Drastic phase down of our carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels
within decades will likely be insufficient to avoid seeding catastrophic human‐caused
climate change. We have to also start removing CO2 from the...

Urbanization, lack of contact with the natural world, and growing up removed from agriculture has contributed to a void of knowledge relating to food and food production, along with a phenomenon known as plant blindness. We sought to change this lack...

Educators know, based on years of research, that effective learning happens when learners are:

• Actively engaged (as opposed to passive recipients of information)
• Equal partners in the learning process
• Socially engaged
...

The North Carolina Botanical Center has created a step-by-step guide on how to plan for a low-waste event. This is an example of a policy that ensures garden staff plan events with sustainability in mind. It contains a checklist and tips for garden...

Inspired by the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens' Garden For YOU! program, the Conservation Society of California, Oakland Zoo, put together together this document that highlights key considerations in evaluating the guest experience and why it is...

All generations are not created equal. Are you optimizing your outreach and fundraising opportunities to connect with each group? The Next Generation of American Giving reveals multichannel preferences and charitable habits of Generation X, Generation...

Improving urban forests is one of the solutions to achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and making cities healthier and more livable for people. Priority should be given to protecting mature trees and promoting long‐...

Beyond gift shops, wedding rentals, and one-off plant sales, every garden has unique assets that could be leveraged to achieve the institutional mission and creatively generate revenue for the organization or reduce expenses. Identifying those assets...

Public gardens can demonstrate their economic, environmental, and social impacts to demonstrate their value to surrounding communities by utilizing valuation tools for development and sustainability policies. The use of impact studies can play a vital...

Public gardens, which are centers for expertise, often have concerns with earned-revenue generation and education seeing consulting income as a conflict with their mission. Our experience shows education, advocacy, and service can enhance relevance and...

Opening a new or renovated garden/garden space doesn't end with construction and plants! That's when the communications and marketing teams gear up to prepare the space for visitors and then work to get the word out. Join us to hear from gardens across...

Public Gardens are positioned to not only support the protection of plants but lessons about how they intersect with thriving communities as well. Indigenous communities and their associated values are critical components to developing solutions to...

As public gardens become increasingly focused on visitor experience, the story they tell about themselves—and the way gardens use this story to engage their stakeholders—is more important than ever. Participants will hear from five professionals at...

Millennials represent one quarter of the nation’s population, but many gardens struggle to create offerings that this demographic finds valuable, leading to few engagement opportunities for millennials and millennial-minded people in public gardens. By...

Green spaces (zoos, city parks, and urban farms) and cultural institutions are capturing our gap audiences—racial minorities, youth and young adults, and people of lower socioeconomic status. Come find out why it is important to engage and collaborate...

As interest in native plants and their habitats grows, what roles do we play as public garden professionals, in nurturing and expanding this interest, and providing sufficient learning opportunities? Members of this panel will present several methods...

Art sparks new dialogues and can simultaneously represent the past, present, and future, fostering connections and understanding across cultures. Gardens, parks, and public spaces continue to expand on traditional notions of art access and display,...

Despite the resonant theme of plant biodiversity inherent in the public garden sector, institutions grapple with a staggering lack of human biodiversity in their staffs, member base, donors, and audiences. To achieve inclusivity and maintain relevance...

Native plant, pollinator, and habitat issues are growing more popular among the visiting public each year, but does this translate more broadly into increased nursery sales? With ecological testing ongoing to determine differences in habitat value...

Many gardens collect basic information on their visitors as they walk through the gate, however traditional demographics only scratch the surface when trying to understand our audiences and impact. We can describe our visitors superficially, but how do...