Check out the garden 

I would like to know just how James Small (“Goodbye, park,” Oct. 1) supported the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. I have been a long time volunteer and financial supporter and I have never met him and neither have any of the office staff, directors, nor volunteers I talked to, either. He says a promise is a promise and an arboretum was promised and not delivered.  An arboretum is a place where an extensive variety of woody plants are cultivated for scientific, educational, and ornamental purposes.  A botanical garden is defined as a place where a wide variety of plants are cultivated for scientific, educational, and ornamental purposes. That sounds like a promise kept to me, according to the American Heritage College Dictionary.  

I would like to invite anyone who does not know much about the garden to attend a free presentation about the vision and opportunities the garden has to offer.   The next presentations will be on Oct. 24 and 31 at 10 a.m. and last approximately 45 minutes. Call 541-1400 Ext. 303 to reserve a spot or go to SLOBG.org.  

Mediterranean climates are only found in five locales in the world and comprise only 3 percent of the land mass.  Such habitats need protection, which is why education is the key element of this garden as well as all botanical gardens