BETHLEHEM — In its latest effort to improve the overall beauty of the town, the Bethlehem Garden Club is expanding its reach.

A new partnership has been forged among the town, Garden Club and state Department of Transportation to help develop beautification projects throughout Bethlehem. In a new pilot, the club began with the median along Cherry Avenue.

“This has been a long-range plan,” said Virginia Acquario, a member of the club and co-chairwoman of the group’s Community Projects Committee. “We’ve been trying to improve that median for years, and we finally contacted DOT to do a collaboration.”

Supervisor John Clarkson said the median project has been an “evolving topic” with the town and state DOT. The portion of Cherry Avenue where the bushes were planted is a state road but is mowed by the town’s Highway Department because grass was preferred to asphalt. The state worked with the town and Garden Club to develop the layout for the landscaping done through the pilot.

“These plantings will improve the looks of the road without endangering automobile traffic, and may also have traffic-calming benefits,” said Clarkson. “They should not increase maintenance for the town, and the Garden Club will be helping with weeding, etc.”

In June of 2012, Town officials went on a walk with members of the Garden Club, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and Kiwanis to see what kinds of improvements could be made to make the entrances of Bethlehem look more appealing. According to Acquario, the Garden Club wouldn’t have been able to keep the group’s initiative going without the continued support from the town.

At the time, Acquario said the group was looking to step away from planting traditional gardens and focus on plantings like bushes and trees in order to improve the overall look of the town. The group is also placing more sustainable plants throughout the community that need less care and paying for benches to be placed in more heavily populated areas.

By Matthew Appleby
12 November 2013

The rebranding plunge

When a competitor had the same name as Taylor Milliken’s growing company, he made the bold move to start fresh with a new identity.

John Deere Landscapes CEO expects expansion from sale

David Werning said the private-equity firm that bought the company’s majority interest intends to grow the business.

The show lowdown

Fuel education and new products were some of the highlights at the 2013 GIE+EXPO and HNA.

Scenes from the show

Get a look at all the happenings at the 2013 GIE+EXPO.

Top 100: Get the bosses’ perspective

LL spends a day inside landscaping’s biggest companies.

SARATOGA SPRINGS On a chilly, brisk Veterans Day, around 200 people gathered to dedicate the new flagpole and flag donated by the Saratoga Springs Elks Club at the Tempered By Memory 9/11 sculpture in High Rock Park.

Mayor-elect Joanne Yepsen called it a fitting day.

“It’s very appropriate to have this ceremony at the 9/11 site on this day,” Yepsen said. “I will work closely with several organizations to continue to hold ceremonies like these on 9/11.”

Yepsen also said she hopes to have blooming landscape at the site year-round.

“We’re looking for Sunnyside Gardens and Saratoga Associates to continue their landscaping,” Yepsen said.

The new flagpole and flag was spearheaded by former pro-golfer and local resident Dottie Pepper, who said she got the idea to initiate several projects after a recent visit to the sculpture and was dismayed by the deteriorating conditions.

“I came up on 9/11 and was appalled,” Pepper said. “It was weed-strewn and neglected.”

She was initially upset with the police and fire departments for not keeping up with the memorial, but added that they have since stepped up their efforts.

“They knew they had dropped the ball,” Pepper said. “The fire department donated trees and installed benches. The landscape was cleaned up. I’m especially grateful to Joe Dolan from the fire department for stepping in right away. He was really instrumental.”

Dolan said he was happy to help.

“Dottie met with us,” Dolan said. ”Everyone came together and contributed.”

Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Club Dave Waghorn gave the dedication speech.

“This is the perfect occasion to honor our first responders,” Waghorn said. “I lost someone as I’m sure many of our residents did, on 9/11. We felt it was important to make something permanent to memorialize the bravery of those first responders on Veterans Day.”

Boy Scout Troop 24 from Wilton attended the ceremony, and troop leader Dave Pelchar said he felt the sculpture and High Rock Park would be a good opportunity for Eagle Scout candidates to do some of their projects.

“We have two candidates right now who are in search of projects,” Pelchar said. “They can build benches, plant trees or even lay gravel. It’s the perfect project.”

Although pleased with the new flagpole, Pepper says she’s is not stopping there. She said she wants to launch the “Never Forget Brick Project” December in which people can lay memorial bricks for loved ones.

“That will help keep this area going,” Pepper said.

She said she is also grateful for the Boy Scouts’ offer to do Eagle Scout projects in the park.

