Maymester Students Create New Master Plan for UGACR Botanical Garden

(Left to right) Laura Esposito, Jacque Menke, Lauren Patterson, Felipe Barrantes, Elizabeth Solomon, Sara Hutchinson, Kimberly Johnson, Wade Alexander, Ben Proulx, Matthew Quirey, UGACR landscape director Lucas, Professor Douglas Pardue

Nine students from the Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Historic Preservation, and Bachelor of Spanish programs embarked on a 14-day trip throughout Costa Rica led by Professor Douglas Pardue for the CED Maymester in Nature and Environmental Design. Beginning in the capital of San Jose and culminating at the beach in Guanacaste, they were able to experience the variety of environments in Costa Rica and learn about the sustainability measures being taken. While at UGA's campus in Monteverde, they spent an intensive three days redesigning the campus botanical gardens. With guidance from the campus caretaker and medicinal plant expert, Lucas, they developed a plan that incorporates the existing inventory and features with user-friendly interpretation and pathways.