Durango Public Library’s landscaping wasn’t always so pleasant-looking. Cindy Smart, founder of the Durango Botanic Gardens, said the space between the Animas River Trail and the back of the library used to be an eyesore.
But she had a vision of a lush gardenscape. Fifteen years after its founding, the Durango Botanic Gardens has achieved just that.
Durango Botanic Gardens celebrated its 15th anniversary at the library on Saturday. It might be fitting that the Durango Botanic Gardens started its final project planned for the library – a community venue garden – earlier this year.
Cathy Metz, Durango Botanic Gardens director of outreach, said despite having a little over an acre of gardenscape on the library grounds, a curated gathering space is lacking.
Durango Botanic Gardens had contemplated concepts for a capstone venue space for the library, and finally the funds, mainly from donors, to begin construction on it this year, she said.
The site features a covered steel pergola, anchored by planting beds, on-site electricity storage for events such as music concerts and performances, and the space is planned to open for general public use next year.
After the community venue garden is completed, the garden group will enhance some of the existing spaces. But ultimately, it will shift its focus to creating new gardens around town.
Bill LeMaire, president of the Durango Botanic Garden board of directors, said the gardens have reached an inflection point at the library. It’s almost time to expand, and the garden group has its eyes on the Durango Community Recreation Center and Rotary Park.
“You can only do what you dream. It takes audacious people to do audacious things, and you’re all part of that,” he said, thanking members and attendees for “15 tremendous years.”
He credited Smart for her audacity to form Durango Botanic Gardens to begin with.
“The nerve,” he joked.
Smart said the space behind the library used to be a “wasteland” the library wanted to landscape but couldn’t afford. People walking along the river trail would complain to the library.
One day, Smart was looking over the desolate grounds, thinking of turning it into a garden space. She ran into Andy White, former director of the library. He asked her what she was doing, and she said she was looking for a place to grow a garden. He replied he was looking for a gardener.
“You never know who you’re going to run into,” she said.
Durango Botanic Gardens Director and Curator Melanie Palmer said she’s been with the garden group 14 years, since nearly the beginning. She formed the group’s docent or garden guides program. Today, the group offers young people education and guided tours for all. It hosts annual bulb sales, Gardens on Tour around town and features “botanic inspiration wheels” in the Cindy Smart Arboretum.
cburney@durangoherald.com
