I have been associated with the Center for Plant Conservation since its start in the mid 1980s. I then helped it in its move to St. Louis ten years later. It is quite simply one of the finest nonprofits I have ever known. I now serve on its Board. Its magic lies in the outstanding conception that was involved in its formation: that it be a network of botanical gardens throughout the country, each preserving an approved list of endangered plant species from its own area as living plants in its gardens, in seed banks, and by monitoring them in nature. The formal nature of the agreement allows the CPC to build up a national collection for conservation, a collection that now is nearing 800 species. There is no finer scheme for plant conservation anywhere in the world, and none that involves so many people in so many different institutions.