What’s the difference between Preservation & Conservation (on a Mountain Reservation)

Tom and I had the pleasure of going to this amazing, formerly private estate that’s been set up as a botanical garden.  Elegant. Sublime.   Designed with the spirit of the place.  Fit into nature, Southern Highland Reserve is open once a month but you could see it on Nov. 12 for their very cool sounding symposium — a deal to get to see this place, for breakfast and lunch and great speakers on Native Americans and the landscape.

A reserve, is place where plants, animal and culture is preserved and conserved.   Preservation refers to caring for something as it is or has been, to keeping in tact.   Conservation refers to using wisely, to planning for the future to stewardship of a limited resource.   This place and their enthusiastic, so-connected to the land and it’s history new director of programs, Kelly Holdbrooks (who’s photo is above)  has to be the coolest new botanical garden I’ve been to in years — it has a long term, serious goals mixed with  fun plants and oh-damn can you believe we are walking under the endless canopy of 20-foot tall  mountain laurel?  moments.