Anne Jaster’s home sits between two nature preserves, providing a forever-wild backdrop on which she and companion Rob Helffrich have created a beautiful canvas of trees and flowers. Anne’s knowledge of plants and her sparkling personality make her a treasure for those of us who know here at the Arboretum, but it is her botanical drawings that fascinate and charm me.
Anne came to the Arboretum the way many of us have, at the suggestion of a friend. Soon she was volunteering, helping to clear weeds and reclaim garden spots. She was asked to serve on the Board of Trustees, and when then-Board president Elizabeth “Betty” Corning unexpectedly passed away, Anne took on the role, leading the Arboretum through a financially difficult time. Her service to the Arboretum is indisputable, Please join me for a retrospective of Anne’s Arboretum drawings.
