Garden Party & Members' Meeting - A Look Behind the Walls of El Zaguán Online Soon

Mac Watson, former HSFF Board Chair, speaking at the 2019 Garden Party & Members’ Meeting

An Update on the Upcoming Garden Party Video by HSFF Executive Director Pete Warzel

The continuing health crisis has forced all of us to look at, and approach things, in much different, sometimes unique ways, in order to continue our work and maintain continuity. We had originally planned to hold the annual meeting – Garden Party – in September, after postponing in June. We know now that cannot happen. We are committed to keeping staff, Board Directors, tenants at El Zaguán, and all who might attend, safe and sound.

Staff and Board decided that given the circumstances, we would do a video of a different format of the annual meeting, held in the garden, so we have continuity of place, and you all have a chance to see what the Garden looks like while the gates are so unfortunately closed. Linda Churchill and the Master Gardeners have maintained the space on an ongoing basis during this crisis, and it is in wonderful condition.

So, we hope to air the video around September 15, 2020, with a link through emails, from our website, and on a YouTube channel for your enjoyment. As I said above, the format is a bit different as speaking from a podium to an empty garden did not seem very thrilling to any of us.

The video will begin with Mara Saxer, our preservation specialist, walking the front of El Zaguán on Canyon Road, explaining the work that has been done with the gate’s wall replastering and significant reglazing of windows, and repainting of all wood trim. She will walk the camera into the entry courtyard and then down into the garden. Melanie McWhorter, our development associate, Ken Stilwell, our board chair, and I will sit on the porch overlooking the garden, masked and distanced, and discuss 2019 and where we are in 2020. (Spoiler alert – we are in very good shape given the circumstances). There will be individual on camera statements by each of us, unmasked, about specifics of our focus and progress, and there is much progress on several fronts. The group discussion will link the individuals on camera. There will be a few surprises and hopefully some fun for you all.

The traditional lecture is not a lecture but a tour of the garden by Lissa Johnson from the Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners, with history and information about some of the specific plantings that are favorites. You can then all adjourn to your space of choice at home and have refreshments.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and these times are stretching all to try new approaches. I do hope that next year we can meet in the garden, enjoy the beauty and the fresh air, and hear about the progress of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation in person. In the meantime, let’s try it this way.

As always, our thanks for your continuing support of this fine organization. All staff continues to work on important projects – the revision and publication of Old Santa Fe Today, ongoing implementation of the El Zaguán Master Plan, addition of important and significant properties to the Register of Properties Worthy of Preservation (and you will learn which new properties are being added at the Garden Party), ongoing sala exhibitions (by appointment and online) and some very special interviews that will also be available online shortly. It is a joy to work with such an efficient and dedicated staff and Board of Directors, even during a very unsettling time.