After eight years, Delaware Botanic Garden to open on Thursday

DAGSBORO, Del. – The Delaware Botanic Gardens will officially open their gates on Thursday, but it’s been a journey getting there.

“It’s a dream and the dream is becoming a reality,” the President of the gardens, Raymond Sander, said.

But it’s taken a lot of work and a lot of time.

“This garden project has been a huge undertaking and it’s been ongoing for about eight years,” Deputy Executive Director Brian Trader said.

Eight years of work and preparation done mostly by the people who are simply passionate about the project.

“The gardens have been planted, and are managed and maintained, almost exclusively by a team of volunteers,” Trader explained.

“It’s a volunteer organization, so people have to be committed to the whole project,” Sander added.

Now, with 37 acres and 5 main gardens, volunteers and organizers say this spot is a reminder to appreciate what makes up the Eastern Shore.

“We sometimes take it for granted, we drive by these beautiful trees, these beautiful fields, these beautiful beaches every day and they’re there, but we want to make sure the people understand that this is important, it has to be saved, it has to be preserved, it has to be celebrated,” Sander said.

So while the Shore is famous for beaches and boating, organizers at the garden say they’re adding another “b” to that list.

“We’re giving them botanic, they’re going to come here for a botanic garden, and that’s going to be one of the draws for people coming to Delmarva, I’m sure of it,” Sander said.