The Association’s annual awards spotlight eight professionals and programs shaping the future of public gardens

SAN FRANCISCO (June 11, 2026) – The American Public Gardens Association (APGA) honored garden professionals and organizations during their annual business and awards luncheon at the 2026 American Public Gardens Association Annual Conference in San Francisco, California, on June 10, 2026.

Each year, the Association recognizes the individuals and organizations whose work is shaping the future of public horticulture through its Annual Awards program. Awards are given honoring outstanding contributions in seven categories: Honorary Life Member, Award of Merit, Professional Citation, Program Excellence, Garden Excellence, Dorothy E. Hansell Marketing Award, and Operational Sustainability Award. Any APGA member is eligible for nomination, and recipients are selected by a volunteer Awards Committee of public garden professionals from across the field.

Honorary Life Member Award:
Christopher Dunn
Elizabeth Newman Wilds Executive Director Emeritus
Cornell Botanic Gardens

Awards of Merit:
Kara Newport
President & CEO
Filoli

Jennifer Ceska
Conservation Coordinator
State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Professional Citation Award:
Christy Rollinson
Senior Scientist, Forest Ecology
The Morton Arboretum

Dorothy E. Hansell Marketing Award:
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Find Your True Nature Campaign

Program Excellence Award:
New York Botanical Garden
Branch Out Program

Garden Excellence Award:
Colorado Springs Utilities

Operational Sustainability Award:
Queens Botanical Garden

“Each year, we look forward to recognizing the most influential, thought-provoking professionals and organizations, and I’m so proud of all of this year’s winners,” said Michelle Provaznik, CEO of American Public Gardens Association. Our field is full of people who champion public gardens every day, and these awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate that work. We get to spotlight the careers of those who are showing up to gardens with innovation, showing up to their communities with passion, and showing up to seats of power with solutions that move our industry forward. We also get to acknowledge the teamwork behind our gardens’ successes.”

The awards ceremony is part of the annual conference that brings together nearly 1,000 public garden professionals from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for five days of education, networking, and collaboration.