Botanic Garden docent tours encourage an appreciation of the natural world

Kaitlyn Eichelberger, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
·3 min read

Jun. 3—The West Virginia Botanic Garden (WVBG) invites visitors to learn about nature and the history of the Botanic Garden during weekly docent tours, a new program as of last year.

A docent is someone who acts as a guide, typically for a museum or zoo. At the WVBG, docents are volunteers passionate about the botanic garden and sharing their appreciation for the natural world.

The docent tours aim to provide visitors to the WVBG with more opportunities to learn about the garden and its history outside of other scheduled events. The WVBG's other tour events can offer an opportunity to learn about a specialized subject, like woodland amphibians or birdwatching, while the docent tours typically cover the garden's history or what's blooming at the moment.

"Many people visit the botanic garden and miss all of these really interesting plants or interesting history, and we want to provide the public more opportunities to come and have a guided experience, " said WVBG Executive Director Philip Smith.

Docent tours are held every Saturday from April through October at 10:30 a.m. Participants meet at the host kiosk, next to the lower parking lot. Tours are free and do not require pre-registration.

At the May 20 docent tour, volunteer of 20 years and tour guide Trevor Swan led the way through the garden's trails and gardens, along the Reservoir Loop, The Long Walk and Pixie Cup Trail, past the butterfly, Yagle, fairy and rhododendron gardens. Despite the overcast weather, the garden was alive with visitors walking their dogs or jogging, and the laughter of children at the Children's Adventure Garden.

"Part of our mission is inspiring people about the beauty and wonder of the natural environment, " said Smith. Docent tours provide this richer experience by encouraging participants to learn something new or notice something they may have otherwise overlooked.

For example, on that Saturday's tour Swan guided us along the Pixie Cup Trail. "Pixie Cup " may at first sound like a charming name for a scenic trail, but it's actually named for pixie cup lichen—tiny, mint-green cup-shaped lichen that sprout just millimeters above the ground. During a visit to the botanic garden, small details like this may easily go unnoticed, but the tour presented an opportunity to appreciate its delicate beauty.

During the tour, Swan also shared stories about the history of the WVBG, upcoming events and development plans, and the background of various gardens and trails. Other tour guides may also share information about the ecology of the garden or details specific to their expertise—this means each tour will be a different experience, depending on the tour guide and time of year.

Docents undergo a training program before leading tours, and those interested in volunteering to lead tours can contact WVBG Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Smith Paugh at volunteers @wvbg.org.

"This is a wonderful way for people to learn more about the West Virginia Botanic Garden, " said WVBG Education Director Erin Smaldone. "Our docents are very knowledgeable and personable and are excited to share their love of the WVBG with all who visit."

For updates on docent tours, visit the WVBG's Facebook page at Facebook.com /WVBotanicGarden.

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