Volunteers have once again made a tremendous contribution to the Botanic Garden. It is hard to express how valuable they are to us. We could not have run such a successful Plant Sale without their help, and we certainly would not be able to offer the number of guided tours that we give to school groups. This spring alone, 50 different groups were ably led through the Conservatory and gardens by this enthusiastic crew. Their help in counting visitors also enabled us to determine the attendance at our Bulb and Mum Shows. This year they also served as hosts at Capen Garden when it was featured on the Annual Friends of Forbes Library Garden Tour. Our regular Wednesday group has been diligently filling orders from our Site Index Seminum. So far this year over 160 gardens from all over the world have placed orders, and thousands of seed packets have been sent out.
     We hope to offer another volunteer training session in January. We'd love for you to join us if you can. Please call the office for an application (413-585-2742). 

     This year's Plant Sale attracted over three hundred interested gardeners who eagerly descended upon our plant-filled tables at 9:00 am. Members of the Friends of the Botanic Garden were admitted an hour before the general public-a significant benefit if you were interested in Jeffersonia, Helleborus, or Dodecatheon, perennials that disappeared very quickly. We were quite delighted by the interest in our orchid offerings. Not a single one was left at the end of the day.
     The rains cooperated and held out until the afternoon.