Beat of the Century: McKee Welcomes its Next 100 Years with Spectacle and Sound

Vero Minute
Jan 5
2 min read

**Conor O'Haire (left) and yours truly on stage with Kasa Panzu**

Last Monday, the McKee Botanical Garden centennial season opened not with speeches, but with a spectacle of rhythm summoning guests toward the palms.

Congolese percussion master Kasa Panzu led the cadence, answered by Livin' the Rhythm, their drumming echoing through pathways.

While the photos are spectacular, stills cannot do this evening justice.

Watch this short reel and experience the spectacle as if you were actually there!

The evening was an exclusive gathering for McKee's Gatekeeper Members, those whose annual contributions of $1,500 or more help sustain the Garden's growth.

Marion McKee Latta de Vogel, great‑granddaughter of founder Arthur G. McKee, welcomed them with remarks linking today's success to the vision forged a century ago by McKee, Waldo Sexton, and landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, creators of our tropical sanctuary The New York Times once hailed as "one of the most important gardens in the world."

**LED Water Drummers on stage for the finale, each strike igniting arcs of splashing water and light**

Beyond the artistry lies extraordinary momentum for McKee. Annual attendance has soared from 52,000 to 120,000 since 2020, with Jungle Lights alone drawing 17,000 visitors last winter and 20,000 this winter.

**Rochelle Wolberg, Executive Director of McKee Botanical Garden**

Meeting this growing demand, said Rochelle Wolberg, executive director, is the aim of Light the Legacy, McKee's centennial campaign co‑chaired by Mike McManus and Tina Di Scipio, which will fund critical electrical and lighting upgrades, extend evening programming, and enhance visitor access year‑round.

Project leadership includes newly appointed Gary Boivin, formerly of Bok Tower Gardens and Naples Botanical Garden -- he'll oversee capital planning, noted botanical researcher and new Orchid Curator, Luis Ortiz and Anthony Dronchi, who previously led facilities at Miami Beach Botanical Garden.

McKee Annual Family Memberships begin at $150, offering everyday access to the Garden. But Gatekeeper Members enjoy entry into exceptional evenings like this one. If you like a good party, it's perhaps the best cultural investment in town!

McKee's Centennial programs continue January 17 with Florigami in the Garden (through May 24) and February's Annual Motor Car Exhibition.

For more information about McKee's upcoming Centennial Celebrations or Light the Legacy campaign, contact Marion McKee Latta de Vogel, (917) 226‑7594.