Through the generosity of a number of leadership donors, the Delaware Botanic Gardens has made significant progress in its plan to Open the Garden Gates. These and other initial supporters, donors, and volunteers are turning our vision into reality.
“Without Pennoni and Mark Davidson, the Delaware Botanic Gardens would still be a concept on the back of an envelope. The company’s pro bono contributions of engineering and project management have made the DBG vision a real project.”
Founding Corporate Partner
Pennoni Associates Inc.
Established in 1966, Pennoni Associates is a multidisciplined engineering and design consulting firm that provides personalized services and solutions to meet the needs of a diverse client base. Since 2012 Pennoni, under the direction of Mark H. Davidson, associate vice president, has aided the development of site plans for the garden, submission of plans for public approval, and oversight of physical details of the site. Nelson J. Shaffer, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, has joined DBG's Advisory Council.
Left: Pennoni executives Chuck Pennoni, top, and, Mark Davidson.
“ Pennoni’s pro bono assistance to DBG is a remarkable testimony to the values of community service with which Chuck Pennoni has imbued his entire organization. Pennoni represents the very best of corporate responsibility and volunteerism.”
Corporate Partners
Bancroft Construction Company
Bancroft, DBG's construction manager, serves the Mid-Atlantic states and has experience with similar nature centers, including the renowned Longwood Gardens. The company was the first member of the Delaware Nature Society's Soil Stewardship Program; one of the first construction firms in the region to have LEED-accredited professionals on-staff; and the first Delaware corporation to be named to the Philadelphia 100, which tracks the fastest-growing privately held companies in the region.
George and Lynch
Established in 1923, George and Lynch is one of the largest, most diverse infrastructure contractors serving the Mid-atlantic region. Headquartered in Dover, it employs more than 360 construction professionals specializing in a wide variety of heavy infrastructure-related services. G&L has been involved since DBG's earliest days, making the site's woodlands accessible for surveying and developing paths through its 12 acres. The company has also provided key cost estimates for the project's phase 1.
Founding Business Partners
Baird Mandalas Brockstedt Frederico LLC
1413 Savannah Road, Suite 1
Lewes, DE 19958
302-827-2652
www.bmbde.com
Banks Wines & Spirits
38014 Town Center Dr
Millville, DE 19967
www.bankswinesandspirits.com
Bryant Design
4270 Sunningdale Drive
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
248-593-5383
Good Earth Market and Restaurant
31806 Good Earth Lane
Ocean View, DE 19970
302-537-7100
www.goodearthmarket.com
SEA Studio Architects
PO Box 1388
Bethany Beach, DE 19930
302-364-3082
www.seagreenstudio.com
SoDel Concepts and Plate Catering
www.sodelconcepts.com
www.plate-catering.com
Trinity Logistics
P.O. Box 1620
Seaford, DE 19973
Tunnell and Raysor
770 King's Highway
Lewes, DE 19958
302-644-4442
www.tunnellraysor.com
WN Builders
17527 Nassau Commons Blvd
Suite 209
Lewes, DE 19958
302-253-8640
www.seagreenstudio.com
Foundation Partners
Longwood Foundation
In 2015 the Longwood Foundation granted DBG its largest award to date: $500,000 with an additional $250,000 once a two-for-one match is achieved. This support from one of the region's leading foundations has enabled the garden to speed up planning for its Phase One opening.
Welfare Foundation
Another significant donor to DBG in 2015 was the Welfare Foundation. A grant of $75,000 provides significant aid for creation of features such as the Woodland Gardens and other areas that will greet the garden's first visitors.
Coltman Family Foundation
Through the generosity of the local resident Chuck Coltman of North Bethany Beach, several large matching grants have been awarded to the garden during the annual Good Earth Market farm dinners to benefit DBG.
Marmot Foundation
A pair of grants totaling $40,000 from this Wilmington foundation will further DBG's plans to Open the Garden Gates. Marmot supports similar environmental, cultural, and museum-related programs among its many areas of interest.
Crestlea Foundation, Inc.
