Newspaper Page Text
Page10A
LOCAL
The Champion, Thursday, October 22 - 20,2015
Circus fundraiser also
friend raiser' for
Woodlands Garden
by Kathy Mitchell
In the early decades of the 20th century, the smell of grease
paint and the roar of the crowd signaled that the circus had
come to town. Young and old across America gathered under
huge tents to see astounding acts and sample fun foods rarely
offered outside the big top.
The board of directors of Decatur’s Woodlands Garden
seeks to bring that vintage American feel to the fundraiser it’s
holding Oct. 24. Fire breathers, aerialists, contortionists, for
tunetellers, tarot card readers and other entertainers will be
part of Cirque De Catur, a ticketed fundraiser event featuring
“breathtaking circus performances against a backdrop of lush
greenery,” according to an announcement from Woodlands
Garden. In addition to the circus acts, the event will feature live
music, food and signature cocktails.
“We discussed ideas for an interesting and unusual fund
raiser with our board of directors. One of our directors who
has connections with circus acts suggested this and we decided
to go forward with it,” said Kate Baltzell, executive director of
Woodlands Garden.
“We want to take people back to the excitement and wonder
of an old-fashioned circus. We won’t have the traditional huge
tent. The canopy will be the natural canopy of trees though we
are arranging for a tent if rain is expected,” she said.
Cirque De Catur is a benefit for Woodlands Garden’s Keep
It Green Indie-Catur capital campaign. The campaign’s goal is to
raise $1 million to purchase and preserve the one-acre parcel at
the corner of Scott Boulevard and Clairemont Avenue adjacent
to the garden. The planned improvements include enhancing
the parking area, making entering and exiting safer and adding
a school bus drop-off zone. Plans are also in place for a reno
vated welcome center with public restrooms and a natural play
area for children.
“We don’t expect Cirque De Catur to bring in enough to
do all of this,” Baltzell acknowledged, “but it should be a good
start.”
Once the private home of Dr. and Mrs. Chester Morse,
Woodlands Garden was willed to the city as an urban sanctuary
“to educate and engage the community in the natural world,”
according to the facility’s mission statement. It has operated as
a nonprofit organization under the auspices of a board of direc
tors since 2011.
The Morses moved to Decatur in the 1940s, when the area
was far less developed than it is today. Although urbanization
sprang up around them, the couple wanted to keep as much as
possible of the natural landscape.
“Dr. Morse was from Massachusetts, where he developed
a great love of the woods and of nature in general. He and his
wife, Eugenia, decided they wanted their Decatur home to
become a public space dedicated to the preservation and enjoy
ment of nature after their deaths,” Baltzell explained.
The Morses built two residences on the 7-acre property—
their home and a second larger residence for extended family.
In accordance with the couple’s wishes, the second residence
was torn down in 2012. Where it stood, there are now pollina
tor gardens, birdbaths, sitting areas, and a small shelter.
Baltzell said that in addition to being a fundraiser, the event
is to increase community awareness of Woodlands Garden .
“We haven’t been as visible to the community as we’d like to be.
We’d like Cirque De Catur to be a friend raiser as well as a fun
draiser. We want to let people know that we’re here and we’re a
great asset to the community—much like a city park.
“When [Eugenia], who survived her husband, was still
living on the property, it was open to the public only once a
month. Now it’s open every day during daylight hours. We want
people to know that—to get in the habit of visiting. We hope
people also will be inspired to donate to help us keep this com
munity treasure going,” she continued.
Cirque De Catur will be Saturday, Oct. 24, 5-8 p.m. at 932
Scott Blvd., Decatur. For ticket information as well as other de
tails, visit www.woodlandgarden.org.
Once a private home, Woodlands is now an urban sanctuary for birds and other animal and plant life.
Executive Director Kate Baltzell shows a circus-inspired birdhouse designed for Cirque De Catur.
Baltzell demonstrates how the garden will be decorated for the fundraising event.