GIBRALTAR GARDEN HOSTS FIFTH ANNUAL GREENS SALE

Wilmington , DE .... Bring the natural beauty and freshness of evergreens into your home for the holiday season! The historic Marian Coffin Garden at Gibraltar , a public garden owned and operated by Preservation Delaware, is hosting this benefit greens sale to raise money for the ongoing maintenance and restoration of the garden. Volunteers have created unique fresh arrangements, wreaths and topiaries from live greens to use in your home, office or garden for the holiday season. Fresh plants and bulbs are available as well. Open for three days; Friday, December 9, 9am-5pm , Saturday December 10,  9am- 5pm , and Sunday December 11, 11am -3pm . The greens sale is held at Gibraltar , 1405 Greenhill Avenue in Wilmington , on the corner with Route 52/Pennsylvania Avenue. Preservation Delaware, Inc. is the state wide non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Delaware 's architectural heritage and historic settings, a statewide partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Marian Coffin Garden at Gibraltar is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.

Historic District Workshop in Sussex County

Historic Sussex and Preservation Delaware, Inc. will present a half-day workshop on historic districts - how they are formed and how the historic resources within them are protected. The workshop is open to the public but will focus on the needs of elected officials and interested citizens who are looking for practical information about historic districts. This workshop is scheduled for Monday, January 30, 2006 at the Georgetown Historical Society, 510 South Bedford Street , from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and a fee of $20 will be requested to cover costs.

The program will feature two panels, one composed of national and state experts, and the second of citizens from several Sussex County towns who will share their experiences with historic districts. Extensive questions and comments from the attendees are expected and encouraged. While there are approximately eight historic districts in the county, the protections they afford historic resources vary widely. As Sussex County grows, interest in protecting its historic and cultural resources also grows - in the towns and rural areas especially. Detailed information will be available soon at www.preservationde.org, but questions can be directed to Dan Costello, PDI's VP for Downstate Outreach, via e-mail at Danofbethany@aol.com or to Trent at PDI's office in Wilmington 302 651 9617.