The second of the Eastern Seed Zone Forum's online lecture and discussion hours aimed at providing both information about the creation of seed zones in general and a forum in which professionals, experts, and interested parties discuss the possibility...

More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities. This demographic shift creates a host of new opportunities, but also some new risks, especially given the challenges posed by climatic extremes. This timely...

Universities are beginning to grapple with the complexities of teaching sustainable development, but traditional institutional structures and limited resources can make it hard for them to offer programs that combine all these aspects.

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There is an urgent need for a new paradigm that integrates the continued development of human societies and the maintenance of the Earth system (ES) in a resilient and accommodating state. The planetary boundary (PB) framework contributes to such a ...

Climate change is affecting public landscapes now. Research into managing existing landscapes and designing new ones is critical if our parks and gardens are to adapt. After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, a...

As climate change places continued pressure upon wild-plant populations, botanical gardens and arboreta become increasingly indispensable conservation agents. Not only are collection managers faced with harder...

As stewards of living collections, public garden staff safeguard plants in the best interest of their organizations and audiences. There are many different threats to the safety and security of these gardens and their collections, with natural...

Growing degree days have been used widely for both agriculture and horticulture purposes since the 1950s to track temperature accumulation. Without the stress of drought or other unusual weather conditions, plants typically grow in a stepwise fashion...

As spring arrives, it brings with it warmer weather, blossoming trees and flowers, singing birds, and severe weather such as hail, high winds, and tornadoes. Each year, many people across the United States are killed or seriously injured by the severe...

Soil moisture is a key factor in determining the annual progress of natural environments and human systems. In horticultural and agricultural settings, soil moisture information can aid in making decisions regarding plant variety choice and planting...

As was felt recently at the South Carolina Botanical Garden, extreme precipitation and flooding can be exceptionally devastating. Excess rains can wash away trails, compromise bridges, and harm many varieties of plants in public gardens. Sometimes no...

An innovative climate change cell phone tour and pilot project at Longwood Gardens marks the first deliverable in a series of objectives between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and American Public Gardens Association that...