From Fort Bragg Advocate

American Public Gardens Association awards the Heath and Heather Collection at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens as a Collection of National Significance.

In January 2008 the American Public Gardens Association awarded the Heath and Heather Collection at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens as a Collection of National Significance through its North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The NAPCC program coordinates a continent-wide approach toward plant germplasm preservation and recognizes high standards of plant curation management.

NAPCC program participants are selected through a rigorous application and site review process. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens stands among a prestigious group of gardens and arboreta that have committed themselves to the conservation and care of specific plant collections curated at the highest professional level. Participation in the Consortium means that the Gardens have agreed to make their collection available for increased distribution and research, and to promote public awareness of the importance of preserving our horticultural heritage.

The Heath and Heather Collection at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is distinguished by its diversity of species and cultivated varieties beautifully displayed and cared for by its knowledgeable staff. The collection has been recommended for a three-year provisional status in NAPCC during which it can strengthen its plant records procedures to further enhance this fine collection.