Bringing People and Nature Together: The Williamsburg Landing Arboretum Team
How 16 Resident Volunteers Transform a Retirement Community into a Living Educational Resource
"The arboretum has been a major factor in enhancing my life and the lives of those who have chosen to become deeply involved. We endeavor to involve other residents through our online data base, plant labels, tours, and an annual event."
Building a Team, Building Community
What started as one resident's vision has grown into a vibrant community of 16 volunteer arboretum team members at Williamsburg Landing. Organized into neighborhood teams, these dedicated residents—including Tree Stewards, photographers, and technology enthusiasts—work year-round to identify, photograph, and document the community's botanical treasures. Each team member brings unique skills, from botanical expertise to digital photography and administrative organization, creating a diverse group united by their enthusiasm for sharing nature with others. "Williamsburg Landing Arboretum stands out as the organization with the most active users on Plantsoon," notes Heidi Bertels, co-founder of Plantsoon. "With 13 user logins, they've truly embraced this as a community effort. What's remarkable is how they've transformed plant documentation from a solo task into meaningful engagement for their retirement community—it's a model for how technology can bring people together around a shared purpose."
Digital Innovation in Senior Living
The partnership with Plantsoon has revolutionized how Williamsburg Landing shares its arboretum with the world. After recovering from the Plantsmap crash, the team embraced Plantsoon's capabilities with determination, converting 68 records and adding 30 more since fall 2024. Team members now use zone functions, create collections, and link to data-rich outside sources from universities and other arboreta. With multiple team members trained in the administrative side of Plantsoon, they've created a sustainable system for maintaining and expanding their digital presence.
Virtual visit to their garden: https://experience.plantsoon.com/visit/williamsburg-landing
A Model for Other Communities
Williamsburg Landing's success offers a blueprint for other senior communities considering similar initiatives. The key ingredients? Secure support from landscape management, administration, and the board; assemble a diverse team with varied skills; and embrace both the physical and digital aspects of plant documentation. As the community continues to expand with new residences bringing fresh landscaping opportunities, the arboretum team collaborates with the landscape manager to create new plant collections, ensuring that this living laboratory continues to grow and inspire for generations to come.
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