Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the Arboretum welcomes visitors to its storied plant sales, and many may not know that these events would not be possible without a small army of volunteers.
We've been hosting these plant sales for so long that Volunteer Coordinator Anne Donnelly refers to them as a "well-oiled machine." But any machine is the sum of many parts working together, and Landis is no exception. It takes a team of dedicated workers to staff the sales, as well as carry out the planning, preparation, and takedown. Propagating seeds and cuttings, setting up the tables and the tents, unloading the consigned plants, taking inventory, sorting the books, baking the treats – all that goes into the sales happens only with the help of the volunteers.
And there are many other places to see the Landis volunteers in action. As a not-for-profit organization, the Arboretum depends on its volunteers to supplement our limited staff resources for maintenance and improvement of our buildings and grounds.
And volunteers are on the road. Arboretum volunteers are out in the community year-round, sharing information about all things Landis, from our programs and events to our natural beauty and collections.
And volunteers work behind the scenes. We build and maintain our website and our social media, design and develop our publications, offer the use of our rustic facilities and green spaces to brides and grooms, and promote Landis as a community resource.
Every year Landis celebrates our extraordinary volunteers on a Sunday afternoon in September. Rain or shine, we toast these special people with everything good - food, drink, music, and lots of smiles and conversations. Our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party will be held this year on Sunday, September 29, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Meeting House. No charge: just let us know you are coming at (518) 875-6935 or info@landisarboretum.
See you in September – if not before. Contact Anne Donnelly at volunteering@landisarboretum.org or (518) 875-6935 to find out more about how you can get involved as a volunteer. There's a place for everyone, whatever your talents and interests. And join us for the party!