Friends Of Vallarta Botanical Gardens Ac

Programs: The vallarta botanicals gardens this past year continued to expand its facilities and activities in support of horticulture (plant propagation, plant collection development, display development and maintenance), public education and plant conservation. Some major infrastructural improvements in the gardens and an exciting addition of new acreage under the gardens conservation protection are described in the following. **land acquisition: expansion of acreage and preservation of native forest - through the generous lead gift of a friends board member as well as supporting memberships, land to the south and east of existing garden borders has been purchased, adding approximately 19 hectares to the existing property and bringing the total area of the gardens to 24 hectares or nearly 65 acres.

much of the new addition is along the borders of the los horcones river, the banks of which are especially rich as riparian habitat-- critical to many native plants and animals. Conservation of the native flora is one of the goals of the vbg leadership and the area is of interest to researchers in mexico as well as the us for study of mexican plant species and dry forest ecology. This addition has resulted in interest from the conservation community and will hopefully lead to continuing collaborative study projects with other institutions. **infrastructural improvements - early 2017 saw the installation and dedication of the cheryl l. Wheeler international peace garden of mexico, a new garden around the chapel of our lady of the garden (capilla de nuestra senora del jardin). A dedication ceremony was attended by regional community leaders, clergy, staff and

representatives of international peace gardens international. In addition, the peacewalk, a beautiful pebble mosaic surface of detailed swirl patterns was added to the entry stairs to the chapel using an ancient technique of creating stone mosaics in in various colors of stone. -a beautiful and modern new entrance sign was installed outside of the entry gate. Decorated with bright colors the larger and more durable new sign is constructed of and aluminum and steel. This improvement will better alert travelers passing the gardens to its presence and visitors to the location of the entry inviting everyone in to see the gardens. -a bridge replacement project has been completed this year -the bridge of dreams replaces an old wooden structure with a beautiful new cantera stone bridge across