A Garden Full of Gratitude: BBG Celebrates Its Volunteers with Song, Sweets and Spirit

August 21, 2025 — Even a steady rain couldn’t dampen the spirit inside the Center House at Berkshire Botanical Garden last evening, where more than 100 volunteers gathered to celebrate a season of service — and each other.

The occasion was BBG’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Party, a time-honored tradition that mixes heartfelt thanks with music, laughter and, of course, desserts. BBG's 2025 seasonal theme, “Daydreaming,” seemed to fit perfectly. It was a dreamy kind of evening — joyful, warm and bursting with the vibrant energy that defines the Garden’s ever-growing volunteer family.

“With deep appreciation to our volunteers,” Lauretta Harris, president of the BBG Volunteer Association, kicked off the night in signature style: with a performance. Backed by Herb Associate member Theresa Terry and Manager of Operations and Volunteers River Begas, Lauretta sang a spirited parody of West Side Story’s “Jet Song,” rewritten for the occasion:

When you’re a Vol

you’re the best of the best

from your first Opening Day

to your last Harvest Fest!

When you’re a Vol

you’re the swingingest thing

Little boy, you’re a man.

Little girl, you’re a queen.

You never feel glum

you’re always feeling groovy.

You always have fun.

It’s like you’re the star

in your own movie!

Then you are set

with a capital V.

You can wear it with pride

all around BBG.

When you’re a Vol

you stay a Vollllll!!!

[WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.]

Her song drew laughs and applause, setting the tone for a night that felt more like a family reunion than a formal event. At BBG, just as in the "Jets Song," Lauretta said, “you’ve got a posse, you’ve got people at your back. We’re a gang, and we have each other’s backs. We are all working to support and protect this wonderful Garden and all it stands for.”

A Community That Shows Up

The backbone of BBG has always been its volunteers — a tradition going back to the Garden’s founding in 1934. Today, their roles span from gardening and guiding tours to running events and staffing the galleries. Some are new faces; others, longtime regulars. All are essential.

“Volunteer power is the engine that keeps BBG running,” Lauretta told the crowd. “You really feel like family to all of us, and we’re all so grateful.”

Executive Director Mike Beck also spoke glowingly of the volunteers. “There are probably only five days a year when there’s not a BBG volunteer here,” he said. “The rest of the time, they’re what keep this place alive.”

River Begas, who deftly coordinates the Garden’s volunteer programs, shared just how impactful the community has been this season:

• 690 herb products sold by the Herb Associates, totaling nearly $5,000
• 16,000 guests welcomed by Visitor Center volunteers
• $78,500 in retail product sales supported by volunteer staff
• 203 hours logged in the gardens by 37 green-thumbed volunteers
• 253 docent shifts completed in the Leonhardt Galleries
• 81 guided tours led by a growing team of 21 volunteer guides

“The real story is the gardens you’ve cared for, the visitors you’ve welcomed and the community you’ve built,” River said. “Thank you for being the heart of this Garden.”

An Abundance of Sweetness

As is tradition, the party featured nibbles prepared by the great Amy Butterworth and a spread of desserts so epic it nearly defied belief — all thanks to longtime volunteer, trustee and unofficial “Cake Crusader” Janet Laudenslager. From her kitchen in Monterey, Mass., Janet baked and delivered some 30 cakes and pies for the event, including gluten-free options. She and her partner Max Aflalo orchestrated the dessert logistics from the Center House basement while the festivities buzzed above.

To honor her, Lauretta quite literally brought the house down — stomping on the floor above to send a thundering thank-you down below.

“Janet, can you hear us?” she called out. “Thank you!”

“Janet doesn’t like to be the center of attention,” Lauretta added, “but we, of course, thank her from the bottom of our hearts.”

Cheers, Raffles and Birthday Songs

In between bites of cake and sips of a signature vodka cocktail (crafted with a “secret ingredient” from the Herb Associates), guests laughed and mingled. Volunteer gifts were raffled off, from BBG artwork by Krissy Romano and Mya Terry to lovingly baked cakes by Janet and gift baskets from the Garden’s shop.

Every volunteer went home with a tiny potted geranium cutting — a small living token of appreciation for their immense contributions.

And the singing didn’t end with Lauretta’s show-stopping opener. The crowd serenaded Director of Operations Ryan Richardson with a chorus of “Happy Birthday,” adding another layer of celebration to an already joyous evening.

Looking Ahead

Lauretta, never one to shy away from humor, gave a spirited call to action for the upcoming Harvest Festival (Oct. 11–12), saying, “It’s not too early to start praying for good weather. Even all you agnostics and atheists — get on your knees and pray!”

As always, BBG is seeking more volunteers, especially for fall gallery docent shifts and the Harvest Festival. But even on a rainy evening in late August, it was clear: The Garden’s roots run deep and its volunteer family is blooming.

“We’re dreamers here,” Lauretta said. “And when we dream together, we make something beautiful happen.”

Because at BBG, when you’re a vol — you’re a vol all the way.

Interested in volunteering at BBG? Come on, it's fun! Learn more about it.