“It’s wonderful that the Marin Art and Garden Center can remain open and free to the public. It’s an asset to the community that anyone can wander the grounds to enjoy doing watercolors, get inspiration for their own gardens, and find beauty and tranquility.”
As the seasons change, and seeds from previous blooms give birth to new life year after year, so too does the wisdom of the garden’s loving caretakers get passed on to future generations through programs like Exploring Habitats. Marin Master Gardener, photographer, and teacher Cynda Vyas is one of the leaders of the program. She helps bring the natural world to second grade classes across Marin County.
Originally from Syracuse, New York, and currently a Terra Linda resident, Cynda first visited Marin Art and Garden Center for a Celebration of Life many years ago and was re-introduced to the property more intimately in 2016 when she trained as a Marin Master Gardener. “Some of the classes were held at the Center, and I noticed the fabulous fall foliage,” she says. “I was smitten because I could enjoy the autumn colors I grew up loving in upstate New York. I love the gardens in all seasons, but when the trees turn into giant ‘flowers’, I can’t stay away and bring friends to see the splendor.”
The awe Cynda experiences easily transfers to the students she guides through Exploring Habitats. Seeing them wide-eyed with wonder is particularly rewarding. “I’m thankful to Marin Art and Garden Center for providing the ideal setting for Marin Master Gardeners to hold their Exploring Habitats program for second graders,” she says. “In the Habitat Garden near the Butterfly Cottage, students learn how nutritious soil is formed, the importance of clean water to aquatic insects, woodland animal survival skills, and how pollinators are essential to a healthy habitat. In recent years, the Center has sponsored five classes from underserved schools. The eagerness of the children to see and explore makes these classes some of the docent’s favorite classes to teach, as each unique habitat opens the excited children’s eyes. In all, about 400 children and 150 adults participate in the habitat field trips each year. As a former teacher, I was drawn to this program and the opportunity to come to Marin Art and Garden Center repeatedly for the fall and spring field trips. Each field trip fills my heart. I’m grateful for the opportunity to teach in such beautiful, educational surroundings. The garden and office staff are a joy to work with!”
With love as Cynda’s driving force, and her extensive knowledge of Marin Art and Garden Center’s history, grounds, and offerings, she is constantly nurturing and growing her appreciation for the property. “I love the quirky mix of old and new buildings,” she says. “The Bottle House makes me smile every time I walk by. The Octagon House has a gorgeous interior, and Caroline Livermore’s portrait inside makes it like a shrine for me. For my 75th birthday, I celebrated with two hikes with various groups of friends climbing Angel Island’s Mt. Livermore. Once on top, I told my tales of what Caroline did for Angel Island and Marin. Her presence at Marin Art and Garden Center is ever-present for me, and I’m very thankful for her legacy.”
Caroline Livermore, along with a group of conservation-minded women, were on a mission to preserve the Marin Art and Garden Center and ensure that it remained a community space to celebrate the arts and nature when they founded it in 1945. Passionate people like Cynda, and programs like Exploring Habitats, honor that mission and make the Center’s staff, donors, town and community as proud as they surely would have made Caroline Livermore.
“It’s wonderful that the Marin Art and Garden Center can remain open and free to the public,” Cynda says. “It’s an asset to the community that anyone can wander the grounds to enjoy doing watercolors, get inspiration for their own gardens, and find beauty and tranquility. We always tell the field trip children to come back with their families so that they can teach them what they learned. I also promote the website and many interesting articles, concerts, exhibits and activities to other Master Gardeners and friends. I especially like meeting some of them at the summer concerts, taking photographs, exploring art exhibits, and going on bird walks. Donating to Marin Art and Garden Center makes this unique and memorable setting all possible. It’s not just a botanical destination but an educational and artistic one, as well.”
In the footsteps of Caroline Livermore, and countless nature and art lovers since, Cynda does her part to pass along the Center’s traditions and virtues while planting seeds of love into her pupils and friends. She treasures every moment she spends at the garden and takes every opportunity to share her enthusiasm for it. Even when the time comes when she cannot make it to the garden anymore (hopefully many years from now), she plans to make sure the people she loves still experience the joy she felt. “I’ve been to several Celebrations of Life at Marin Art and Garden Center over the years, and I have left instructions that mine should be held at the Center, as well,” she says. “I can’t think of a better setting for my friends and family to gather and enjoy what I’ve enjoyed over so many years.”
