues.
The Meinders Garden constitutes approximately 20% of the 17-acre Myriad Gardens.

Exciting design enhancements planned for the Meinders Garden include a new terrace
area for weddings and other events as well as a lovely, shady site for all to enjoy.
Features include a rustic, wooden trellis and a charming stone fountain.

Funds will also be used to increase the Garden’s endowment fund at the Oklahoma City
Community Foundation specifically for the long-term maintenance and sustainability
of this unique garden of native plant species that thrive in Oklahoma.

I don't recall hearing about this before. Sounds like a nice addition.

[TAlan CB]

The Meinders have long been generous benifactors to the Myriad Gardens. Previously they donated at least 2 landscape improvements to the Myriad Gardens. First they did the slope of the lake near the CB, later they did the northeast portion of the Gardens with the ponds and paths and plantings, the most attractive part of the gardens until the make-over.

[Praedura]

The Meinders have long been generous benifactors to the Myriad Gardens. Previously they donated at least 2 landscape improvements to the Myriad Gardens. First they did the slope of the lake near the CB, later they did the northeast portion of the Gardens with the ponds and paths and plantings, the most attractive part of the gardens until the make-over.

Meinders keepers, losers weepers...

(sorry, thought of it, so I had to post it)

[Praedura]

It's all a matter of perspective:



Glad to see him keeping an eye on the Gardens.

[TAlan CB]

It's all a matter of perspective:



Glad to see him keeping an eye on the Gardens.

I see 'Bo' is giving you the eye - in the 'fisheye' lense. I thought you might find these old photos of the CB using a couple of lenses (poor-mans fisheye) interesting.

[Pete]

$250,000 building permit today to construct at 3,300 square foot "wedding terrace" at the Myriad Gardens.

Anyone have addition insight/info.? That's a pretty large amount of money.

[Praedura]

$250,000 building permit today to construct at 3,300 square foot "wedding terrace" at the Myriad Gardens.

Anyone have addition insight/info.? That's a pretty large amount of money.

I would assume that this is the terrace referenced in post #1035. Funded by the $400,000 grant from the Meinders.

[metro]

That was my guess as well.

[DoctorTaco]

I would really like to see them maintain the children's area and fix the fountain before they shell out more money on new features. Myriad Gardens is developing a worrisome reputation for lousy upkeepop.

[HangryHippo]

I would really like to see them maintain the children's area and fix the fountain before they shell out more money on new features. Myriad Gardens is developing a worrisome reputation for lousy upkeepop.

Yep, I pointed this quite a while ago. Some said it was too early to jump on them, but walk around the park. It's starting to look pretty torn up in places.

[metro]

Agree, the kids area has been worn quickly (especially the GROW letters to climb on) and the fountain had missing and damaged tiles. Looked amateurish almost. It's amazing how much wear has been on the park in what seems like less than a years time?

[TAlan CB]

There is no doubt that the drought was tough on the new plantings. This combine with all the 'errors' of oversight in the installation of the irragation system made the grounds difficult to water. Then there is the new staff - as all the employees from the former grounds team were OKC parks employees and the city is giving up control and care to the Myriad Gardens Foundation. In the past, the Foundation exsisted to assist the Myriad Garden Division of the Parks Dept., now it is in complete control. With that control it must find funding sources. This 'wedding gazebo' is the third large donation from the Meinders family for the improvement of the Gardens. The first two were largely destroyed by the 'remake' of the grounds. This money is targeted and can't go towards maintaining the grounds. Most new hires for the Foundation staff are not garden workers - but are needed to help grow the revenue sources for general maintenence. Buildings operations and office staff cost money - little is left over for 'gardeners'. Formal parks grounds up-keep cost money, watering and planting, etc. takes labor. Garden workers can't be just general labor - they have to know what they are doing or the grounds will quickly begin to lose its 'polish'. Most gardens have a staff of 2 per acre for horticulture alone - The Myriad Gardens has maybe 6 - if conservatory horticulturist are counted. The Myriad Gardens has around 17 acres - you do the math (the ponds count because they have to be maintained as well). They are trying - the grass in the childrens garden is being replaced ... but up-keep is the key, without proper staffing for the grounds it will always be a second-rate city park.

[Rover]

It is great that it has been used so much that it is showing wear. Now let's fix it.

That said, if a gift was given for a specific purpose, I doubt they will spend it elsewhere. Otherwise, legal problems and no more gifts.

[metro]

TAlan, I thought the grounds in general looked great, as stated before, the signs of wear are on the kids area and fountain.

[HangryHippo]

TAlan, I thought the grounds in general looked great, as stated before, the signs of wear are on the kids area and fountain.

I noticed that there are parts of the grounds not looking great at all, coupled with the facilities that are being neglected. There's very clear neglect starting to pop up and I hope they can get it taken care of.

TAlan, with the Foundation taking over the care of the gardens, have they added new staff that can keep up with it now or are they still looking for funding for new people to take care of things?

[metro]

What funding sources are they looking at besides occasionally shutting down the kids area for free and making people pay and the Botanical Tube admissions? Can they not rent out frisbees, roller skates, that sort of thing and possibly sell bread or something to feed the ducks? Heck, if they'd open a cafe in the vacant restaurant space, that seems the most logical. Have NYC's Shake Shack or something similar come run it, give them free rent with the caveat they have to donate 10-15% of sales for rent, make them pay utilities and that'd be a no brainer.

[TAlan CB]

I noticed that there are parts of the grounds not looking great at all, coupled with the facilities that are being neglected. There's very clear neglect starting to pop up and I hope they can get it taken care of.

TAlan, with the Foundation taking over the care of the gardens, have they added new staff that can keep up with it now or are they still looking for funding for new people to take care of things?

They are in constant search for resources - investing more in personal for this than 'grounds'. But, this is a catch 22 - if they were to invest in grounds people first, the monies would 'dry up' fast. They have to grow and secure resources before it is realistic to expand grounds personal. On their web-site they have several job posting - horticulturist were amongst them. I understand the city wanting to devest, but I do blame the city for never properly funding the grounds care. The city should help staff the grounds and let the Foundation 'grow' into the positions as money is found. The greatest gift to this park would be a resource drive to staff landscape personal. Like creating an endowment at a University for professors. They have not tried 'overly hard' to find a client for the resturant space because they a getting nearly as much money from wedding rentals, etc. - with less up-keep. They are doing the right thing in one serious aspect, they are keeping the Gardens 'involved' and 'engaged' with the public. The theory is that 1. that is what the garden is for. 2. The publics enjoyment and involvement with the gardens will help in the drive for resources. In the end, this is a community space - somewhat like a zoo - and the community should help pay for it. It is not practical to treat it as commercial enterprise that should make all its own money (though they should always try to do this), they offer their grounds and many venues for free - go to Dallas and you pay just to get on the grounds.

[TechArch]

I went on a tour of the buildings at the Myriad Gardens with the AIA Central Oklahoma Chapter on Friday. We stopped at the restaurant and there was a group of three people outside of the building on the patio talking at one of the tables. The tour guide indicated that there was not an operator for the building at the time. One of the people at the table said that they were working on a restaurant for the building. It looked like one of the people was a chef and the other two were businessmen.