Although Jacksonville was a rainy mess on Friday, June 14th, the Motown Concert here at the Cummer was a huge success! The evening began with ominous clouds, roaring thunder, and wind that viciously rustled the leaves on the trees and the flowers on the shrubs in the garden. Before another round of pouring rain began, our fearless leader, Museum Director Hope McMath suggested we hold the event inside of the museum in the Terry Gallery and in the Loggia. Despite the frenzy that the rain could have caused, the Motown Concert was just as warm, inviting, and nostalgic as it would have been outside minus the soggy grass. In the Terry Gallery, the attendees of the concert danced under the white drapes hanging from the ceiling, and in the Loggia, a delicious array of food catered by The TreeCup Café laid in wait for the lively crowd of Motown enthusiasts.  Food, beer, and wine was for sell at the elegant stall created by the TreeCup Cafe but many people brought picnic baskets filled with their own goodies.

By a quarter after seven the local band KTG was in full swing and the museum was filled with the Motown sounds made famous by Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye. The dance floor was anything but still as attendees of the concert expressed their joy in the form of dance and sing-a-longs. Because the skies cleared up halfway through the concert, the attendees got a chance to tour the gardens and enjoy the warm night, the beautiful flowers, and the breeze from the St. Johns River.

Tickets for this presentation are $6 per person for members and non-members. This includes the lecture, tea, refreshments and admission to the Museum and Gardens.

Seating is limited so please make your required reservation by calling (904) 899-6038.

Tickets for this event are $6 for members and $10 for non-members. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the movie will begin at dusk, around 8 p.m. To make your required reservations, please call (904) 899-6038 or visit our website.

Following movies include Cars on Friday, July 19, and American Graffiti on Friday, August 16. All movies begin at dusk.

Blue Star Families is an organization gauged to support, connect, and empower military families throughout the United States. Since their founding in 2008, Blue Star Families has started 70 chapters on military bases and National Guard sites around the country, partnered with Be the Change to develop national citizen service projects engaging with military families, launched the “Books on Bases Smiles on Faces” program to bring 100,000 children’s books to military children, among countless other achievements.

For the fourth year, they are sponsoring the Blue Star Museums program which includes more than 900 museums in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These museums will be offering free admission for military personnel and up to 5 members of their immediate family from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Free admission to The Cummer will be offered through those dates to both active duty and retired military personnel  and will grant each family with a valid military ID full access to the museum and gardens, as well as any special exhibitions. We hope to see you soon!

For more information take a look at the Blue Star Museums FAQ.

2013 Garden Month provides many opportunities for our members and guests of all ages to explore and experience our historic gardens through exciting events, tours, lectures, classes and exhibitions.

Daily & Ongoing
During March we will have Docent led Garden Tours every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 11 a.m.  This tour is free with museum admission and no reservations are required.  The Docents will meet our guests in the Front Lobby to begin the tours.  We do appreciate advance notice for large groups.  Please call 904.899.6038 for more information.

Also during Garden Month our Loggia will be transformed into a Garden Store with art, plant, gift and book sales Tuesday’s from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday’s through Saturday’s from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the month of March, 2013.  We will have unique and fun items for garden and art lovers.

Saturday
If you feel a need to get back to nature and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us, “Excursion into Wild Florida with Jim Draper” is for you!  On Saturday, March 9, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Willie Brown Trail, Jim will lead an excursion to explore this natural habitat. Bring your own lunch.  $100 for members, $115 for non-members and $63 for Active Docents. For information and reservations, please call 904.355.0630.

It’s not Garden Month without art classes!  For children ages 3-5, we have Art for Two on Saturday, March 9, from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Children will celebrate Garden Month by painting in our Cummer Gardens.  Members $10 for two, non-members $15 for two. For information and reservations, please call 904.355.0630.

