History of the Santa Fe Botanical Garden Sites Founded 1987 Mission
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History of the Santa Fe Botanical Garden Sites Founded 1987 Mission The Santa Fe Botanical Garden celebrates, cultivates and conserves the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of our region. In partnership with nature, we demonstrate our commitment through education, community service and the sustainable management of our nature preserves and public garden. Founding The Santa Fe Botanical Garden began in 1987 Founded by: local gardeners botanists environmentally oriented citizens Leonora Curtin Wetland 1993 began long-term lease with the trustees of El Rancho de las Golondrinas 35-acre site Spring fed pond with a diversity of plants and wildlife Volunteers: Removed exotic and invasive plants Restored habitat through revegetation Maintain health of the pond remain a healthy environment for riparian plants, birds and invertebrates. Who is Leonora? Leonora Scott Muse Curtin - Lived from 1879-1972 Loved art, archaeology, and cultures of Spanish and Native Americans Married DA lawyer Thomas Curtin in Santa Fe, until his death in 1911 She and her daughter traveled together around the world They founded the Spanish Colonial Arts Society and she served on several boards in Santa Fe, including SAR She interviewed native herbalists and curanderas and wrote By The Prophet of the Earth Healing Herbs of the Upper Rio Grande Mrs. Curtin - honored by the Mexican Government for her studies of the ethnobotany of the Tarascan Indians In 1932, Mrs. Curtin and her daughter Leonora purchased historic El Rancho de las Golondrinas in La Cienega The Curtain family began to restore and reconstruct buildings on the site, using it as a country retreat El Rancho de las Golondrinas opened as a living history museum of New Mexico’s Spanish colonial heritage in 1972 Leonora, Mother, and Daughter Mrs. Eva Scott Fenyes, Leonora’s Mother Rancho de las Golondrinas Ranch of the Swallows Wetland Wildlife Habitat Ortiz Mountains Educational Preserve 1,350 acres in the upper reaches of the Ortiz Mountains Includes Placer Peak, the highest peak in the Ortiz range at 8,897 feet (2712 meters) Was a center of mining activity during the New Mexico gold rush in the early mid- nineteenth century The Preserve contains several historic mine shafts Located approximately 30 miles southwest of Santa Fe off the Turquoise Trail Owned by Santa Fe County and managed by Santa Fe Botanical Garden A right-of-way agreement through private property to access the Preserve Ortiz Mountains Educational Preserve is a spectacular natural area, a ponderosa and piñon habitat with rich wildlife Mining Industry Hiking Explorations Natural Beauty Botanical Garden at Museum Hill Designed by landscape architect W. Gary Smith Covering more than 12 acres The Santa Fe Botanical Garden at Museum Hill The Orchard Gardens Ojos y Manos The Courtyard Gardens The Arroyo Trails Mix of native plants and appropriate non-natives, which were chose for our unique environment Landscape Design Docent Tours Kearny Gap Bridge Board Active Board Members, from a variety of backgrounds Strong commitment to our organization Built the beautiful Botanical Garden at Museum Hill Work as volunteers and on larger scale projects Current board president: Cathy Kalenian Staff Cristina Francesca Fran Clayton Mollie Linda Development Membership Volunteers CEO Education Managing and Events Director Volunteers 300 Active Volunteers In 2012 – 10,000 volunteer hours Help us double the number of volunteer hours We need you! Visitor Services at the Botanical Garden at Museum Hill Docents at the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve Educational programs Special Events Gardeners in the Botanical Garden.