By Perry Mathewes, Deputy Director, Museum Operations and Director of Gardens

One of the great things about working in the MSV Gardens is that you get to spend lots of time around beautiful plants and nature. Yes, there is the drudgery of weeding, mulching and other mundane tasks, but there are also sublime moments as you work. In fact, the garden is a feast for the senses – seeing the glisten of morning dew on a jewel-toned flower, smelling the fragrance of a sweet-smelling shrub wafting into your path, hearing the wind rustle the leaves overhead during a quiet moment, feeling the softness of moss on a stone, tasting the sweetness of a white alpine strawberry in the vegetable garden.

However, there is more to our Gardens and Trails than just plants. The whole place is inhabited by a wide variety of animals from tiny insects to large deer. Birds, bees and butterflies are easily found, but an observant person can also encounter a variety of  other insects, fish, foxes, raccoons, possums, and much more. As a result, I try to carry my camera through the garden as often as I can. I’ve been privileged to record many of these animals as they go about living their lives. So in the spirit of our upcoming National Geographic Photo Ark exhibition, here are a selection of a very few of my favorites moments with some of our MSV residents.

The next time you come to the Garden for a visit or take a walk on our Trails, make sure you bring your camera. You never know what you will see.

Related Events