Viral Kindness is a new commentary that shares moments and gestures of goodwill during these difficult times. Robin Macy, steward of Bartlett Arboretum, experienced a significant gift of time and talent in the form of photojournalist Jaime Green.
"She contacted me after seeing a humanities quick grant and thought maybe there’d be an opportunity to show the world this place, virtually," Macy says.
Green's resulting three-part documentary is called "Beauty in a Broken World." One area of focus in the film has become Bartlett’s annual Tulip Time.
"The pandemic of 100 years ago is the reason there is a Tulip Time season, because Dr. Walter Bartlett, his only daughter was succumbed at age seven. The Tulip Time, planting 40,000 tulips, was in her memory 100 years ago, so it’s a great paradox today that we have 40,000 tulips blooming here for no one to see.
"So that’s the first part of it, but mostly it’s a towering chapter in the story of the human condition and how Mother Nature is the greatest teacher of all. And reminds us to stay true and steady during sad, daunting days like the ones we’re experiencing now."
