Letter from the Director
Dear Arboretum Friends, I am delighted to write my first letter to you, our Boyce Thompson members. Thank you for your interest, support—indeed, love— for the arboretum. I share that love with you, and I am thrilled to be here to guide the arboretum into the future. We are in a new era at Boyce Thompson, and I am both humbled and excited to be instrumental in that transformation. As you know, we are a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, and always have been—whether we are associated with any other institution or not. Your membership contributions directly support what we do: our education programs, activities, and events—and our beautiful garden collections. What happens now? What will change, and what will remain the same? What will remain the same is our commitment to our visitors—to offer you an unforgettable experience of stunning desert vegetation, excellent education programs, and a warm welcome. Our staff and Board continue their shared commitment to our mission as we begin a strategic planning process. And we remain an affordable, family-friendly (and dog-friendly) garden! What will be new? Of course, the big news is the opening of The Wallace Garden in March of 2020, with 4,000 new plantings and one-and-a-half miles of new trails. The setting of these arid-land plants from around the world is exquisite, and we are planning an exclusive Members Day during the opening week. Stay tuned! You’ll also see some new faces here at BTA—check out our new staff on page 18! We’ve got additional garden expansions with new plantings in the Chihuahuan Desert Garden and plans for a new Mojave Desert Garden. We are tackling deferred maintenance, making trail improvements, and replacing old signage. We are also looking at all the opportunities for conservation and research work—around endangered species, invasive plant surveying, and restoration. It’s an exciting time at Boyce Thompson Arboretum! We hope you will continue to enjoy your member benefits, visit us often, and stop by to meet our new staff. Onward!
Lynne Nemeth Executive Director Boyce Thompson Arboretum
2 | Boyce Thompson Arboretum | Fall 2019
