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The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Awarded Level II Accreditation by ArbNet Accreditation Program

Erin Grajek

Buffalo, NY - The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, announced that it has been awarded a Level II Accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. By achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens, the Buffalo and Erie County Botanic Gardens is now recognized as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta.

When it was established in 1900, the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens was the third largest conservatory in the nation and ninth largest in the world. The institution is a living museum dedicated to advancing appreciation for and knowledge of plant life and its connection to people and cultures through its documented living plant collection, historic conservatory, education, research and exhibits. Through a broad array of attractions, programs and services, the Botanical Gardens holds relevancy to the interests and lives of an ever-expanding audience.

South Park, where the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens sits, was designed by America’s first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. The Botanical Gardens’ property includes a number of Original Olmsted Trees, many of which were planted when the Botanical Gardens first opened and date back more than 115 years. Additional horticultural highlights include a large weeping European beech, copper beeches, a cut-leaf European beech, a beautiful river birch and a bald cypress.

The outdoor gardens are further divided into themed plantings and consist of the Peace Garden, Native Garden and Healing Garden. The Winter Garden showcases shrubs, trees and other plants with interesting shapes and forms that arise in the colder months.

The Botanical Gardens continues to add educational programs for visitors to learn about and appreciate trees. Tree tour programs are offered to the public during which attendees learn to identify various species and visit notable specimens. The Garden’s horticulture certificate classes and bonsai workshops also foster an appreciation for trees.

“As a tree lover, it is exciting to see the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens become an accredited arboretum,” said Kristy Schmitt, Director of Education at the Botanical Gardens. “We have a number of trees and shrubs that fascinate our visitors and many specimens in our collections that date back to the late 1800s. The indoor gardens also serve as a tropical refuge for many residents during long winter months, and it’s great to be able to draw more attention to the outdoor collection and our tree-centered education programs with arboretum accreditation,” added David J. Swarts, President/CEO at the Botanical Gardens.

About the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program
The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in cooperation with American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. This international initiative offers four levels of accreditation, recognizing arboreta of various degrees of development, capacity and professionalism. Accreditation is based on self-assessment and documentation of an arboretum’s level of achievement of accreditation standards. Standards include planning, governance, labeling of species, staff or volunteer support, public access and programming and tree science, planting and conservation. More information is available at www.arbnet.org.

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing appreciation for and knowledge of plant life and its connection to people and cultures through its documented living plant collection, historic conservatory, education, research and exhibits.

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