501 and counting.
Photo: David Korbonits
It just got a little easier for guests of Stoneleigh: a natural garden to learn the native plant species that comprise the beautiful, biodiverse, and beneficial landscapes there. Chris Polidore, the Stoneleigh summer intern for 2021, installed a whopping 501 plant identification labels during his internship.
“Stoneleigh is a botanical garden, which means we display documented collections of plants for public education as well as for their important place in the ecology,” said Stoneleigh Director Ethan Kauffman. “Plant labels allow our guests to note information like the genus, species, and cultivar so they can know what to look for when shopping for plants for their own backyards. They help our guests learn more about the world of horticulture.”
A grant from the American Conifer Society funded the labels for Stoneleigh’s conifers and a portion of the installation time. The Garden Club of Philadelphia provided additional support.
The intern program was funded in perpetuity with an initial gift from generous donors who wish to remain anonymous and has been augmented with a meaningful contribution in memory of longtime Natural Lands member and volunteer Dr. Martha Turner-Leonetti.