Mill Creek Gardens
|
|
The most significant outreach resource of the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Mill Creek Gardens, was created in 1995 as an endowed 119-acre conservation easement agreement, a gift from the late Mrs. Elisabeth Hayter Montgomery. The use of this fund and its handling is rather simple. The endowment will fund research and development activities on that property: projects that promote the conservation, selection and use of the native plants of Texas and the testing of new plant materials for Texas. This is a broad arena of horticulture and botany and the site is absolutely perfect. The 119-acre natural area is six miles west of the university, easy to access, and offers a unique mix of wetland, mesic mid-slopes and xeric uplands. These are very positive attributes if managed properly. The gift was featured in SFA’s Sawdust, April 1995 issue, p 14. |
It is difficult to express in words just what this development means in terms of opportunity and potential. It is a significant gift, one that developed over a period of seven years. A native of Nacogdoches, Elisabeth Hayter Montgomery grew up romping in the forest shade of what is now the SFA campus. While she never lost her love for the forests of deep East Texas, she and her husband, Pete, settled in the Texas Hill Country. Over the years she remained in touch with her Nacogdoches friends and developed a close working relationship with SFA Horticulture. The Hayter family established a large blueberry field on family land and Elisabeth was responsible for creating a conservation strategy for the special plants, habitats, and ecosystems of that property. Prior to her death, Mrs. Montgomery established the Sam B. and Penelope Hayter Mill Creek Garden and Plant Sanctuary Endowment in memory of her parents. |
|
|
Return to SFASU Mast Arboretum
Any questions concerning this page or website |
|
