The Following are the dedication remarks offered by Melanie Palmer on September 22 in recognition of the service to our gardens by long-time board member, Nancy Wallace.

            From the very beginning of the Durango Botanic Gardens (DBG), Nancy has been a tireless worker, advocate and financial supporter. In 2012, Nancy became a member of the Board of Directors. She quickly assumed the mantle of Garden Maintenance Director and worked tirelessly with Lisa Bourey and others to improve the infrastructure of the Gardens and mold into its present form with different mulches to delineate specific gardens. She was always instrumental in managing the garden irrigation, working with Library staff and irrigation companies to make sure that the irrigation was adequate and in good repair and overseeing the transition from drip to overhead sprinklers. 

            Nancy procured, had delivered, and then hauled by wheelbarrow untold tons of rock, gravel, and wood mulches through the years—the cobble in the Dine, the rock mulch in the South African, the gravel along the garden path, the pea gravel in the Alpine and the wood mulch in the other areas. Many of these were in-kind donations from Nancy and her husband Jim.  

     

Above left, Nancy and Jim Wallace stand next to the planting area dedicated to Nancy and her service to the Durango Botanic Gardens.         Above right, Melanie Palmer reads dedicatory remarks.

As Garden Maintenance Director, she was present in the garden EVERY SATURDAY for many years, directing volunteers, always being the last person to leave. She always provided homemade cookies and treat for the volunteers every Saturday. She was assisted by her husband on many of these Saturdays. She was instrumental in getting the weeds in the Dine and other areas under control, trying a host of organic methods. 

       Nancy was kind enough to be a guinea pig for the first Docent training and for another year after that and was always very appreciative and supportive of the Docents in every way possible.  

She opened her home for volunteer appreciation parties and hosted world-renowned visiting horticultural experts at elegant dinner parties on several occasions—where we were all green with envy at her own amazing garden.  

            The Gardens and DBG simply would NOT be what they are without her over these many years of hard service.  

            Instead of a single tree, we dedicate this planting bed with its shrubs and flowers to Nancy, with the hope that it will be expanded with more plantings to show several seasons of interest throughout this year and for many years to come. 

            The Board and docents give Nancy their heartfelt thanks and appreciation.