Passing of former BGSC member Rev. Don Moore

Good Afternoon BGSC Members,

It is with deep regret that I write to advise on the passing of former BGSC member Rev. Don Moore which was just announced in Wednesday's Royal Gazette (1-Apr-26). Don Moore was a Royal Botanic Garden Kew trained horticulturalist who came to the  Bermuda Agricultural Station in the mid 1950s and was involved in the re-afforestation of the island in the aftermath of the Bermuda Cedar Scale Epidemic. He was a contemporary of the late horticulturalist J. Hubert Jones and together their horticultural work helped re-green the island, which saved visual quality for Bermuda's Tourism industry at a time when our Agricultural sector had collapsed. Their work also helped bring about transformation of  the Agricultural Station into the Bermuda Botanical Gardens on the 17-Apr-1958. He started the first Horticultural Apprenticeship Program in 1960 and was mentor to Peter Truran who later became an iconic BG Superintendent during the 1970s – 2000s. Rev. Don was  on staff when the Camden property was added to the Botanical Gardens in 1965, and led landscape improvements and collection development of the Camden addition throughout the 1960s. One of his cherished horticultural accomplishments was the introduction of the striking Silver Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus sericeus) which is now grown and seen throughout the island. Don Moore resigned from the Bermuda Botanical Gardens in 1970 to pursue careers in business and pastoral work, but he never lost his love for horticulture. Like many, he despaired over the decline of the Botanical Gardens in later years but became encouraged by the 2020 BG renewal effort and willingly offered his assistance and historical insights by participating on the BG Steering Committee from 2020 – 2022, despite being in his 90s! His input was greatly appreciated and was still being sought even up to the time of his passing.

Don Moore played a significant role in creating what we now know as the Bermuda Botanical Gardens. It is a  steadfast aim that our BG Steering Committee will carry on Don's legacy and passion by pressing on toward BG renewal and accreditation.