The Friends Donate Benches Valued at 13,000 Euros

The Friends of the Botanic Garden of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz supported the redesign of the Botanic Garden with the provision of new benches to the tune of 13,000 Euros. The chairman of the Friends, Prof. Dr. Erich Muscholl, and the Botanic Garden curator, Dr. Ralf Omlor, opened the benches to the public today.

It all goes to make the Botanic Garden a little more attractive for visitors and just in time for the plant bazaar, which takes place on Sunday (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.). Eight new benches donated by the Friends of the Botanic Garden were installed in the center of the Systematics Section alongside the big magnolia bed. After completing foundation construction work, another bench and new trash cans will be added in the coming weeks. The Friends of the Botanic Garden have set aside 13,000 € for this purpose. The benches are made of a steel frame with seating surfaces and backrests made of weatherproof, FSC-certified hardwood. "They have a modern design and fit in well with the character of the Systematics Section, which after all is not a dreamy garden landscape but a scientific division of flowering plants,” says Dr. Omlor, curator of the Botanic Garden.

The Friends of the Botanic Garden were founded in 1998. They aim to promote the Mainz University garden beyond the narrow circle of botanists, where it is widely known, and introduce it, its development, and content to a broader public. In the meantime, the association has more than 90 members and has had considerable success: the tours, exhibitions, and events at the Botanic Garden exhibits and lectures have attracted a great deal of attention. During the winter, the Friends organize a series of lectures on botanical and gardening subjects, and in the summer, they conduct excursions to areas of natural interest, to historical gardens, and to specialized garden facilities. This Sunday, the annual Botanic Garden plant bazaar will be held under the patronage of the Friends. Visitors can buy plants which are surplus to the garden's requirements. Besides coffee and cake, the Friends offer information on the Botanic Garden at their booth and hope to win new friends to support this unique garden in Rhineland-Palatinate.