“It will be good to get the Scouts involved,” Pepper said.

Plants and markets

• Tasty Tuesday, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays in the courtyard at New Port Richey Library, 5939 Main Street. Local organic growers sell seasonal produce and plant-based goods. The library also offers a seed exchange so gardeners can “check out” heirloom, genetically pure seeds from the library’s seed catalog to start an organic garden. (727) 853-1265.

• Fresh Friday Night Market, 5 to 9 p.m. the first Friday of the month at Railroad Square in downtown New Port Richey (on Nebraska Avenue between Grand Boulevard and Adams Street). The eclectic market features vendors selling produce, plants and specialty foods such as fish, meat, cheese, baked goods, jelly and jam, honey, nuts, coffee, ethnic food, light refreshments, and arts and crafts. (727) 842-8066; nprmainstreet.com.

Related News/Archive

• Garden notebook
  

  1 Month Ago

• Pasco County fresh markets and gardening events
  

  6 Months Ago

• Scarecrows in the Garden
  

  1 Month Ago

• Gardening events
  

  More than a Year ago

• Upcoming garden events
  

  More than a Year ago

• Fresh Market at Wiregrass, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at the Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel. Features produce, Florida-grown plants and locally made jams, salsas, seasonings and sauces, plus the works of local artists. (813) 994-2242; tampabaymarkets.com.

• Suncoast Co-op hosts a farmer’s market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 4131 Madison St., New Port Richey. Features local in-season produce, candles and locally made products. The co-op also accepts orders for fresh, locally grown, chemical-free produce. Register at suncoastco-op.com; orders may be picked up during the market, between noon and 2 p.m. (727) 271-2754.

• Hernando County Farmers Market is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays at 2450 U.S. Highway 19, Spring Hill. (352) 232-4241; hernandocountyfarmersmarket.webs.com.

• Spring Hill Garden Club’s Plant Nursery hosts plant sales from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Mondays at 1489 Parker Ave., off Spring Hill Drive (four-tenths of a mile from U.S. 19). Browse or buy local plants and visit the nearby Nature Coast Botanical Gardens, called the “best kept secret in Hernando County,” which is open daily from sunup to sundown. (352) 683-9933; naturecoastgardens.com.

Seminars

• 10 Important Landscape Design Rules, 10:30 a.m. Thursday at West Hernando Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., Brooksville. Participants will be introduced to components of landscaping in a Florida-friendly way. It will cover soil type, topography, existing vegetation and more. For information, call Sylvia Durell at (352) 540-6230 or email sdurell@co.hernando.fl.us.

• Fertilizing to Protect Water Quality, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 3 at West Hernando Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., Brooksville. Overfertilizing can adversely impact local springs, estuaries, the aquifer and rivers. Learn when, what kind and how much fertilizer to use to keep your landscape healthy and protect our water resources. For information, call Sylvia Durell at (352) 540-6230 or email sdurell@co.hernando.fl.us.

• What to Do While Your Landscape Sleeps, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 4 at Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. Winter is here and growth is slowing. Learn what to do and what to avoid doing in your landscape now to make the most of the spring landscape recovery. For information, call Sylvia Durell at (352) 540-6230 or email sdurell@co.hernando.fl.us.

• Growing Amaryllis, 9 a.m. Dec. 7 at Clayton Hall at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36702 State Road 52, Dade City. Learn to how to create landscape beds, extend bloom periods and renovate established beds. Advanced registration is appreciated. For information, call (727) 847-2411 and ask for Pasco County Extension.

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• HERE TO HELP: Council’s parks, gardens and sports fields maintenance operator Matthew Challen and horticulture trainee Myles Pressly were among those helping to redevelop Rotaract Park.

• LEADERS: Sue Smith and Olivia le Gay Brereton are just some of the driving forces in completing the park project.

• COMMUNITY EFFORT: The current band of locals who have volunteered their time and expertise over the many months to redevelop Rotaract Park and create positive change.

Rotaract Park in Prospect Street has been a hive of activity with a number of hard working individuals coming together for its redevelopment.

In a heart warming story of dedication and community spirit, the town has progressively witnessed people of all ages and walks of life working side by side to inject life  back into the local park. 

Rotaract Park is undergoing a facelift thanks to a band of committed locals and school students from Young Shire Council, Young High School, Young North Public School, Argyle Housing, Rotary, Compact and residents.

Long-term Cook Crescent resident Sue Smith pulled on the gloves, rolled up her sleeves and proved she was willing to work hard to improve her local area. 

