After many years of living near the Arboretum and walking there many times a week, I moved to Sherborn. Friends assured me I would find lovely walking trails in Sherborn. They didn’t understand how much the Arboretum means to me. My interactions with your staff, other visitors, the exhibits, and the lectures are irreplaceable. The Arnold Arboretum for me is a community of people who revere nature, plants, and our planet. It is a place of solace, learning, and wonder. What the remarkable Ned Friedman has brought to the Arboretum cannot be too highly praised. His enthusiasm and passion is visible throughout the Arboretum. Although I visit infrequently now, these Director’s Lectures give me the opportunity once again to be inspired and succored by the spirit of my beloved Arnold Arboretum. Many thanks to all of you who work hard to bring these lectures to Arboretum lovers near and far.