Tuesday
On Tuesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in the Hixon Auditorium, local artist Jim Draper and Director Hope McMath will give lead an engaging discussion about the idea of being a participant versus a possessor while tending and cultivating a garden.  This event is free to the public. Seating is very limited; first come, first seated. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday

The Cummer is very excited to host British author Andrea Wulf on Wednesday, March 13 at 11 a.m. for a lecture in the Hixon Auditorium.  In her latest book, Founding Gardeners, award-winning historian and author Andrea Wulf looks at the lives of the founding fathers and how their attitude to plants, gardens, nature and agriculture shaped the American nation. In a unique retelling of the creation of America, Ms. Wulf will share with us how plants, politics, and personalities intertwined as never before.  A luncheon in the Terry Gallery will follow the lecture and Ms. Wulf will be available to sign her books in the Loggia Garden Store.  Members $65, non-members $70.  Please call 904.899.6038 to make your reservations.

 Saturday
The 2013 Cummer Ball & Auction will be held on Saturday, March 16 from 6 p.m. to midnight.  This black tie event will have dinner, dancing with The Tangee Renee Band and a Live Auction.  Funds raised from The Cummer Ball support The Cummer’s mission to engage and inspire through the arts, gardens and education.  Grand Benefactor attendees will have an opportunity to adopt a work of art in the Museum’s permanent collection for one year.  An event is planned for May 2013 to choose the piece of art. We do not mail tickets for the Ball & Auction; we check your name at the door. Please call 904.899.6038 to make your reservations.

Grand Benefactor

Member: $2,500 per couple or $1,250 for one reservation

Non-member: $2,600 per couple or $1,300 for one reservation

Patron

Member: $1,000 per couple or $500 for one reservation

Non-Member: $1,100 per couple or $550 for one reservation

Daily & Ongoing

During March we will have Docent led Garden Tours every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 11 a.m.  This tour is free with museum admission and no reservations are required.  The Docents will meet our guests in the Front Lobby to begin the tours.  We do appreciate advance notice for large groups.  Please call 904.899.6038 for more information.

It’s not Garden Month without art classes for children and adults.  Beginning on March 5, 2013, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Instructor Glendia Cooper will lead Art Fundamentals: Clay Hand Building.  Participants will create at least two garden inspired projects involving coil and slab work.  The class dates are March 5, 12 and 19 in our Green Studio.  Members $110, Non-members $125, Active Docents $55.  For information and reservations, please call 904.355.0630.

For children ages 3-5, we have Art for Two on Saturday, March 9, from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Children will celebrate Garden Month by painting in our Cummer Gardens.  Members $10 for two, non-members $15 for two. For information and reservations, please call 904.355.0630.

During Garden Month our Loggia will be transformed into a Garden Store with art, plants, gifts, and books on sale Tuesday’s from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday’s through Saturday’s from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the month of March, 2013.  We will have unique and fun items for garden and art lovers.

Saturday
On Saturday, March 2, 2013, stop by and see us for our Community Day and Plant Sale.  The St. Johns Riverkeeper will be on site selling Rainbarrels at $65.00 per barrel or 2 for $120.00.  In addition, several artists participating in “A Brush with Nature” from the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens will be in our gardens demonstrating watercolor and acrylic painting and pastel drawing from 12 noon to 3 p.m.  Admission to the museum is free all day and will have live music and studio activities.

Tuesday

During our Free Tuesday’s at The Cummer, The St. Johns Riverkeeper will give a talk from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in our Auditorium.  Bob Chabot, Director of Horticulture and Facilities at the Jacksonville Zoo and Jake Ingram of the Florida Native Plant Society will discuss native plants in garden design.  This event is free to the public.

Friday

Both music and garden enthusiasts will enjoy our Garden Concert featuring the Noel Freidline Quintet on Friday, March 8, 2013 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The doors open at 6 p.m. so come early and find a good location to enjoy jazz and our spectacular river views! This event is $20 for members and $25 for non-members.  We also have a limited number of reserved tables for 10 (includes concert reservation, food and beverages are not included). Call 904.899.6038 to make your reservations via credit card.

Saturday

Jim Draper, Willy Brown’s Marsh, 2012, oil on canvas, on loan from artist

If you feel a need to get back to nature and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us,“Excursion into Wild Florida with Jim Draper“ is for you!  On Saturday, March 9, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Willie Brown Trail, Jim will lead an excursion to explore this natural habitat. Bring your own lunch.  $100 for members, $115 for non-members and $63 for Active Docents. For information and reservations, please call 904.355.0630.

