A Look Ahead:

Big Changes are Coming!

By Ann McKinnon, Director of Development and Membership

With new independence comes a crucial need for strategic planning. As we grow our Board of Directors, we’re recruiting individuals with the skills to lead BTA into the future from a position of strength and sustainability. We added four new Board members this year: Carolyn Baecker and Carol Parrott, both of whom are certified Master Gardeners and long-time volunteers at BTA; Anne Schrock, Director of Legal Services and Chief Privacy Officer with BCBSAZ; and Victoria Bever, Manager of Utility and Railroad Engineering with ADOT. The Board is working with alacrity on a new strategic plan.

As we’ve worked together on the plan for the past six months, Board and staff have committed to directing our efforts to become known as a leading botanical garden. In the coming year, visitors will see new attention to our plant collections and displays. We are conducting surveys and auditing our collections under the direction of our Plant Collections Manager, Rebecca Stephenson. She has also compiled a report on our rare and endangered plant species, and we will be developing a Plant Conservation Policy and practices.

Of course, BTA’s future is about education and research as much as collections. We are evaluating all of our public educational offerings and determining future plans and activities which will align with Arizona Science Standards. We’re showcasing our assets to influence institutional research collaboration, and identifying new opportunities for conservation education. We’re confident these efforts will bear fruit.

Finally, as we look ahead to our centennial, we are developing a master site plan. In addition to new improvements throughout the property such as the expansive Wallace Desert Garden, a new bridge and fire suppression infrastructure, we must preserve and maximize the value of our historic buildings.

Since 1976, when Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, we have not kept pace with protecting the original administration building. Built in 1926, the stone and glass Smith Building and greenhouses that flank it are no longer safe. Designed and built by the American company Lord & Burnham, the greenhouses have deteriorated to the point that we are unable to allow visitors in—and the historic cactus collections housed within are in danger of damage.

The nearly century-old structures need specialized care and restoration. In 2018, Arcadia GlassHouse Inc. acquired the engineering plans, tooling, copyrights, trademarks and assets for all Lord & Burnham greenhouses. We have contracted with Arcadia to renovate our greenhouses using the original designs, while incorporating some upgrades for strength and energy efficiency.

Restoring these historic buildings to their prior glory will not be cheap or easy. Many of the plants living in the greenhouses are old, rare or endangered, and none can be moved without risking their health or their lives. Workers will need to build special scaffolding over the collection to protect the plants as the greenhouses are dismantled and rebuilt around them. But the results will be worth it.

As we prepare to celebrate our centennial in 2024, we know the Smith Building and its greenhouses will be a glorious focal point for members and visitors, and we are committed to preserving them for the next 100 years!