“Its all about the kids, we want to make them a great place to play and catch up with friends and family,” Sue said.

Sue waters the park every day and is one of the driving forces behind getting the park completed. 

She has noticed less vandalism since the redevelopment started and many of the kids involved in the project have taken ownership of the park. 

Tracey Newell, from Argyle Housing, sang the praises of local residents, students and all the organisations involved in the project. 

Tracey said the project was all about “creating and fostering partnerships”. 

She thanked local residents, council, Young North Primary, Young High , Compact and Young Rotary for coming together on such a worthwhile project.

The project has allowed people to meet, socialise and hold functions in a park on the north side of Young.

 Tracey said for people with limited mobility or access to public transport, it is essential to have a nice place for people to gather. 

The park has just had new garden beds created, landscaping completed with hundreds of plants and a barbeque area installed. 

Volunteers were thrilled to hear there are possible plans for the park to host a ‘Carols by Candlelight’ event on December 12.

HERE TO HELP: Council’s parks, gardens and sports fields maintenance operator Matthew Challen and horticulture trainee Myles Pressly were among those helping to redevelop Rotaract Park.

Two teams from the region have volunteered their time and energy to prepare a new disabled children’s centre for BBC Children in Need.

David Lewendon of Elms Landscaping Services, in Oakham and staff members Bill Meeklah, 25, and Matthew Jeffrey, 31, cleared the ground and laid turfs and tarmac on the DIY SOS Big Build project.

And carpenters Michael Langston, 44 and Karl Dowling, 43, also from Oakham, worked on the roof, hung doors and put up stud walls.

Over four days in September both groups worked with hundreds of volunteers from around the country to transform the home of in Westwood, Peterborough, for the charity Little Miracles – a parent-led support group for families who have children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions.

The team from the gardening services company, in Alsthorpe Road, said far from being exhausted after four solid days of working 12-hour shifts, they had never felt more “exhilarated”.

David said: “It was absolutely fantastic. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to help people who are less fortunate than yourself.”

David, who applied to help after reading a facebook message, said the atmosphere while they worked landscape the two-and-a-half acre gardens, was “unbelievable”.

He added: “We helped with the landscaping by putting in resin bonded gravel, tarmac, rubber floors and levelling the ground. I don’t think I heard a cross word said by one single trader among the hundreds who were there. It was a lot of effort and a lot of fun and we all got a lot out of it.”

The Oakham team got involved in the last four days of the nine-day project, after building work was done, to help prepare the grounds.

The two carpenters worked for three days on the main house.

Michael said: “It was an emotional experience knowing that it was for children with cancer and other illness and problems.”

When Little Miracles outgrew two of its premises, the DIY SOS team stepped in. With some 600 volunteers and local companies they created a new centre with landscaped gardens.

The programme is on BBC One at 8pm on 
Wednesday.

Auckland Garden Designfest Blossoms This
Weekend

For immediate release: Monday 11 November
2013

This weekend sees 25 of Auckland’s most
spectacular residential gardens throw open their gates to
the public for the second biennial Auckland Garden
DesignFest. On 16-17 November, the DesignFest celebrates
the wealth of design talent across the Auckland region and
showcases the incredible results produced when creative
talents combine.

The Festival’s Joint Chairperson Rose
Thodey notes that one of the DesignFest’s unique
trademarks is the fact that it makes great design accessible
to everyone. “These owners have agreed to open up their
normally private properties to the public. It’s a special
act of generosity which means that visitors to the
DesignFest can learn from and be inspired by these stunning
professionally-designed gardens,” says Thodey. “Whether
you’re a young family doing up your backyard for the first
time, an experienced landscaper, or someone who just loves
wandering amongst beautiful spaces, you’re certain to come
away uplifted by the experience.”

Visitors to each
garden will have the chance to explore the grounds and speak
with its designer onsite. “It’s a rare opportunity to
ask the professionals how they achieved the finished effect,
and about any tips and tricks they can offer,” says
Thodey. She adds that the DesignFest is about showing the
public how good garden design makes living spaces more
functional and pleasurable to live in. “When you see a
garden that’s been well thought-through and which you
enjoy being in, you get a real sense of the impact great
design has.”