Yoga in the Gardens 

Saturday, March 23rd from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Friday, March 29th from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Saturday, March 30th from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Members $5 / Nonmembers $10

Written by Brittany Simpson, Yoga Instructor at Yoga Alliance and Guest Blogger

Entering The Gardens you cannot help but be amazed by their vast beauty. There is so much history, culture, and imagination; from the huge Oak tree sweeping the grounds, to the Tuscan inspired reflecting pools, to the English Garden.  With a cup of tea from Tree Cup Café, the Gardens are not to be missed!

I recommend next time you are in the Gardens to take a moment to listen to the stillness of the Gardens. What peace.  It is almost whimsical to be present among so much natural beauty.  Coming in March, I look forward to combining two of my favorite things: Yoga & The Gardens!  I have the privilege of guiding a gentle yoga class March 23rd, 29th & 30th during Garden Month! What a gift it will be to help guide others to be present in the moment in the Gardens, while moving our breath and bodies in a healing way. What a perfectly complementary pair!

The Garden is one of the big factors that inspired me to be involved with The Cummer Museum.  I am on the Board of the The Up & Cummers, a young professionals group at the Museum, and serve as the Chair for the Special Events Committee!

Garden Month at The Cummer will be packed with different activities, from a rainbarel sale by the wonderfully proactive St. Johns Riverkeeper, to a Farm to Table dinner. The Gardens are being fully utilized this March so be sure not to miss out!

Tickets for this performance are $20 for members and $25 for non-members.  Guests may bring blankets, chairs, food and alcoholic beverages.  Food and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase that evening through TreeCup Café.  A limited number of reserved tables are also available for $500.00. They include concert reservation and seating for 10. (food and beverage not included)

Following Garden Concerts include Motown with KTG on Friday, June 14 and River City Satin on Wednesday, July 3.  All concerts begin at 7 p.m.

As our concerts tend to fill to capacity please call 904.899.6038 to make your required reservations and ensure a relaxing evening of family and friends, great music and the tranquil beauty of The Cummer Gardens.

Our featured exhibition is Jim Draper: Feast of Flowers.

Please join us for 2013 Garden Month at The Cummer:

• “Discovering the Layers” Gallery Discussions with Jim Draper
  March 24 at 1 p.m.
• Community Day & Plant Sale, along with a Rainbarrel sale in partnership with St. Johns Riverkeeper on Saturday, March 2, 2013 (Free admission all day)
• Off-site Excursions into Wild Florida with Jim Draper:
  Saturday, March 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Willie Brown Trail
  Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Julington Durbin Creek Preserve
• Docent led Garden Tours - every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the month of March 2013 at 11 a.m. (Free with Museum admission. Docents will meet you in our Lobby at 11 a.m. to begin the tours)
• Garden Store at The Cummer featuring art, plant, gift and book sales
• Demonstrating artists, in partnership with The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens, will be painting our gardens.  The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is hosting a plein air painting event, A Brush with Nature, from March 21 through March 23, 2013.  Please visit our friends and enjoy the natural beauty of their woodland and trails!
• Free Community Day, Saturday March 2, 12 to 3 p.m. – free all day
• Garden Concert featuring Noel Freidline on Friday, March 8, 2013
• Classes for children
• Classes for adults (and children ages 13 and up)
• Lecture by Jim Draper and Director Hope McMcath on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 (Free to the Public)
• Lecture by British author Andrea Wulf on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
• Lecture by Chief Curator Holly Keris on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 (Free to the Public)
• Talks and Tea at The Cummer:
  The Cummer Gardens Part 1: Wednesday, March 20 & Thursday, March 21 at 1:30 p.m.
  The Cummer Gardens Part 2: Wednesday, April 17 & Thursday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m.
• Lectures by St. Johns Riverkeeper on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 and Tuesday, March 26, 2013 (Both are free to the Public)
• Fashion Show featuring Krista Eberle and Timo Weiland on Friday, March 22, 2013
• Farm to Table Moonlight Dinner in our garden on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

For more information and to make your reservation via credit card, please call 904.899.6038