Timely and generous contributions from the Crestlea Foundation, including an additional $50,000 in 2015, have facilitated our initial fundraising and the development of the Woodland Gardens.
Crystal Trust
McDonald Foundation
Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust
Delaware Community Foundation
Nonprofit Partners
Sussex County Land Trust
The Sussex County Land Trust has granted DBG a 99-year renewable lease for creation of its 37-acre garden. The trust is a nonprofit conservation organization, dedicated to protecting natural, cultural, agricultural, and recreational resources through land preservation, stewardship, and education. It preserves open space, acquires and maintains the integrity of open land easements, assist landowners with decision making process, and educates others.
Delaware Center for the Inland Bays
Three shallow bays—Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay and Little Assawoman Bay—lie just behind a narrow spit of land in sight and sound of the Atlantic Ocean. The bays serve as the backbone of Delaware’s coastal resort area stretching from Cape Henlopen to the north at the mouth of the Delaware Bay to the Town of Fenwick Island at the Maryland state line to the south. The watershed area also extends west to the headwater streams of Indian River and other tributaries, and the farm fields, millponds and marshes of Sussex County, Delaware.
Delaware Greenways
Delaware Greenways is a nonprofit organization committed to healthy, vibrant, sustainable communities throughout the First State. It promotes open space protection, trail and pathway development, the advancement of public health through the active use of outdoor resources, design and investment in sustainable communities, and the engagement of an informed public.
See You Outside, Delaware!
Join Delaware Greenways on a quest to experience Delaware’s most extraordinary outdoor treasures! Simply complete as many of the SYO approved outdoor activities and chronicle your adventure by taking a photo of yourself at each activity or event. Send your photo to info@syodelaware.org and be entered to win awesome prizes. Be the first to submit 10 photos as proof of completed activity and receive a See You Outside car magnet (limited to first 300 participants).
Delaware Public Media
Delaware Public Media is the first and only public media news service founded in Delaware and dedicated to covering the unique issues, events, personalities, and culture of Delaware. Delaware Public Media presents high-quality statewide news in a rich combination of audio, video, and text, and is available online at delawarepublic.org and on air at:
WDDE 91.1 FM
WMPH 91.7 FM
WMHS 88.1 FM
Government Partners
Members of the Sussex County Delegation, Delaware General Assembly
In 2015 the county's legislators contributed $168,000 from their community transportation fund accounts to support the early development of the gardens.
Delaware Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has played a crucial role in bolstering coastal resilience through its technical assistance and funding for a $560,000 shore mitigation project. The DBG Hybrid Living Shoreline initiative has created 0.30 acres of vibrant tidal marshland, serving as a protective buffer for 0.40 acres of existing wetlands. For inquiries or further information contact DelDOT at 302-760-2080.
Delaware Office of Economic Development and Department of Agriculture
These two state agencies in 2014 underwrote preparation of an economic analysis of the garden's contributions to Delaware and the region.
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
DNREC has provided technical assistance to the garden in laying out its key woodlands pathways to ensure that they meet environmental standards and are accessible to all visitors.
“It is you and your team who deserve all the credit. If this happens, and I believe failure is not an option, it will be because a group of caring citizens saw a need and were able to marshal the troops to make it work. The job of government should be to facilitate that effort and I can assure you will have the support of DEDO and the Tourism Office from start to finish.”
Local Business Partners
Alban Tractor Company
13074 South Dupont Highway
Felton, DE 19943
302-284-4100
George H. Bunting Jr. Insurance
19716 Sea Air Avenue, No. 1
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
302-227-3891
www.gbunting.com
Denney Lighting & Design
28635 Dupont Boulevard
Millsboro, DE 19966
302-934-8885
www.denneylightingdesign.com
Nickle Electrical Companies
540 S Bedford St
Georgetown, DE 19947
302-856-1006
www.nickleelectrical.com
Addy Sea Inn
99 Ocean View Parkway
Bethany Beach, DE. 19930.
