CHAPEL HILL, NC — In late 2005, Associate Director Andrew Bell received word that the North Carolina Botanical Garden had been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust. The funds will be used for site improvements to the Botany Pond area of Mason Farm Biological Reserve and for the establishment of a research nursery there.
“We are very grateful to the SSHT for acknowledging our strong tradition and excellence in promoting native plants for garden use,” remarked Andrew Bell. “These improvements and new nursery facilities will serve as ‘base camp’ for our newly established native plant evaluation and selection program. This site will also support our seed program and provide space for growing larger specimens to be added to our display collections.”
UNC faculty and graduate students who use this space for field research plots will benefit as well from the improvements.