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Master Gardener

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LMG State Conference

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Speakers

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Soniat, Paul [Image: Paul Soniat] Paul Soniat is the founding director of the New Orleans Botanical Garden (NOBG) and Celebration in the Oaks in City Park. He oversees volunteer and educational programs, strengthening plant collections, managing finance and fund raising efforts and developing a master plan for the Garden. For the past 23 years, he has been directing the efforts to turn an old forgotten garden into one of the country's premier Botanical Gardens. Following the devastating destruction from Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, Paul, along with a team of dedicated volunteers and generous donors, began a painstaking restoration of the NOBG. In just over six months, on March 4, 2006, the Botanical Garden reopened to the public becoming an encouraging symbol of hope for a city in recovery. A self-taught piano player and gifted composer, Paul's "Born in New Orleans" CD captures the sights, sounds and flavor of New Orleans.  In "Below The Water Line," a post-Katrina composition, he exposes the raw emotions of a city struggling to survive.  Paul also introduced the very popular "Thursdays at Twlight" concert series at the Botanical Garden. Presenting at LMG09: General Session Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. "The Birth, Decline, and Rebirth of the New Orleans Botanical Garden" Before we begin our evening festivities, The Garden Party at the NOBG, join Paul Soniat as he narrates a pictorial history of New Orleans' most celebrated garden.  This compelling presentation will feature images from its modest beginning in the1930's as the "Rose Garden" through its decline then initial restoration and renaming in 1981, and finally its second restoration after Katrina.  The lecture will end with a music video showing the sobering images of Hurricane Katrina's destruction in New Orleans.

Posted on: 1/17/2009 11:58:44 AM