The DesignFest gardens feature an array of
styles, plantings, artworks and materials, but all are
underscored by a passion for the outdoors. To the North,
highlights include Brett Maclennan’s
native coastal garden overlooking the sea from Milford and
Bryan McDonald’s contemporary Bayswater
creation complete with a canopy of palms. Closer to the city
centre designer Deb Hardy unveils her own
family garden in Western Springs and Robin
Shafer presents a whimsical Balmoral garden
designed around a primrose yellow-coloured concrete villa.
Neighbouring gardens in Freemans Bay belong to designer
Sally Gordon and award-winning architect
Pip Cheshire –both were created in a
three-way consultation process with friend and landscaper
Trish Bartleet, and backing onto One Tree
Hill’s farm paddocks is Jan McGowan’s
Arts Crafts inspired garden. Finally, towards the
East is Jo Hamilton’s rich oasis
combining multiple landscaping styles in St Heliers, and a
Glendowie garden by Pascal Tibbits which
makes the most of a magnificent setting and is also featured
in a new Prime TV series launching this week.

The Festival
runs from 10am-4pm on both days, with tickets available for
purchase online,
at Auckland-based Palmers Gardenworld and Palmers Planet
Stores, or at the garden gates. Proceeds from all tickets go
towards children’s charities Ronald McDonald House,
KidsCan and Garden to Table. Picnic
lunches from can be pre-booked and picked up from
gardens in Milford and Western Springs. For more
information, visit gardendesignfest.co.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Developing a new Botanical Garden is no easy task as Dr. Siril Wijesundara, Director General of the Department of National Botanic Gardens, the man behind the Mirijjawila Dry Zone Botanic Gardens, Hambantota well knows. “Some people could not believe that it is possible to have lush greenery in the Dry Zone, let alone a Botanical Garden,” he says, happy to have taken on the challenge.

Greening Mirijjawila: Views of lush foliage and serene landscape

The Mirijjawila Botanical Gardens will be opened on November 14 to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Sri Lanka this week.

Recalling Sri Lanka’s history Dr. Wijesundara reminds us that our Great Kings had built beautiful gardens in Anuradhapura and Tissamaharama. Sigiriya had a landscaped garden. “This shows that there were clever landscape artists in ancient Sri Lanka. Now we see only the relics of hard landscape.” he laments. Gardening is in our blood, he feels so, why not take a page from history and create a 21st Century garden in the dry zone.”

The British established Botanical Gardens in Sri Lanka mainly to introduce economic crops. The Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens in Gampaha was established to conduct trials to introduce Rubber to Sri Lanka. Rubber plants were first brought from the Amazon by the British to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in England, then sent to Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya and then to the newly established Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens in 1876. Rubber seeds produced at Henarathgoda were introduced to Singapore and from there to Malaysia. 

We have three botanical gardens at present – Peradeniya (established in 1821), Hakgala (established in 1861) and Gampaha (1876). Now, after more than 130 years comes the Mirijjawila Botanical Gardens, the fourth in the country. “What is unique about the Mirijjawila Botanical Gardens is that there has been no foreign collaboration and 100% of the finances are from the Government Treasury, with the expertise from Sri Lankan scientists and professionals,” says Dr. Wijesundara with pride. “It is a home-grown garden!”

“The idea to develop a botanical garden in the Dry Zone had been there for some time. The first step was to find suitable land and then the required water.” Many places were visited and finally in 2004, a site, which belonged to the Mahaweli Authority in Mirijjawila was found to be suitable due to the large extent of land and most important a wila (lake) nearby. The water from the Baragama wila flows direct to the sea without being used for any agricultural purpose. This water could be used for the gardens. It was also an ideal place to preserve the fauna and flora abundant in the region. “Yes, there were peacocks, deer, water monitors, birds and butterflies. At present there are flocks of migrant birds in the area,” said Dr. Wijesundara.

But after the 2004 tusnami, plans were shelved. In 2005 the Botanical Gardens Division was separated from the Department of Agriculture to form a new Department, namely the Department of National Botanical Gardens. Secretary to the new Ministry of Promotion of Botanical and Zoological Gardens S. Liyanagama, visited Hambantota with Dr. Wijesundara to scout for a suitable site, along with the Government Agent, Hambantota.

Inspecting the site again, they found barriers due to the newly built tsunami houses and on the southern side, land being reserved for an Oil Refinery.  However, the Department was able to acquire the present site which is 300 acres in extent from the Mahaweli Authority in 2006. Planting began in 2008. The footpaths and terrain of the land were preserved as much as possible without disturbing the natural landscape. A section was developed for floriculture as a sustainable community development project.