302-539-3707.
www.addysea.com
Inland Bays Garden Center
38420 Muddy Neck Rd.
Frankford, DE. 19945
302-539-1839
www.inlandbaysgardencenter.com
Lowe’s of Millsboro, DE
26688 Centerview Drive
Millsboro, DE 19966
302-934-3740
https://www.lowes.com/store/DE-Millsboro/2795
East Coast Garden Center
30366 Cordrey Road
Millsboro, DE 19966
302-945-3489
www.eastcoastgardencenter.com
Gardening Angels
35026 Andrew Street
Bethany Beach, DE 19930
302-228-1987
Lane Builders, LLC
1009 Kings Hwy
Lewes, DE 19958
www.lanebuilders.com
Lord’s Landscaping Inc.
35577 Atlantic Avenue
Millville, DE 19970
302-539-6119
www.lordslandscaping.com
PDK Horticultural LLC
Patrick Kelly, Horticulturist
Centreville, Maryland 21617
443-262-2079
Hotel Bethany Beach
39642 Jefferson Bridge Rd
Bethany Beach, Delaware 19930
302-541-9200
www.hotelbethanyde.com
Pieces on Main
33119 Main St.
Dagsboro, DE. 19939
302-927-0601
www.piecesonmain.com
Quillen Signs
523 Federal Street
Milton, DE 19968
302-684-3661
www.QuillenSigns.com
Tri-Supply & Equipment Company
110 Columbia Drive
Salisbury, MD 21801
410-546-2900
www.trisupplyandequipment.com
Dogfish Head Beer and Benevolence
6 Cannery Village Center,
Milton, DE 19968
302-684-1000
www.dogfish.com
Bin 66
20729 Coastal Hwy
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
302-227-6161
www.bin66.com
Dagsboro Paint & Wall Paper
33307 Main St.
Dagsboro, DE.19939
302-743-2822
www.dagsboropaint.com
Story Hill Farm
34645 Winding Rd.
Frankford, DE 19945
302-725-8200
www.storyhillmoos.com
Garden Club Partners
Barefoot Gardeners
Fenwick Island
The Barefoot Gardeners seek to broaden the knowledge of gardening and related subjects, as well as to strive to beautify the community. Among their annual activities is a spring plant sale.
Coastal Gardeners
Bethany Beach
Coastal Gardeners was established in 2017 by a group of busy and enthusiastic gardeners who were eager to learn about gardening in this area, meet others who share our interests, and serve our community. Their meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Millville by the Sea Clubhouse and, as the only local garden club that meets in the evening. They welcome new members from anywhere in the area.
Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs
Founded in 1958, the federation provides garden education for member clubs through courses, programs, and innovative flower shows. One of its major projects is the Memorial Garden for the Fallen at Dover Air Force Base. Additionally, it sponsors TREE-mendous Delaware Tree Planting at Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek.
www.delawaregardenclubs.org
Gardeners by the Sea
Ocean View and Bethany Beach
The mission of this group is to encourage interest and knowledge of all phases of home gardening and flower arrangement; to promote civic beauty; to affiliate with the Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs and the National Garden Clubs; and to aid in the protection and conservation of natural resources.
www.gardenersbythesea.com
Sussex Gardeners
Rehoboth Beach
Founded in 1937, the Sussex Gardeners club is one of the oldest in the nation. It strives to bring together people who have an interest in gardening, landscape design, floral design, and horticulture. Community outreach includes programs in garden therapy, conservation, and civic beautification. Regular meetings are free and open to the public and include programs of interest by guest presenters.
www.sussexgardenersgardenclub.org
Garden Club of Millsboro
Millsboro
www.millsborogardenclub.com
Chamber of Commerce Partners
Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Comnerce
36913 Coastal Highway,
Fenwick Island, DE 19944.
302-539-2100,
www.thequietresort.com
Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce
306 Rehoboth Ave
Rehoboth Beach, DE. 19971.
302-277-2233,
www.fun-beach.com
Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce
203 Main St.
Millsboro, DE. 19966
302-934-6777
www.millsborochamber.com
Banner photograph by Ray Bojarski.