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following weekend in order to avoid a major cold front. This date change produced record-breaking crowds of more than 28,000, greatly contributing to a banner attendance year at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield.

In addition to an ambitious lineup of programs and events, the opening of gardens such as the Welcome Garden, Lainie’s Cutting Garden and the Le Poteger Garden greatly increased the Gardens’ horticultural capital during the year. The ribbon-cuttings for these gardens, along with several other garden and structural groundbreakings or dedications, were spotlighted at the year’s biggest bash – fi ttingly, a Transformation Celebration – held on July 28, 2009. This festive event elevated awareness of the Gardens’ expansion projects and thanked the donors who supported each project.

None of this would have been possible without the support of generous donors, the loyalty of our members, staff and trustees, and the dedication of our volunteers (1,200 strong, contributing 62,000 hours in 2009), including our dynamic Technology Task Force Committee. We also continue to be grateful to voters for their support of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District and the “Better Denver” bond initiative – key components of the transformation we see at the Gardens today.

We have the great fortune of welcoming another year of transformation in 2010, one that will be punctuated by the opening of the Mordecai Children’s Garden and the Greenhouse Complex. I look forward to the completion of these projects and what they will mean for children’s programming and horticultural excellence at the Gardens.

So continues a legacy of transformation that will ensure the Gardens continues to flourish as one of Denver’s richest cultural jewels for generations to come.

Sincerely,

JERRY LADD 2009 Chairman, Board of Trustees

2009 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OFFICERS Chairman: Mr. Jerry D. Ladd Vice Chair: Mr. Dominic Lloyd Vice Chair:

Ms. Heather Miller Treasurer:

Ms. Nancy Schotters Secretary:

Ms. Anna Maria Larsen Members at Large: Mr. Andy Boian Mrs. Judy Sellers Mrs. Mary Elliman Mrs. Barbara H. Baldwin Mrs. Janette Chase

TERM TRUSTEES Mr. Andrew Boian* Mr. James Boyle Ms. Janette Chase* Ms. Kathy Coors Mr. John M. Couzens Mr. Paul Dudzic Ms. Leanne Duncan Mrs. Mary Elliman* Mr. Paul V. Grenney Ms. Kittie Hook Mr. Steven H. Katich Mr. Jerry D. Ladd* Ms. Anna Maria Larsen* Mr. Dominic Lloyd*

Ms. Heather Miller* Mrs. Janet Mordecai Mr. Lee Nelson Mr. Russ Schmuhl Ms. Nancy Schotters* Mrs. Judy Sellers* Mr. Michael Vaughn

MAYORAL TRUSTEES Mr. Roger Armstrong Ms. Elizabeth H. McCann Mr. Greg Movesian Mr. Charles Woolley

LIFE TRUSTEES Mr. Edward P. Connors Mr. Richard A. Kirk Dr. Moras L. Shubert Mrs. Thomas E. Taplin

TRUSTEES EMERITI Mrs. Barbara H. Baldwin*

EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEES Mr. John E. Freyer Mrs. Margaret Garbe Mrs. Doris Duckworth Dr. Connie Olson Mr. Kevin Patterson Ms. Colleen Willette

* Denotes Executive Committee member