Dr. Wijesundara says he had the full freedom to plan and design this project and is grateful to the ministers and secretaries who supported him. It involved a joint effort with several state institutions -the National Water Supply and Drainage Board helped in the development of a water tower with a powerful pump house and a capacity of 225 cubic metres, which is the largest water scheme constructed by the Board. The daily capacity of 1000 cubic metres is obtained from the nearby Baragama wila. The State Engineering Corporation, the Road Development Authority, the Buildings Department and the Central Electricity Board also provided their expertise.

Crediting his staff for the landscaping, planning , Dr. Wijesundara says his work was made easy by the contribution made by the site Officer-in- charge Sumith Ekanayake, floriculturist, Madhuri Peiris while the landscape supervisory work was done by A.B. Meddegoda, Sanath Udaya Kumara, Dinesh Fernando, Asela Leelarathna, Jayawardena, and Dulan.

With the country’s rich agro-biodiversity experiencing many threats due to unplanned land use, pollution, fragmentation and alteration of farming systems, Dr. Wijesundera’s view is that the benefits of conserving the dry zone habitat and its distinctive vegetation are many. This garden can play a role in ex-situ conservation of some of the more important components of agro-biodiversity found in the dry zone, he believes. 

Botanical Gardens are not just “flower gardens” or “malwattas”. They are scientific institutions holding a diverse documented plant collection (aesthetically arranged), maintained by scientists for conservation, research and education and of course display.

“We have a rich biodiversity (probably the highest biodiversity per unit area in this part of the world) and we need to conserve plants ex-situ (outside the native habitat), as the natural habitats are endangered. As our country is very diverse floristically, we need more gardens to conserve plants in different climatic zones. For example we cannot conserve a plant from Hambantota in a garden in Nuwara Eliya and vice versa. “Mirijjawila was selected as it is the driest area in the country with 650 mm. or less annual rainfall. Mannar gets 100 mm. more than that. Mirijjawila will conserve dry and arid zone plants. All our existing botanical gardens are in the Wet Zone.” 

With education and training programmes, the new gardens could be a resource for educational institutions at all levels.
A special area is preserved for indigenous herbs. Floriculture is also highlighted and local residents have already been trained and are encouraged to develop their home gardens for export of cut flowers and foliage as a self-employment project.
A wooded area is planned with trees such as Burutha, Domba, Ehela, Gammalu, Halmilla, Helamba, Ingini, Kaluwara, Kohomba, Kon, Kotamba, Kumbuk Madadita and many more.

Popular cut flowers such as anthuriums, gerberas and orchids are already thriving at Mirijjawela. “I never thought I would live to see the Vandas and Cattleyas bloom in such a riot of colour,” Dr. Wijesundara says 

He visualises the ‘patch of green’ like Central Park in New York in a few years time with houses surrounding it! An ‘escape’ from the concrete jungle! An environment for recreation and relaxation.

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Developing a new Botanical Garden is no easy task as Dr. Siril Wijesundara, Director General of the Department of National Botanic Gardens, the man behind the Mirijjawila Dry Zone Botanic Gardens, Hambantota well knows. “Some people could not believe that it is possible to have lush greenery in the Dry Zone, let alone a Botanical Garden,” he says, happy to have taken on the challenge.

Greening Mirijjawila: Views of lush foliage and serene landscape

The Mirijjawila Botanical Gardens will be opened on November 14 to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Sri Lanka this week.

Recalling Sri Lanka’s history Dr. Wijesundara reminds us that our Great Kings had built beautiful gardens in Anuradhapura and Tissamaharama. Sigiriya had a landscaped garden. “This shows that there were clever landscape artists in ancient Sri Lanka. Now we see only the relics of hard landscape.” he laments. Gardening is in our blood, he feels so, why not take a page from history and create a 21st Century garden in the dry zone.”

The British established Botanical Gardens in Sri Lanka mainly to introduce economic crops. The Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens in Gampaha was established to conduct trials to introduce Rubber to Sri Lanka. Rubber plants were first brought from the Amazon by the British to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in England, then sent to Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya and then to the newly established Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens in 1876. Rubber seeds produced at Henarathgoda were introduced to Singapore and from there to Malaysia. 

We have three botanical gardens at present – Peradeniya (established in 1821), Hakgala (established in 1861) and Gampaha (1876). Now, after more than 130 years comes the Mirijjawila Botanical Gardens, the fourth in the country. “What is unique about the Mirijjawila Botanical Gardens is that there has been no foreign collaboration and 100% of the finances are from the Government Treasury, with the expertise from Sri Lankan scientists and professionals,” says Dr. Wijesundara with pride. “It is a home-grown garden!”

