ENCINITAS - July 14, 2005 - Gala in the Gardens: A Colorful Evening Honoring Evelyn Weidner is the theme of Quail Botanical Gardens' 6 th annual fundraising event to take place September 10 from 5:30 to 9:30 PM on the Garden grounds, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas.

Each year the Gala transforms QBG into a spectacular garden party, where guests can roam the grounds at sunset and sample wines and gourmet cuisine from culinary stations strategically placed along the trail that winds through the walled garden of the historic Larabee House, into the old-fashioned herb garden and the subtropical fruit garden, then on to the exotic and lovely bamboo gardens.

At each stop, lively musicians entertain guests—maybe a jazz combo in the Gazebo, steel drums in the Tropical Rainforest, or calypso in the Canary Islands. As night falls, the action moves to the tent, where guests will honor San Diego County's beloved nurserywoman Evelyn Weidner with Quail Botanical Gardens' Paul Ecke, Jr. Award of Excellence. A fast-moving live auction emceed by Richard Houk caps the evening.

This year's honoree is well known and loved by all of those in the nursery business—Evelyn Weidner of Weidners' Gardens in Encinitas. A vivacious and skilled plantswoman who grew up in the nursery business (her parents operated a nursery in Orange County), Evelyn, together with her late husband Bob, set up their thriving tuberous begonia business in the late sixties. Teaching customers about the care of their plants has always been part of her passion at the nursery, and she has recently been featured in the local publications San Diego Home and Garden and Garden Compass .

“With an exciting four-and-a-half acre expansion project on the horizon, this year is an especially important time to lend support to the Gardens,” commented Julian Duval, Executive Director. “We have some very interesting plans developing, including the expanded children's garden featuring a man made, two-story tree house where children of all ages can experience the wonders of nature,” added Duval.

Chairing the event this year is René van Rems, of René van Rems International, the talent behind the world-class garden decor at last years' Gala, and the recently published author of RENE'S BOUQUETS- A Guide to Euro-Style Hand-Tied Bouquets.

As a non-profit, self-supporting facility, Quail Botanical Gardens relies on its yearly gala to provide the resources necessary to offer an entertaining and educational experience for more than 125,000 visitors a year. In addition to a wide variety of garden and arts classes, family events, the West Coast's first interactive children's garden, Seeds of Wonder , concerts, and plant sales, Quail Botanical Gardens recently opened the Undersea Succulent Garden (featured in Sunset Magazine's July 2005 issue), California Gardenscapes, and the new Mexican Garden .

For more information on Quail Botanical Gardens' Gala in the Gardens and opportunities to support the Gardens' many worthwhile projects, please call (760) 436-3036, ext. 218, or visit the web site www.qbgardens.org.

About Quail Botanical Gardens
The mission of Quail Botanical Gardens is to actively participate in the conservation of rare, threatened and endangered plant species, to serve the botanical and horticultural needs of San Diego County, and to exist as an urban retreat. Quail Botanical Gardens is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization supported through earned revenues, gifts from individuals, corporate sponsorships, and grants. For more information, visit https://qbgardens.com, or call 760-435-3036 x216.

Contact: Cynthia Jones
Quail Botanical Gardens
(760) 436-3036 ext. 218, or
619-204-4231