Delaware Botanic Gardens cuts ribbon
The Delaware Botanic Gardens held a ribbon-cutting ceremony sponsored by the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce Sept. 19. The mission of the gardens is to create an inspirational, educational and sustainable public garden in Delaware for the benefit and enjoyment of all. Currently there are five gardens for guests to enjoy, the two-acre Meadow Garden, the Learning Garden, the Folly Garden, the Woodlands Garden and the Woodland Edge Garden. The gardens are open from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Guided tours can be arranged online at www.delawaregardens.org/guided-tours.
The festivities began at the Sept. 12 fundraising dinner, where over 340 guests gathered to commemorate the eight-plus-year journey to create a public botanic garden in Delaware. Guests of honor included former Gov. Jack Markell and Carla Markell who has served as the chair of the DBG Advisory Council. They were joined by internationally award-winning garden designer Piet Oudolf, who created the two-acre Meadow Garden, which is already receiving accolades from garden experts. This spectacular event sponsored by SoDel, Banks Wine & Spirits, Dogfish Head Brewery, and Coastal Tented Events raised over $154,000 from the celebrants that evening.
The opening events continued Sept. 16 when the first visitors were greeted by DBG at 9 a.m. Throughout the week, the garden volunteers welcomed several hundred visitors who participated in special tours, lectures and a ladybug release. The culmination of the celebrations was the ribbon cutting attended by over 100 guests including Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall Long, Sen. Gerald Hocker, Rep. Richard Collins, Sussex County Councilman John Rieley and Sussex County Land Trust Executive Director Mark Chura. All spoke at the ribbon cutting and welcomed the Delaware Botanic Gardens as a new opportunity for public education, the enjoyment of nature and for economic growth in Sussex County.
Ray Sander, president of the Delaware Botanic Gardens, said, “We built a public garden and at the same time have created a Delmarva garden community.” Sheryl J. Swed, executive director, added, “The dream has become a reality.” The Delaware Botanic Gardens will celebrate the coastal plain with a sustainable garden that delights and educates visitors and inspires them to preserve Delmarva’s native landscape.