“The idea to develop a botanical garden in the Dry Zone had been there for some time. The first step was to find suitable land and then the required water.” Many places were visited and finally in 2004, a site, which belonged to the Mahaweli Authority in Mirijjawila was found to be suitable due to the large extent of land and most important a wila (lake) nearby. The water from the Baragama wila flows direct to the sea without being used for any agricultural purpose. This water could be used for the gardens. It was also an ideal place to preserve the fauna and flora abundant in the region. “Yes, there were peacocks, deer, water monitors, birds and butterflies. At present there are flocks of migrant birds in the area,” said Dr. Wijesundara.

But after the 2004 tusnami, plans were shelved. In 2005 the Botanical Gardens Division was separated from the Department of Agriculture to form a new Department, namely the Department of National Botanical Gardens. Secretary to the new Ministry of Promotion of Botanical and Zoological Gardens S. Liyanagama, visited Hambantota with Dr. Wijesundara to scout for a suitable site, along with the Government Agent, Hambantota.

Inspecting the site again, they found barriers due to the newly built tsunami houses and on the southern side, land being reserved for an Oil Refinery.  However, the Department was able to acquire the present site which is 300 acres in extent from the Mahaweli Authority in 2006. Planting began in 2008. The footpaths and terrain of the land were preserved as much as possible without disturbing the natural landscape. A section was developed for floriculture as a sustainable community development project.

Dr. Wijesundara says he had the full freedom to plan and design this project and is grateful to the ministers and secretaries who supported him. It involved a joint effort with several state institutions -the National Water Supply and Drainage Board helped in the development of a water tower with a powerful pump house and a capacity of 225 cubic metres, which is the largest water scheme constructed by the Board. The daily capacity of 1000 cubic metres is obtained from the nearby Baragama wila. The State Engineering Corporation, the Road Development Authority, the Buildings Department and the Central Electricity Board also provided their expertise.

Crediting his staff for the landscaping, planning , Dr. Wijesundara says his work was made easy by the contribution made by the site Officer-in- charge Sumith Ekanayake, floriculturist, Madhuri Peiris while the landscape supervisory work was done by A.B. Meddegoda, Sanath Udaya Kumara, Dinesh Fernando, Asela Leelarathna, Jayawardena, and Dulan.

With the country’s rich agro-biodiversity experiencing many threats due to unplanned land use, pollution, fragmentation and alteration of farming systems, Dr. Wijesundera’s view is that the benefits of conserving the dry zone habitat and its distinctive vegetation are many. This garden can play a role in ex-situ conservation of some of the more important components of agro-biodiversity found in the dry zone, he believes. 

Botanical Gardens are not just “flower gardens” or “malwattas”. They are scientific institutions holding a diverse documented plant collection (aesthetically arranged), maintained by scientists for conservation, research and education and of course display.

“We have a rich biodiversity (probably the highest biodiversity per unit area in this part of the world) and we need to conserve plants ex-situ (outside the native habitat), as the natural habitats are endangered. As our country is very diverse floristically, we need more gardens to conserve plants in different climatic zones. For example we cannot conserve a plant from Hambantota in a garden in Nuwara Eliya and vice versa. “Mirijjawila was selected as it is the driest area in the country with 650 mm. or less annual rainfall. Mannar gets 100 mm. more than that. Mirijjawila will conserve dry and arid zone plants. All our existing botanical gardens are in the Wet Zone.” 

With education and training programmes, the new gardens could be a resource for educational institutions at all levels.
A special area is preserved for indigenous herbs. Floriculture is also highlighted and local residents have already been trained and are encouraged to develop their home gardens for export of cut flowers and foliage as a self-employment project.
A wooded area is planned with trees such as Burutha, Domba, Ehela, Gammalu, Halmilla, Helamba, Ingini, Kaluwara, Kohomba, Kon, Kotamba, Kumbuk Madadita and many more.

Popular cut flowers such as anthuriums, gerberas and orchids are already thriving at Mirijjawela. “I never thought I would live to see the Vandas and Cattleyas bloom in such a riot of colour,” Dr. Wijesundara says 

He visualises the ‘patch of green’ like Central Park in New York in a few years time with houses surrounding it! An ‘escape’ from the concrete jungle! An environment for recreation and relaxation.

Share This Post

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