A number of members of the The Friends of the Library (FOL) joined a special ‘thank you’ tour of the Durango Botanic Gardens on September 10, 2019. The FOL, with nearly 600 members, has been a generous benefactor in support of the gardens, most recently donating $15,000 toward the development of the new Arboreta. 

Bett Clark and Theresa Anderson, Durango Botanical Society docents, led the tour. Clark was the resource for the Demonstration, Crevice, and Gabbro Miniature Conifer Gardens. The tour group was especially intrigued by her comments about the Plant Select® Crambe Maritima, commonly known as Curly Leaf Sea Kale. All of this plant is edible, including the flowers, leaves, and roots; it was listed in Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Book from 1809 and was known to be eaten by sailors on long sea voyages for its vitamin C content, an antidote to scurvy.

Theresa Anderson was the tour guide for the Mountain Thyme Sundial, The Rosie the Riveter and the Arboreta Garden, which includes the Gabbro Miniature Conifer Garden, The Cindy Smart Miniature Tree Garden and the Arboreta. Anderson described the gardens as not only as a beautiful place to visit, but as a place where the community can go to see trees of all sizes that could be suitable for their home landscapes. DBS worked with the City Arborists to choose trees that are underutilized in our area. The “Tree Guide for the Arboreta”, which is available in the DBS display case in the library is a great resource, she explained, for homeowners to find the trees that they might like in their own landscapes.

Shelly Oxhandler, president of FOL, was impressed with the all-volunteer effort that has built and maintained the gardens. "We had a great time, all of us learning things we didn't know about the gardens, plants and trees. The DBS has done such a wonderful job and should be very proud of their hard work. They have brought so much beauty to our Library and to the City of Durango. There is something for everyone here! Thank you Bett and Theresa for an amazing tour."

Bett Clark (far right) discusses the Demonstration Garden. She is joined here by (l-r), Theresa Anderson, DBS docent, FOL board member Judy Griffiths, Jan Turner, Jill Turner, FOL President Shelly Oxhandler, and FOL board member Debbie Fry.