The very sad events of the past year have caused us to give great thought to the future of this garden. It is in some ways a Vermont, if not a New England, institution. Thousands have visited and we deeply wish that it can remain a source of beauty and inspiration for our so many friends. But clearly its role must alter. It must become a more public garden and one more dedicated to instruction and demonstration.  In this light, we have decided for the year 2011 to enlarge its purpose in the direction of education and simple community pleasure.

In the coming year, the garden will be open each Friday and Saturday afternoon from the end of April to the middle of October.  Two workshops, seminars or demonstrations will occur each month. Of course our two annual symposia will continue.  Guided tours will be available to garden clubs and horticultural societies.

This more public mission will rest entirely on the generosity and support of our many friends and visitors. We have therefore decided to establish a Friends of North Hill Society. Like all such organizations, there will be several levels of membership, some for those of you who are rich and many for those of you who are not.  You will all be welcome.

In this letter, we appeal for your support. A simple supporting membership will offer attendance at one symposium, access to the garden on all open days, attendance at one garden workshop, and a subscription to a quarterly North Hill newsletter. We would ask a contribution of $250.00 yearly.

On a more expansive level, we would offer sustaining memberships of two years duration which would include attendance at both symposia, all workshops, all open days, a subscription to a quarterly North Hill newsletter, and an annual Guy Wolff commemorative pot. We would ask a contribution of  $1500.00.

For any institution, founding members are crucially important. They obviously and of necessity provide the core capital that enables an institution to establish and sustain itself. And so to those of you fortunate enough to be able to consider contributions at this level, we offer the following, be it meager, benefits. Admission to everything all the time, a celebratory luncheon in the garden in the summer, on we hope a sunny day, a subscription to the newsletter, a beautiful Guy Wolff pot with a North Hill plant in it, and perhaps most specially, an etching by Bobbi Angel of Mannettia cordifolia, the most remarked on plant in the garden at North Hill in 2010. The cost of this subscription, which is a lifetime subscription, is $5000.00.

A response to this letter involves you obviously in a long if not lifetime commitment to a place and a garden. We recognize that this is no small commitment to request.  We hope the pleasures you have found here will make it seem not unreasonable.

SUPPORTING MEMBER – $250 Annually
SUSTAINING MEMBER – $1500 Biennial
FOUNDING MEMBERS – $5000 Lifetime

Please mail your contributions to: North Hill PO Box 178 Readsboro, VT 05350