Recently, the family of Louise Russell, one of our dedicated volunteers, asked their circle of friends to send donations to Reflection Riding, in lieu of flowers, to memorialize Mrs. Russell. This extraordinary generosity in a very difficult time really moves us.

Over the years, many of our long-time supporters have made this choice to build support for our work as part of their legacy. Her fellow volunteers, and the whole Reflection Riding team, honor her memory:

“Louise very much enjoyed volunteering at Reflection Riding. As part of the Thursday gardeners group, she worked in the potting shed and in many areas of the Arboretum, in particular the Philp Garden and the Butterfly Garden. Her plant knowledge and friendly nature made her very helpful during the plant sales. We all have wonderful memories of her spirit.”

— Paola Zannini

‘Louise freely shared her native plants with anyone. She was fun-loving and once saved me from a giant bug in my bed on a trip to Costa Rica. She liked coming to Reflection Riding to help with the plant sales and landscape plantings."

— Susan Schott

“Our family suggested donations to Reflection Riding as a way to honor the memory of our mother, Louise Russell.  She volunteered her time there in several capacities over the years; she always enjoyed the time that she spent at Reflection Riding and the connections that she made there. Spending time with other people who enjoyed nature as she did was a perfect way for her to give back to the community. 

Reflection Riding is an environment that embodied Louise’s values. She believed that people benefit from being outside in nature, and that nature is one of the best teachers. She saw that when children discovered the joy and beauty in nature and wildlife, that they became excited about learning and exploring.

Louise’s life was a tribute to nature, to education, and to our responsibility to care for the world. We are so pleased that Reflection Riding’s Framework for the Future will continue to provide these things in engaging ‘the next generation of nature lovers.’”

— Darrington Crane, Russ Russell, and Ann Crane

If you would like to honor or memorialize a loved one by making a gift, or work with Reflection Riding the way Mrs. Russell’s family did, please get in touch, and we’ll help you find just the right way. You can reach our team at support@reflectionriding.org or at 423-497-2760.