by Kelly Chadwick
Sharing a common vision and
working as a team, Sheila Morrison, Jean Parker, Jean Pfeiffer, Lois Puckett,
Chin Won Reinhardt, and Peter Stickney were recognized as outstanding volunteers
for their total 96 years caring for the Montana Native Plant Garden on The
University of Montana campus. Surrounding the Natural
Sciences Building, a native plant garden was established in 1967 as a
collaborative effort of faculty and students from the Department of Botany. The
purposes of the garden were to educate students and the public about the wealth
of garden-worthy plants that grow wild in the surrounding mountains and valleys
and to learn about these plants' growth habits in an educational setting. Klaus
Lackschewitz, late curator of the botany greenhouse, developed and cared for the
garden until his retirement in 1976, but by 1989 it was beginning to decline. That year Jean Parker and
Jean Pfeifer took the initiative to renew and maintain this valuable resource.
They forged a cooperative agreement between Facilities Services, the Division of
Biological Sciences, and the Montana Native Plant Society to save these gardens
for posterity. They organized a core group of volunteers, each of whom takes
care of a particular habitat. One day a week during each of
the past 16 growing seasons, these volunteers have moved rocks, improved the
soil, raised plants from seed, planted, weeded, watered, labeled, pruned, and
cared for the native gardens. During the winter they design and plan existing
and new areas, as well as educational projects such as a brochure and
informational display. Over the years they have recruited, mentored, and
supported a series of additional garden volunteers for the project. One day a
year they enlist students at the Volunteer Fair to assist with large garden
projects. The garden now includes ten
representative Montana habitats with over 300 species and comprises a unique
educational resource for the university and the community. The Montana Native
Plant Garden is used by University of Montana Rocky Mountain Flora and
Dendrology classes. In addition, grade school, high school, and Elderhostel
classes, as well as the general public, have visited the gardens. People from
around the country continue to use this garden to study and observe plants they
might not otherwise have access to. The six volunteers give formal tours upon
request, and graciously give impromptu tours to interested passers-by when they
are working in the garden. These dedicated individuals
have cooperatively volunteered countless hours to the native gardens. Because
of the commitment and passion to these gardens the University of Montana is a
more attractive and educational environment. At the reception, Erick
Greene, acting dean of the Division of Biological Sciences, joined Marilyn
Marler to publicly thank Sheila, Jean, Jean, Lois, Chin Won, and Peter, and gave
each individual a framed photograph of a unique native plant of special
interest. Thanks to Montana photographers Drake Barton, Peter
Lesica, Maria Mantas, and Wayne Phillips, who graciously donated these
beautiful, autographed photographs. Thanks also to Nancy Bernius
for organizing the catering, Alice Oaken for an outstanding flower arrangement,
Gertrud Lackschewitz and Joe Elliott for their speeches and old photos of the
gardens, and Dana D'Andraia, Alice Oaken, Marilyn Marler, and Gertrud
Lackschewitz. Special thanks to Erick Greene for all his time, enthusiasm,
effort, and support in making this long-deserved event happen. And of course, thank you
again to the outstanding native plant garden volunteers for the beauty they have
nurtured and preserved. On Thursday, April 28th, approximately 100 friends
and family honored six members of the Montana Native Plant Society with a
beautifully catered surprise party hosted by the Division of Biological Sciences
and the Clark Fork Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society.