Ambassador Donald S. Beyer, Jr., RSO Peter Shephard, and PAO Alex Daniels visit Botanical Garden Bern (Nov 18, 2011)
Ambassador Beyer finishes winter preparations for the tree donated by the U.S. Embassy
Bern Botanical Garden Director Fischer and Ambassador Beyer discuss winter garden preparations
On November 18, 2011, Ambassador Donald S. Beyer, Jr., RSO Peter Shephard, and PAO Alex Daniels visited the Botanical Garden. In 2009, the Ambassador and his wife donated an endangered tree (Speierling, sorbus domestica) to the Botanical Garden in Bern on behalf of the People of the United States to the People of the Swiss Confederation.
The donation was in commemoration of the anniversary of September 11, 2001. Ambassador Beyer took this opportunity to prepare the donated tree for winter by cutting away the support pole, allowing the tree to stand on its own. He also trimmed lower branches and prepared the ground with nutrients in advance of winter. After the tree maintenance, the Ambassador was given a guided tour through the Botanical Garden by the director. Bern’s Botanical Garden has an impressive array of plants from around the world and is free to all visitors.