Brother David Steindl-Rast was born in Vienna, Austria in 1926.  After receiving his PhD from the University of Vienna, he came to the United States to become a Benedictine monk at Mt. Saviour Monastery in New York.  Brother David’s focus became one of interfaith studies.  His goal was to improve interfaith relations, peace and understanding among people by identifying common ground between the major religions of the world.  He was especially interested in finding similarities between his own Roman Catholic faith and Zen Buddhism.  He reminds us that gratitude is central to all of the major religions of the world and is the most important factor in achieving spiritual growth through prayer.  Without gratitude it is impossible to experience that “spiraling ascent” of peace, contentment and joy that Brother David writes about.  It is gratitude that opens the door to limitless personal growth.

When the growing season started last March during tough economic times, there was much apprehension about what the “Friends” would be able to accomplish in 2009.  We talked about the need for a renewed spirit of volunteerism and of “points of light” along with stewardship and community spirit.  Now the growing season is almost over.  We are entering that time of year when we celebrate Thanksgiving and look forward to the upcoming holidays.  It is time to put the roses to bed for the winter and to be grateful for all that we were able to accomplish during what proved to be a challenging year not only due to a “chilly” economy, but due to a cold and rainy rose season as well.  All of us, at the Friends of Elizabeth Park, have much to be grateful for and many people to thank for helping us continue our mission:

v   The City of Hartford that continues to include necessary funding in their budgets for Hartford Parks and for signing a license agreement with the “Friends” last summer that will allow us to continue our presence in the park for many years to come

v   The dedicated and skilled staff of the City of Hartford who care for the gardens & grounds in the park as well as managing the greenhouses

v   The Town of West Hartford that supports the City of Hartford and the “Friends” by providing landscaping materials from time to time as well as police and fire protection

v   Our Executive Director, David Wilson who coordinates all of the activities for the “Friends”, participates in our fundraising efforts, operates the Information Center and is responsible for the day to day operations of the corporation

v   The many trusts, funds and foundations that provide us with grants that help us fulfill our mission

v   The many volunteers who show up faithfully and leave the park with dirty knees, soil under their fingernails & sweat on their brows

v   The people at the Pond House who so lovingly care for the gardens around the building and work so diligently to manage a successful enterprise that returns valuable funds directly back into the park through the “Friends”

v   Our rosarian, Marci Martin who capably and cheerfully leads tours, holds workshops, offers her advice & expertise regarding the care of the roses and volunteers plenty of her own hard labor and sweat

v   Our consultant, Bob Prill who provides knowledge & experience specific to the gardens of Elizabeth Park.  Bob is always willing to help out whenever and wherever needed including, but not limited to working at Sunrise Overlook, the tulip garden, the annual garden, the Spring Flower Show, the arch replacement project, the rose garden, the perennial garden and around the Information Center.

v   The dedicated staff of Brothers Associates who help manage disease and insect issues in the rose garden as well as participating in the arch replacement project

v   The Ethel Donaghue Elizabeth Park Trust established in 1991 for their kind and generous support.  This trust has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars of funding for numerous park improvements over the years.  Their latest project was the construction of the new Prospect Avenue gateway and a quiet sitting area at the confluence of existing paths just south of the pond.  This area is also a memorial to Ms. Donaghue and her legacy of support and love of Elizabeth Park

v   All of those who worked on and supported events sponsored by the “Friends” including the Garden Lecture Series, Wine & Roses, Rose Weekend, the Spring Flower Show, the Perennial Sale and the annual Game Dinner

v   And last but not least, all of those who support the “Friends” with their generous financial support.  We feel very fortunate to have so many loyal donors who continue to support Elizabeth Park even in difficult times and for the new donors who we reach each year

When I started to organize my thoughts to share with you for the last time this year, I was able to experience exactly what Brother David speaks to us about in the quote above.  When I thought of all of my fellow “Friends” board members, all of the people who are involved in some way at Elizabeth Park and the many happy faces I can remember from a busy year at the park, I was able to experience that “spiraling ascent” of gratitude.  For more than one hundred years Elizabeth Park has been one of Brother David’s “steady centers” in which and around which so many hundreds of thousands of people have been able to feel grateful.  People “love” Elizabeth Park because here they experience an overflowing and ever increasing sense of gratitude and joy.  When they are here and after they leave they feel better about themselves.  They seem to somehow find an inner peace and an increased sense of their own spirituality that makes them return, time and time again.  People come to the park in every season of the year to enjoy the beautiful landscape and the historic gardens.  Elizabeth Park is a national treasure as well as a unique and special place for all who visit.  It is worthy of every bit of love and support it receives! 

Come, enjoy and be grateful!  See you in the park!

Dave Peterson, President