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Dave Benner
“Moss Guru”
Retired Professor of Ornamental Horticulture

Dave Benner, known in Pennsylvania and environs as the Moss Guru, was an Ornamental Horticulture faculty member at Delaware Valley College for 22 years, before retiring in 1989.

He was a pioneer in developing moss lawns to replace turfgrass in shady areas, and remains a tireless advocate of moss as a maintenance-free landscape element. The Benner property, which has been cultivated for 40 years with nothing but moss and rare shade-loving perennials, has been featured in numerous magazines, newspapers, and books. Pictures of the unique moss lawns and native wildflowers have graced the pages of such publications as Architectural Digest, Country Gardens, American Nurseryman, and House and Garden magazine. Dave is currently the Botanical Consultant for Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and a sought-after lecturer at various horticultural societies, arboreta, and garden clubs.