A native of Wales, Pryce Lea was born on a small livestock farm he described as a ranch of 20, maybe 30, acres. Realizing agriculture was not capturing his interest - and knowing it was not very profitable in the mid-1980s and early 1990s - he developed an interest in horticulture and completed an apprenticeship with National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty in the United Kingdom.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Lancaster University in northern England. Formerly employed by the Philadelphia Zoo, he took over as horticulturist at the Delaware Botanic Gardens in March this year and was quickly promoted to director of horticulture.
His plans include bringing more plants into the collection as he continues in the role of “managing the team of volunteers that comes in to do the ongoing maintenance of the garden.”
“I have been brought in to help manage and develop the meadow,” he explained. “It really needs a development plan and a strategy. It won’t just take care of itself. It’s a huge role I am able to embrace and share with volunteers - and some of them have been here many years and are passionate about the meadow."
Read the complete article at www.coastalpoint.com.
