APGA executive director to discuss value of public gardens Feb. 15

Amererican Public Gardens Association Executive Director Casey Sclar will present “Why Public Gardens Are Indispensable” from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 15, in the upstairs meeting room of the Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave.

Using examples from gardens of all sizes and missions, Sclar will combine practical take-home tidbits with a greater vision of how all gardens, and in particular the one planned for Pepper Creek, will shape the future. The program is free to Southern Delaware Botanic Gardens members and $15 for nonmembers.

Sclar was appointed executive director of APGA in 2012.  He and his team support more than 520 gardens and their 6,000-plus allied members throughout America and 14 other countries. Sclar's work experience in horticulture spans almost three decades. Just prior to taking over at APGA, he served 15 years at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa., as the plant health care leader directing the Soils and Compost, IPM, Land Stewardship, and other sustainability programs. He holds a BS degree in horticulture from California Polytechnic State University, as well as MS and PhD degrees in entomology from Colorado State University. In 2011, he received the APGA’s Professional Citation Award for outstanding achievements in public horticulture.

There will be a drawing for a $50 gift certificate from Lord’s Landscaping Inc. in Millville at the presentation. Visit lordslandscaping.com.

This presentation is one of a series sponsored by the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek, whose mission is to create a world-class, inspirational, educational, and sustainable public botanic garden in southern Delaware for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.  For more information, go to delawaregardens.org.