Gift of The Executive Program Class of 2022 — The “Tell Me More” Walkway.

Spring ephemerals are perennial woodland plants that emerge in late winter and spring to take advantage of the sunlight that penetrates through the bare branches of the trees to the forest floor. These early perennials provide nectar and pollen for native insects, and they help to stabilize steep slopes to prevent erosion. Species highlighted in this garden include Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis), Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum).

Gift of Morris S. Smith Foundation and trustees Sterling, Larry and Mei Franklin — In 1946, Carl Franklin, age 35, came to the UVA Law School on the GI Bill. He was first in his class for both years of the then two-year law program. Declining an offer to clerk at the United States Supreme Court, he went into academia and became an influential figure in law education nationwide. He loved education, carning six degrees: BA, Accounting, U.

The Lower Foot Bridge provides a vital connection within the Tahija Arboretum & LaCross Botanical Gardens, allowing visitors to traverse the natural landscape while enjoying scenic views of the surrounding flora. Designed to blend seamlessly with its environment, the bridge enhances accessibility to the lower gardens, offering a quiet passage over the restored stream and linking key garden spaces. Whether used as a tranquil resting point or a pathway for exploration, the Lower Foot Bridge enriches the visitor experience by fostering a deeper connection with nature.

The Upper Tahija Arboretum Trails wind through a thoughtfully curated landscape of native and ornamental plantings, offering visitors an immersive experience in the beauty and biodiversity of the gardens. These trails provide an inviting space for reflection, education and connection with nature, featuring gently sloping pathways and shaded walkways.

The Lower Tahija Arboretum Trails weave through the more naturalized areas of the gardens, offering a serene retreat into the diverse plant life and ecosystems that define the Tahija Arboretum & LaCross Botanical Gardens. These trails follow the contours of the landscape, leading visitors through woodland areas, riparian habitats, and native plant groupings, creating an experience that highlights the intersection of conservation and education.

Gift of Steven C. Voorhees (MBA ’80, Parent ’14) & Celia Voorhees — The quality of our Darden experience is enhanced by the opportunities we have to connect with each other.

Viburnums are a large group of flowering tree and shrub species in the Adoxacee, or Moschatel, plant family. Almost all viburnums display composite white flowers, which are formed by hundreds of individual florets. Depending on the species, these composite flowers can appear as umbels, a flat curved flower, or round (like a snowball). Most viburnums also produce red, blue or black drupes, which are fleshy fruits with a hard single seed at the center.

Gift of Donald E. Morel Jr., Ph.D. (TEP’97) & Lauren Morel — The Thomas Jefferson Garden displays some of the plants documented by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark during the Corps of Discovery expedition (1804-1806) at the request of then President Jefferson. On August 2, 1805, Lewis described what is thought to be the Saskatoon Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) when he wrote, “The service berry grows on a smaller bush and differs from ours only in colour and the superior excellence of its flavor and size; it is of a deep purple.”

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is usually found in the shady understory of our native Virginia woodlands but can also tolerate full sun. The common name refers to the sweet, spicy, lemony fragrance of the stems, leaves and fruits. Spicebush is deer-resistant with early-season nectar for butterflies and bright red berries for migratory birds. The Spicebush Swallowtail lays eggs on the plant, signaling the symbiotic relationship between our native plants and migratory birds.