Dear members,
I can’t express enough how much your sustained interest and support in New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill means to the staff, trustees, and organization as a whole. I hope you are finding opportunities to connect with plants and nature and taking advantage of the wide collection of online educational resources our staff has put together to educate and inspire you during our closure to the public. As you may know, we have been following the instructions of Gov. Charlie Baker and the guidance of local public safety personnel, and we are eager for a time when we can again enjoy the gardens together.
On the property, our horticulture department has been busier than ever with spring plantings, maintenance projects, and gardening tasks and is missing the collaboration with its dedicated team of volunteers who help maintain our beautiful grounds. Our gardeners and horticulturists are wearing masks, not sharing equipment, and working in separate areas – because with gardens, the show really does go on. Our irreplaceable living collections of plants need care regardless of what is going on in the world. We look forward to a time in the near future when you can see the fruits of their labor in person.
Behind the scenes, staff are working diligently on re-opening plans. As you can imagine, we’re preparing for multiple scenarios, being as creative as possible, and ensuring we have the safest protocols in place for the return of visitors. One scenario we’re considering is that after the governor lifts his stay at home orders, we could partially re-open in a measured approach, requiring guests to wear masks, remain physically distanced, stay outside only, and reserve a timed ticket for entry, which would be free to members. We would only allow a certain amount of people on the property at one time, require cars to space out in the parking lot, and would likely be open, at least at first, to members only. These plans could change of course, maybe even between the time it takes me to send this message and for you to read it, based on guidance from the governor, town officials, and public health professionals. Your patience and flexibility is an asset our organization never takes for granted.
Some of you might remember that we were preparing for several building projects set to begin just when we had to close. Our staff, Board of Trustees, dedicated donors, and construction partners are working constantly to assess the timelines of those plans. In the meantime, you will be hearing from us soon regarding ways you can support New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill – its staff, its plants, its mission – during these uncertain times. Your ongoing support is the cornerstone of everything we do at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. If you’ve recently renewed your membership, THANK YOU! – your dedication makes all the difference in the world and is the reason New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill has been able to dream big and deliver on our mission over the decades. If you receive a renewal letter soon, please consider, if you are able, staying on with us through this storm so that when sunny days return New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is in the best position possible to thrive for years to come. And if times are tough for you and your family, know that we are thinking of you, are here for you virtually, and will be eager to see you back at the gardens soon so we can all begin to heal and grow together, as we have for generations.
Our membership manager Jessica Lang is happy to answer further questions you may have at jlang@nebg.org.
Best wishes,
Grace Elton
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill CEO